~ 902 ~ International Journal of Chemical Studies 2019; 7(3): 902-905 P-ISSN: 2349–8528 E-ISSN: 2321–4902 IJCS 2019; 7(3): 902-905 © 2019 IJCS Received: 01-03-2019 Accepted: 05-04-2019 GN Gurjar Ph.D. Research Scholar at School of Natural Resource Management, Central Agricultural University, CPGS, Umiam, Meghalaya, India Sanjay Swami Associate Professor, School of Natural Resource Management, Central Agricultural University, CPGS, Umiam, Meghalaya, India Correspondence GN Gurjar Ph.D., Research Scholar at School of Natural Resource Management, Central Agricultural University, CPGS, Umiam, Meghalaya, India Climate change impacts in Rajasthan: A mitigation approach GN Gurjar and Sanjay Swami Abstract Climate change is a global challenge with diverse implications at the national and subnational levels, through impacts on various sectors such as agriculture, water resources, forestry and biodiversity, human health, energy and infrastructure. Such diverse impacts require a range of strategies to be deployed for an effective response and for better preparedness towards climate change. There is a need to achieve synergy between national priorities and state-specific strategies, given that in many cases the actions being discussed are State subjects and have to be implemented in the States. While adaptation by its very nature is localized in action, mitigation actions taken at the state level can tap on the opportunities that the State can benefit from or follow a co-benefits approach simultaneously buttressing national mitigation efforts. In this context, it becomes crucial to prepare State level action plans on climate change in order to address current and future climate risks and tap on potential opportunities through a diverse set of response strategies. The first step towards preparation of a detailed State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) is to identify state-specific risks and impacts and opportunities in the context of climate change. Thereafter, prioritize areas for research and policy action in response to identified current and future vulnerabilities and projected impacts of climate change. Effective policy design could be laid by juxtaposing identified strategies with national priorities and missions. Keywords: Climate change, agriculture, water resources, state-specific strategies, vulnerabilities Introduction Climate change is the greatest global challenge facing us today which through a multitude of impacts poses a risk to our ecology, economy and society. Observation shows that changes being experienced in the climate of Rajasthan are over and above the natural climate variability prevailing in the region. Studies have shown that Rajasthan falls in areas of greatest climate sensitivity, maximum vulnerability and lowest adaptive capacity. Already, water resources in the State are scarce and have a highly uneven distribution both temporally and spatially. The State also has the highest probability of drought occurrence in the country. A threat such as climate change thus calls for timely and coherent policy response and action that will help reduce vulnerability and build resilience of the State to likely climate impacts. India’s national action plan on climate change Climate change is a global challenge with diverse implications at the national and subnational levels, through impacts on various sectors such as agriculture, water resources, forestry and biodiversity, human health, energy and infrastructure. Such diverse impacts require a range of strategies to be deployed for an effective response and for better preparedness towards climate change. In 2008, a National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) for India was released by the Honourable Prime Minister. In view of the criticality of addressing the challenges posed by climate change along with the imperatives of poverty alleviation and economic growth for India, the NAPCC ‘identifies measures that promote development objectives while also yielding co-benefits for addressing climate change effectively’. The focus of NAPCC is to improve the understanding of climate science, adaptation, mitigation, energy efficiency and natural resource management and conservation. The NAPCC, further sets eight priority missions to respond to climate change; these include National Missions on Solar Energy, Enhanced Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Habitats, Water, Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Greening India, Sustainable Agriculture and Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change, covering a range of response strategies.