India: Cost of dealing with climate change: 2% of GDP

The development projects India is undertaking to reduce impacts of climate change is already cutting into its GDP. In 2006-07 India used 2.17% of its GDP on projects that will help communities adapt to climate change and reduce their vulnerability to climate change.

This was disclosed on Thursday by Jayant M Mau-skar joint secretary in the environment ministry at a conference on climate change organised at the Vatavaran Film Festival here.

Mauskar said In 2000-01 India was spending 0.63% of its GDP on climate change adaptation and mitigation which has now risen to 2.17%. So we can say that Nicholas Stern's argument (that climate change action does not hurt economy much) is perhaps not true.

Stern in his report on climate change for the UK he had stated that taking action to reduce climate change would not hurt the growing economies of countries like India. The official in a way has showcased the argument that India could be taking to the negotiating table at the UN meeting on climate change when developed countries ask it to undertake cap on greenhouse gas emissions.