Sayyed Zeenat Yahiya, T. S. Bagheshri, and Bhavya Gupta
ABSTRACT
Purpose – This article studies the localization of climate action through the lens of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and its implementation through the framework of Panchayat Raj Institutions, aiming to understand how effectively climate change is being localized. In the context of SDG 13 (Climate Action), we focus on assessing the alignment between national climate goals and their reach into community-level initiatives.
Design/methodology/approach – The focus of this research is qualitative. We have used secondary sources which were available, like policy documents, earlier research, official reports, and expert commentary to collect data. To look at the weaknesses and strengths in the local implementation of NAPCC policies and schemes, we have drawn themes through research lens and comparative case studies from selected Panchayats.
Findings – Strengthening Local Climate Governance
• PRIs generally have little to no access to climate finance, such as the NAPCC.
• A majority of PRIs do not have the technical capability to support the writing of fundable project proposals.
• Climate and ecology are not embedded into GPDPs – due to the low levels of awareness and capacity around climate and ecology.
Inter-Institutional Coordination
• The various departments, such as agriculture, energy, and rural development, are generally insulated from one another, and as a result, climate planning is often not integrated.
Bridging the Capacity–Finance Gap
• More than 90% of PRI officials do not have a formal education and training for mobilizing climate finance, interlinking schemes, and budgeting for resilience approaches (NIRDPR, 2020).
• The existing climate-related schemes, like PM-KUSUM and SAPCCs, aren’t even localized, with Panchayats not aware of scheme components like objectives, eligibility, or modalities of implementation.
• Even if CSR and NGO partnerships exist, it is evident that most Panchayats do not have the institutional set-up to initiate or sustain these partnerships.
• There is almost no incorporation of climate-related vulnerabilities (like drought/flood risks) into the planning and fund allocation, which, as sad as it sounds, makes the proposals less investable or productive.
• There are no formal and standardized digital platforms or dashboards that capture climate-related pathways to finance, the fund status, and any anecdotes from successful examples (other models).
Originality/value – This study addresses the need to assess the integration of NAPCC missions into Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs) and to identify best practices and barriers in localizing climate action.
