Chief Secretary, B R Sharma Wednesday discussed adaptation and mitigation projects that can be funded through National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) under the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and National Adaptation Fund (NAF) in a meeting, he chaired here.Principal Secretary Forests, Environment and Ecology, Principal Secretary PDD, Commissioner Secretary Relief and Rehabilitation, Commissioner Secretary Agricultural Production, Secretary Tourism, Director Environment and Remote Sensing, Nodal officer, Climate Change Cell, CGM NABARD and other senior officers were present in the meeting.Government of Jammu and Kashmir has already prepared the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) and funding under the GCF and the NAF will enable the State to undertake important climate change projects including related to forest and flood protection.“Adverse effects of climate change have been clearly visible in Jammu and Kashmir and access to financial assistance will enable the state to fast track implementation of various important adaptation and mitigation projects identified under the National Action Plan for Climate Change (NAPCC) and State Action Plan for Climate Change (SAPCC)” Chief Secretary noted.
Chief Secretary asked administrative Secretaries to finalize the concept note on the projects by November 15th to be sent to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests and Climate Change. Based on its (MoEF & CC) acceptance and recommendations, State Government will prepare DPRs. Once the projects are sanctioned for funding, NABARD will coordinate with the State Government and initiate the process for execution of the projects under its oversight.NABARD has been accredited by Green Climate Fund as the National Implementing Entity (NIE) for undertaking climate change adaptation and mitigation projects in India. The Green Climate Fund (GCF) was set up under the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010.
“The fund assistance will be in the form of concessional loan, equity, guarantee or grant as may be approved by the GCF Board” Chief General Manager NABARD said.Union Government has also established a National Adaptation Fund on Climate Change (NAFCC) to assist States and Union Territories that are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change in meeting the cost of adaptation. NABARD has been appointed as National Implementing Entity (NIE) responsible for implementation of adaptation projects under the NAFCC.