IPCC AR5 – what it means for a stronger, more inclusive India

This report documents an outreach event held on 6 August 2014 in New Delhi, India, to communicate the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) to the Indian public and decision-makers. Organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in cooperation with the IPCC and the Climate Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), the event explored the implications of AR5 for India and South Asia, focusing on vulnerability, adaptation strategies, and low-carbon development opportunities.

• The IPCC AR5 indicates that the global carbon budget has already been reduced by half, necessitating urgent action.
• Climate change projections for India suggest that while the total volume of monsoon rains may increase, the number of rainy days is likely to decrease and their intensity will increase. This, combined with higher night time temperatures, could negatively impact rice yields between 2081 and 2100, making water conservation and flood management critical adaptation measures.
• India's vulnerability to climate change is exacerbated by non-climate stressors, specifically a large rural population that is poor and dependent on natural resources. The agricultural sector is particularly vulnerable, accounting for 15% of the economy, with two-thirds of the population living in rural areas dependent on climate-sensitive resources.
• India is identified as a major driver of emissions, though its per-capita emissions remain low. Opportunities for low-carbon development include the decarbonization of energy supply systems, the adoption of low-carbon technologies, and the greening and urbanization of cities.
• The Ministry of Earth Sciences is implementing research initiatives to study the retreat of Himalayan glaciers, ocean warming, sea level rise, and the impact of Arctic changes on monsoons, while developing a climate services programme to provide sector-wise information such as precipitation indexes.

APA

Climate and Development Knowledge Network (2014). IPCC AR5 – what it means for a stronger, more inclusive India. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN-IPCC-India-launch-event-report.pdf

Chicago

Climate and Development Knowledge Network. IPCC AR5 – what it means for a stronger, more inclusive India. 2014. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN-IPCC-India-launch-event-report.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |title=IPCC AR5 – what it means for a stronger, more inclusive India |date=6 August 2014 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN-IPCC-India-launch-event-report.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climateanddevelopmentknowledgenetwork2014ipcc, author = {{Climate and Development Knowledge Network}}, title = {{IPCC AR5 – what it means for a stronger, more inclusive India}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2014}, month = aug, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/CDKN-IPCC-India-launch-event-report.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }