1.
Gujarat’s Experience of Coordinated Climate Change Action at Sub-National Level for Adaptation and Mitigation Projects
A COP-22 Technical Paper
Sustainable Lifestyle = Positive Climate Action

2. Immediate Challenges INDIA@COP22
Gujarat contributes to 16% of industrial and 12% of agricultural production in India, despite having only 5% of the country’s population and 6% of its geographical area
Key climate change challenges facing the state include:
Extreme heat - Unusual, unprecedented and frequent spells of hot weather
Erratic rainfall, increased incidence of droughts and floods, water insecurity
Sea-level rise - Saltwater intrusion in the coastal areas, impacting agriculture, degrading groundwater quality and contaminating drinking water
Agricultural and food insecurity - Water-related issues threaten crop yields, jeopardizing food security
Energy insecurity - Changes in river flow patterns are a challenge to hydropower plants and decrease in water supply and increase in heat pose risks to thermal power
Adverse effects of climate change on health

3.
Strategy
Gujarat’s Climate Change Department (established 2009) – first ever dedicated government department for climate change aimed at:
Creating core competencies within departments
Generating strategic knowledge on climate change
Enabling a low-carbon pathway for Gujarat
Mitigation of GHG emissions
Empowering communities for decentralized action
Creating public awareness on climate change
State government has undertaken unique mitigation and adaptation initiatives that contribute to India’s climate change commitments and SDGs

4. Mitigation Initiatives
Mitigation Initiatives
Demonstrated leadership in solar energy:
Potential for installing 10 GW of solar power with 0.1% of land mass
Established Asia’s first solar park of 2024 ha in Charanka, with capacity of 345 MW
Introduced novel concept of canal-based solar power
Model solar city (blueprint for sustainable city) - Gandhinagar
Scheme for domestic rooftop PV cell
Wind energy investment:
Installed capacity of MW
Commissioned capacity of 3542 MW, yielding in 5.7 million tonne of CO2 emissions reduction
Bio-energy power generation:
Three biomass-based electricity generation projects of 10 MW capacity
One 1.2 MW biomass gasification project
Energy conservation:
Transmission losses reduction via Jyotigram Yojana
First state to implement energy efficiency in agriculture pumping
Centralized lighting load-energy savers in streetlights
Installation of LED tubelights in schools
Energy conservation awareness and training programmes for energy auditors
Demonstration of energy-efficient industry technologies
Other initiatives: Ahmedabad’s bus rapid transit system, certified emissions reductions (CERs)

5. Adaptation Initiatives
Adaptation Initiatives
Heat action plan (first of its kind in India):
Building public awareness and outreach
Developing early-warning systems and inter-agency coordination
Capacity-building among healthcare professionals
Reducing heat exposure and promoting adaptive measures
State-wide drinking water grid:
Sustainable source of safe drinking water across villages and 171 towns
Reduces tubewell pumping, saving mega units of electricity and emissions by tCO2
Sagar Khedu Sarvangi Vikas Yojana:
Multi-dimensional development packages for coastal communities catering to 38 talukas and 13 districts
Narmada Water Resources and Kalpasar department - Check dams, tidal regulators, recharge tanks, spreading channels, anti-sea erosion works and irrigation schemes
Sardar Sarovar Project:
Hydropower installed capacity of 1450 MW
Supplies drinking water to 29 million people
Canal network of km
Other initiatives: Irrigation efficiency increase

6.
Way Ahead
Gujarat State Action Plan on Climate Change’s vision:
To build a sustainable and climate resilient future for the people of Gujarat and enabling a low carbon pathway for Gujarat’s economic growth that would meet people’s aspirations with equity and inclusiveness
Recognizing and mobilizing women as key agents of climate change adaptation
Increasing public participation in climate action programme
Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s exhortation – The earth can satisfy our needs, but not our greed – Gujarat endeavors to promote sustainable processes and lifestyles across the state and the world