Research Papers

A G20 Coalition on Emerging Technologies for a Zero-Carbon, Climate-Resilient Sustainable Future

Shrivastava Manish Kumar , Anindito Dhimas Bayu , Sahu Preety
| 2023

The Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals necessitate a move towards a developmental convergence point where all are safe, prosperous, and live in peace. Such a future partly hinges upon the timely development, deployment, and rapid diffusion of technologies, particularly emerging technologies. While these technologies are on the horizon, the risk lies in the time that they might take to have a mature market across the G20 countries.

Financing Climate-Smart Agriculture for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems

Anand Pramod Kumar, Pandey Beena, Kumar Chandan, Mishra J. P., Kumar Krishna, Bharti Neha, Rao P. Srinivasa, Sahoo Pradeep, Jena Pradyot Ranjan, Kalli Rajesh, Saini Rohit, Bajpai Sakshi, Rath Sambit, Prabhakar Sisira, Joshi Sukrit, Bhadwal Suruchi
| 2023

A critical concern related to the agri-food system is inadequate financing to meet the adverse impacts of climate change, and the extreme variability of global food security and nutrition to attain Sustainable Development Goal 2 (zero hunger). As per the 2022 Report of the United Nations Secretary General on SDGs, 720 to 811 million persons suffered from hunger in 2020, with between 118 to 161 million added to the list of the hungry since 2019.

Molecular Diagnostic of Ochratoxin A With Specific Aptamers in Corn and Groundnut via Fabrication of a Microfluidic Device

Shahdeo Deepshikha , Khan Azmat Ali , Alanazi Amer M. , Bajpai Vivek K. , Shukla Shruti , Gandhi Sonu
| 2022

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the predominant mycotoxins that contaminate a wide range of food commodities. In the present study, a 36-mer aptamer was used as a molecular recognition element coupled with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for colorimetric detection of OTA in a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPADs). The μPADs consisted of three zones: control, detection, and sample, interconnected by channels. UV-vis spectroscopy (UV-vis), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used for characterization of AuNPs and AuNPs/Aptamer.

Sensitive Fingerprint Detection Using Biocompatible Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticle Coating on Non‐Porous Surfaces

Bhati Kajol , Tripathy Divya Bajpai , Kumaravel Vignesh, Sudhani Hemanth P. K., Ali Sajad , Choudhary Rita , Shukla Shruti
| 2023

In recent years, the development and application of biocompatible nanomaterials in the detection of fingerprints have become a major focus for the forensic sector and crime investigators. This study aims to synthesize biocompatible silica nanoparticles (Si NPs) through cost‐effective green methods and will be used to detect a latent fingerprint on a non‐porous surface. As a type of environmentally friendly nanomaterial, Si NPs were prepared via an oil–water mixed micro‐emulsion templating (MET) approach.

Arsenic ion assisted core–satellites nano-assembly of gold nanoparticles for its colorimetric determination in water

Thakkar Shalini , Liu Jing , Dum´ee Ludovic F., Singh Braj Raj , Shukla Shruti ,Yang Wenrong
| 2022

Arsenic contamination in water has threatened lives globally. The capability of arsenic to interact with the sulfhydryl group of amino acids in human body is considered as one of the factors leading to its increased toxicity and there is the dire need for development of better detection platforms.

Fast-tracking Road Transport Decarbonisation through a New ‘International Sustainable Transport Alliance’

Acharya Mahua , Patel Aaran , Pandey Arpita , Lingenthal Lukas , Bhattacharjya Souvik
| 2023

Clean and affordable public transportation can lower carbon emissions, improve urban air quality, and enable economic development. India’s G20 presidency can leverage the country’s National Electric Bus Programme to serve as a model that can be replicated across emerging market and developing economies.

Tailoring Blended Finance to the Local Context to Support SDG-7

Sharma Kriti , Murali Rashmi , Govindan Mini , Thakur Amit Kumar
| 2023

The Indian government places high priority on the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector because of its significance in alleviating poverty. Its goal is to raise the sector’s share of the GDP to 50 percent and create jobs for at least 150 million people. However, the MSME sector faces several challenges, such as supportive infrastructural gaps related to energy provisioning, especially clean energy.

Developing a Global Nitrous Oxide Reduction Policy for A Food-Secure Future

Dhawan Vibha , Kanter David R. , Fajardo Renee Valerie
| 2023

Multilateral approaches to nitrogen pollution are generating synergies between climate change and food security and presenting opportunities to reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) globally. N2O is the most abundant ozone-depleting substance not yet regulated by the Montreal Protocol and a powerful greenhouse gas. Failure to reduce emissions will delay ozone layer recovery and worsen the climate crisis. While cost-effective mitigation technologies to reduce N2O emissions are available, policies and incentives to encourage the uptake of such measures are lacking.

What Adolescents Know and Believe About Reclaimed Water and Water Scarcity: A Survey of School Children in National Capital Region

Neha, Kansal Arun
| 2023

Based on a questionnaire survey administered to 540 adolescents (10-14 years old), the study offers some insights into what adolescents perceive as the causes of water scarcity in cities and whether reclaimed municipal wastewater can alleviate it. The study revealed that adolescents are aware of looming water crisis but lack solution based knowledge. Advertisements, community workshops and educational campaigns can enhance their water caring behaviour. Also girls are warier than boys to use reclaimed water for drinking.

Acceptability of reclaimed municipal wastewater in cities: evidence from India’s National Capital Region

Neha, Kansal Arun
| 2023

Willingness to reuse reclaimed municipal wastewater was ascertained through a questionnaire completed by 424 respondents, opinions of 17 experts, and interviews with 15 farmers. Information was collected to assess their knowledge of water scarcity and to determine the influence of demographics, correlation to perceived risk, willingness, challenges, and barriers related to the acceptance of reclaimed water. Most respondents were receptive to the idea of using it for purposes other than drinking, and ‘water conservative’ individuals were inclined towards using it even for drinking.