This action plan on climate change provides for climate change adaptation for the state of Maharashtra. Given the state's diverse geography, long coastline, and reliance on climate-sensitive sectors like agriculture, water resources, and infrastructure, the state is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts such as increased temperatures, erratic rainfall, droughts, and extreme weather events. The report presents climate change projections for the 2030s, 2050s, and 2070s, highlighting expected temperature increases, shifts in monsoon patterns, and increased frequency of extreme weather events. The study also includes a detailed vulnerability assessment of Maharashtra’s districts, ranking them based on exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. The climate change strategies outlined in the action plan focus on adaptation across key sectors such as agriculture, water resources, forestry and biodiversity, health, energy and infrastructure. In agriculture, the action plan promotes climate-resilient farming, improved irrigation efficiency, diversified cropping patterns, and expanded cold storage infrastructure. For water resources, strategies include sustainable groundwater management, rainwater harvesting, and wetland conservation. Forestry and biodiversity measures focus on afforestation, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration in vulnerable regions like the western ghats. Energy and infrastructure strategies include expanding renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency, and climate-proofing public infrastructure. The plan also emphasizes health sector adaptation, including improved disease surveillance, early warning systems for vector-borne diseases, and increased health infrastructure resilience. Additionally, disaster risk reduction, cross-sectoral coordination, and capacity-building initiatives are highlighted as crucial components. The action plan also identifies six high-risk districts for in-depth case studies and targeted interventions. The adaptation strategies are integrated with India’s National Action Plan on Climate Change and global climate policies. Key focus areas include improving institutional capacity, promoting climate-aware policies, and leveraging public-private partnerships for climate resilience.
India · 2014-01-01