National Mission on Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem

• The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
• The Mission delivers better understanding of the coupling between the Himalayan ecosystem and the climate factors and provides inputs for Himalayan Sustainable development while also addressing the protection of a fragile ecosystem. 

National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change

• The National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change is also a part of NAPCC.
• It seeks to build a vibrant and dynamic knowledge system that would inform and support national action for responding effectively to the objective of ecologically sustainable development. 

Why in the news?

• Two IITs (Mandi and Guwahati) and IISc Bengaluru have released a report on ‘Climate vulnerability assessment for adaptation planning in India using a common framework’ after conducting assessment across all the states.
• It was part of a capacity building programme under the National Mission on Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem and National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change.
• The report Developed Vulnerability Indices (VI) based on several factors such as: 

1. lack of forest area per 1,000 rural population, 
2. lack of crop insurance, 
3. marginal and small operational land holding, 
4. low density of health workers, 
5. low participation of women in the workforce, 
6. yield variability of food grains, 
7. a high proportion of the population below the poverty line.

What were the findings?

• The greenest part of India is the most vulnerable to climate change. Along with Chhattisgarh in central India, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Odisha, Assam, Bihar, Arunachal Pradesh, and West Bengal — all in the eastern part of the country — are the eight most vulnerable States that require prioritisation of adaptation interventions.
• Tamil Nadu and Kerala are among seven States that are the least vulnerable.
• Jharkhand, with the highest VI of 0.674, topped the list of States most vulnerable to climate change. Drivers of vulnerability: high incidence of vector-borne diseases, high yield variability of food grains, and low road and rail density.
• Mizoram was given second place because of less doctors availability. 
• Odisha, came third due to its high prevalence of marginal land and small operational landholdings. 

References:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/eastern-india-most-vulnerable-to-climate-change-says-study/article34367825.ece
2. http://dst.gov.in/sites/default/files/NMSHE_June_2010.pdf
3. http://www.knowledgeportal-nmshe.in/NMSHE.aspx
4. http://dst.gov.in/sites/default/files/NMSKCC_mission%20document%201.pdf