The critical factors determining the quality and reliability of a greenhouse gas inventory is directly dependent on the type of activity data and emission factor used. The quality of any activity data is related to the statistical reliability of the sampling done to ascertain the level of activity. Similarly, emission factors are more reliable if they represent country specific conditions.

Keeping these concerns in view, an effort was made under the aegis of India's Initial National Communication to reduce uncertainty in GHG inventory estimates from India. Measurements were conducted to derive GHG emission factors for some key source categories that contribute significantly to the total national GHG inventory. These include determination of Net Calorofic Values of different types of coal in India, CO₂ emission coefficients for the cement manufacturing process, GHG emission from transport sector, CH₄ emission from fugitive emissions in coal mining, N₂O emissions from nitric acid production, CH₄ emission from agricultural activities such as rice cultivation and enteric fermentation and CH₄ from soild waste management.

The activity data, which have been closely scrutinised include allocation of fuel in the road transport sector and activities related to the land use and land cover change and forestry sector. This book synthesizes the sectoral papers contributed by participating experts and also suggests future activities that will strengthen the estimates further.

The global scientific assessments present the picture of a warming world and other changes in the climate system. There is increasing evidence to attribute the warming to human activities, which will continue to change atmospheric composition throughout the 21st century. This book provides assessments of the impacts, vulnerabilities and adaptation needs for the key economic and ecological sectors of India.

The assessments are undertaken keeping in view the regionally disaggregated projections of climate change over the Indian sub-continent. The sectors assessed include water, agriculture, forestry, eco-systems, health, coastal zones, energy and infrastructure. The complexity of the assessments in India derives from geographical diversity, close interface of economy and culture with monsoon, diverse and unique ecosystems, rising trends of population and economy, and relative scarcity of natural resources compared to growing demand.

The book includes the state-of-the-art assessments by recognized Indian experts from diverse disciplines. The four key contributions of the book are :

1. the use of formal assessment tools under developing country contexts;
2. the articulation and quantification of climate change and emissions scenarios for India;
3. the consistency of assessments vis-à-vis future climate change projections;
4. the focus on development for delineating conclusions and tasks.

The contents of the book shall be of interest to policy-makers; researchers and modelers engaged in impact assessment; global environmental assessment programs and development experts. The book is an excellent addition to the growing literature on global environmental assessment methodology, policies and perspectives.

India's commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is reflected in the various initiatives which have been taken at the national level for sustainable development and climate change. Environment protection and sustainable development have emerged as key national priorities and manifest in India's plan approach to socio-economic development and poverty eradication. Conservation and resource management are integral to the country's development plans. A sound environment policy and law framework is also in place. Recent economic liberalization policies have seen new strides in technology upgradation, cleaner fuels, efficiencies in production and environmental sound practices. At the same time, Indian society's traditional respect for the ecology, rivers and nature remains as strongly rooted as ever in the country's quest for sustainable and climate friendly development.

Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India organized the seminar at New Delhi to articulate the issues, concerns and opportunities for India resulting for climate change. Eminent experts are invited to contribute papers towards this objective. The book consolidates the papers presented at the seminar. The themes included integrated perspectives on climate change in terms of GHG inventory status and projections; sustainable development issues; climate change impacts and adaptation for India; climate change and Indian forestry and agriculture sectors; mitigation options using renewable energy technologies; and challenges, opportunities and responses of the Indian Industry vis-a-vis climate change.