The report prepared by the Ministry of Environment and Forests provides information on emission of greenhouse gases of anthropogenic origin, and the vulnerability of key economic sectors in India.

I ndia is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Government of India attaches great importance to climate change issues. The Convention aims to s t abi l i z e gr e enhous e ga s conc ent r a t ions in the atmosphere at levels that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Er adi c a t ion of pove r ty, avoiding r i sks to food production, and sustainable development are three principles embedded in the Convention. Information provided in the Initial National Communication is in terms of guidelines prescribed for Parties not included in Annex I to the UNFCCC and the inventory is prepared for the base year 1994 as stipulated. India is a vast country covering 3.28 million km 2 with diverse surface features. India occupies only 2.4 per cent of the world’s geographical area, but supports 16.2 per cent of the global human population. India is endowed with varied soils, climate, biodiversity and ecological regimes. Under such diverse natural conditions, over a billion people speaking different languages, following different religions and living in rural and urban areas, live in harmony under a democratic system.