Representation Petition

In pursuance of data-driven and evidence-based research and advocacy endeavours carried out by Adv. Abhishek Kumar, NCPEDP-Javed Abidi Fellow on Disability, this representation petition calls for initiating and establishing the National Mission on Climate Change and Vulnerable Communities under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, 2008, for the reasons mentioned hereinafter.

Acknowledging that climate change acts as a “threat multiplier”, undermining all Sustainable Development Goals and having a disproportionate impact on vulnerable communities, including children, women, old adults, and persons with disabilities, given their heightened vulnerability, viz. greater exposure, higher sensitivity and lower ability to adapt and mitigate with respect to physical and mental health; cost of living and quality of life; capability deprivation; hunger, malnutrition, security, and poverty; affordable, accessible, and adequate housing and habitat rights; water, sanitation, and menstrual hygiene; livelihood and decent employment; safe employment; environmental migration and displacement; universal accessibility and mobility; 8. Abuse and discrimination; exploitation and violence (including sexual violence); disability-adjusted life years (DALYs); eco-ableism; losses and damages; climate change-induced disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction; and beyond.

Reaffirming that the best way to protect people from climate change is by tackling “inequities such as those based on gender, ethnicity, disability, age, location and income”.

Understanding that “assessing vulnerability is the first step towards assessing climate risk.”

Realising that vulnerable communities, including - children, women, old adults and persons with disabilities, despite contributing least to climate change (historically responsible), are at the forefront of climate change impacts and yet are subject to exclusionary and eco-ableist responses to it.

Taking into account, the Supreme Court of India’s 2024 judgment of MK Ranjitsinh & Ors. vs. Union of India & Ors., wherein it linked the right against adverse effects of climate change to Articles 14 and 21, and held that the right to life and equality cannot be fully realised without a clean and healthy environment and that "Right Against Adverse Effects of Climate Change" is a distinct Fundamental Human Right recognised by Articles 14 and 21 of the Indian Constitution.

Recalling that the government has launched the National Action Plan on Climate Change, 2008 ("NAPCC"), which highlights 8 National Missions that outline priorities for mitigation and adaptation to combat climate change. These include – the National Solar Mission, the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, the National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, the National Water Mission, the National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, the National Mission for a Green India, the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, and the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change. These National Missions are supplemented by actions of the State governments and Union Territories, which have put in place their respective State Action Plans on Climate Change with the goal of mainstreaming climate change concerns in their respective planning process.

Appreciating the fact that in order to expand its activities in different sectors to achieve the country's updated climate action targets, the government has decided to add three new 'missions' - on coastal ecosystem, human health and sustainable transport - to better implement its existing National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

Noting that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare launched the National Program for Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) in 2019 to create awareness among the general population (vulnerable community), healthcare providers and policymakers regarding the impacts of climate change on human health, among other objective actions. [multidimensional impact, so not just a dedicated mission that covers all aspects of intersectionality rather than a program dealing with only elements.] The programmes work to strengthen India's health sector response to climate impacts. But as the programme covers only the health aspects while the climate change impacts are multi-dimensional, there is a need for a national-level umbrella mission that factors in all the spheres in which climate change acts as a threat multiplier from the vantage point of vulnerable communities, including children, women, old adults, persons with disabilities (recognized and unrecognized disabilities, rare conditions, invisible disabilities, etc.) transgenders, migrants, minorities, small and landless farmers, forest dwellers, street vendors, etc. (given the disproportionate impact on them because of greater exposure, higher sensitivity and lower ability to adapt and mitigate) and establish a National Mission on Climate Change and Vulnerable Communities. 

Reiterating Bharat’s civilisational value of सर्वे भवन्तु सुखिनः (may all sentient beings be at peace) and Acharya Chanakya’s niti that Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi quoted at the United Nations, “कालाति क्रमात्काल एव फलम पि बति ” (when the right action is not taken at the right time, then time itself defeats the purpose of such action), and thus, we need to act now as with every passing year where vulnerable communities are left behind in the climate action - historically backward communities are losing out on their optimal productivity and are subject to climate change induced disability-adjusted life years.

Requesting the Government of India and its concerned ministries to take cognisance of the overwhelming evidence that establishes that climate change has cascading and compounding impact on vulnerable communities in all aspects of their lives and not just physical and mental health and initiate and establish a ‘National Mission on Climate Change and Vulnerable Communities’ in order to assess the vulnerability of respective vulnerable communities including persons with disabilities, frame inclusive climate action plans and just and time-bound implementation of inclusive laws, plans and policies that leaves no one behind in accordance with Prime Minister Modi’s mantra of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas” with the objective to ensure inclusive climate justice for all in letter and spirit.

We call for us to ‘Build Forward Better‘ and not ‘Build Back Better‘ because building back would only restore the pre-existing status quo, which was neither climate-resilient nor universally accessible. Ergo, we need to build forward – all-inclusive, climate-resilient, and universally accessible infrastructure – together based on the principle of ‘leave no one behind‘ in order to strive to achieve Inclusive Development and Climate Justice.

Dhanyawaad!

Adv. Abhishek Kumar

Representation Petition for the Formation of National Mission on Climate Change and Vulnerable Communities under the National Action Plan on Climate Change, 2008

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