Climate change: Call for more R&D funds

The Planning Commission on Friday pitched for higher public expenditure for research on impact climate change.

This follows concern expressed by environment and forest minister Jairam Ramesh over poor public allocations for research on the impact of climate change in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

"Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) was allocated under the Integrated Energy Policy to study impact of climate change. But this need to supplemented by more funds", Planning Commission member B K Chaturvedi said when asked about India's road map to study the impact of climate change at a Assocham conference.

Chaturvedi said: "The commission has recently formed a group under the chairmanship of Dr K Kasturirangan. The committee would give its reports soon."

The commission would give its recommendation on public expenditure for research on impact of climate change on the basis of the Kasturirangan committee report during the mid-term appraisal of XIth five year plan, he added.

Replying to a discussion on the issue in the Lok Sabha, Ramesh said, "Our entire knowledge about impact of climate change is derived from Western publications. We have not invested in climate change research in the country.

"We need to spent for research on impact of climate change," Ramesh said.