Climate Change

In the post-Paris agreement era, accelerating climate action is the biggest hope to ensure a safe future for all. In India, our work focuses on climate modelling to develop a better understanding of climate variability at regional scales. We study the risks and vulnerabilities of key sectors such as water, health, agriculture and industry. Our work in climate science is inextricably linked to policy research and recommendations for the Indian government to shape its domestic policies, as well as contribute to its position in global negotiations. Through a number of initiatives, we are beginning to extend our knowledge and research in climate science and policy to other emerging economies.

climate

NEW IN CLIMATE

  • Financing

    Report

    Financing Low Carbon Transition in India's MSME Sector

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    urban-heat

    Theme

    HFCs – Enabling efficient refrigerant transitions

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  • climate change video

     

    Explainer

    A primer on climate change, its impacts, actions and assessments

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  • climate

    Policy Brief

    Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC): A technology landscape, challenges and opportunities for sustainable cooling

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  • Adaptation future

    Article

    Urban Flood Analysis and Early Warning Solution for Disaster Resilience

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Projects

Articles

WSDS2024: Launch of MTCoE’s Daylight Plugin Tool at the thematic session "Advancing Sustainable Building Practices: Role of Laboratories and State-of-the-art Infrastructure to Enhance Energy Efficiency & Thermal Comfort."

Ms Shiren Pandita

The session was conducted as a part of the World Sustainable Development Summit 2024, the only leading sustainable development summit in the Global South. Held on February 8th, 2024, at the India Habitat Centre, it focused on exploring the potential of smart technologies and data analytics in managing energy and optimizing building performance, emphasizing the significance of human-centric design for improving occupant comfort.

Heat Waves and Action Plans: How Does India Fare?

While preparedness, alerts and warnings, and other measures of heat action plans have vastly reduced the impact of heat waves, the duration and frequency of climate-induced heat waves are on the rise. Jency Samuel says that as heat waves impact people’s health and livelihood, and the nation’s economy adversely, there is a need to improve and better implement the heat action plans.

Urban Flood Analysis and Early Warning Solution for Disaster Resilience

Mr Prasoon Singh

Abstract

The objective of this work is to present the experimental findings of an urban flood early warning system developed by combining a mesoscale numerical weather prediction model (WRF) forecast with a distributed hydrologic modeling system. Hydrodynamic models have been used in the simulation of intricate and interrelated dynamic systems, such as urban watersheds and urban water infrastructure. The use of these models in assessing flood hazard, vulnerability, and risk is well-established.

Dr Vibha Dhawan meets heads of governments of Japan and Guyana

Director General brings focus on TERI’s multiple initiatives during visits to Japan, Guyana and the United States

TERI director general Dr Vibha Dhawan met heads of government of Japan and Guyana, and the Indian Ambassador to the United States of America (USA) in the month of October.

Brahmapuram Landfill Fire: Points towards the Need for Decentralized Waste Management

In this article, Sharada Balasubramanian highlights that a series of flames have been breaking out, year after year, at the Brahmapuram landfill in Kerala. Yet, it was not taken seriously. This year, the massive uncontrollable fire breakout urged the Kochi Corporation to take serious steps to resolve this issue as it impacted the health of people and the environment. Brahmapuram is the only landfill that is a bone of contention in Kerala, where solid waste management, otherwise is decentralized and systematic.

Mainstreaming Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation Infrastructure For Long Lasting Impacts

Ms Manisha Jain

In this article, Manisha Jain and Dr Kriti Akansha highlight that it is necessary to support long-term thinking, transformation, flexibility and innovation while taking the associated climate risks into consideration to attain climate resilience. There is a need for a robust framework that ensures climate policies are integrated into all sectors and that planning, implementation, and evaluation are strictly followed.

Events

World Sustainable Development Summit 2025

March 5, 2025
to March 7, 2025

Global Risk Resilience Discourse and Adaptation

November 11, 2024
to November 11, 2024

TERI at WUF 12 Cairo, Egypt

November 4, 2024
to November 8, 2024

The World Urban Forum (WUF) is a premier global conference convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) to exchange ideas and experiences on sustainable urbanization. The twelfth session of WUF is being held this year in Cairo, Egypt from November 04 – 08, 2024.

7th G-STIC CONFERENCE IN INDIA

October 22, 2024
to October 23, 2024

HARMONISING TECHNOLOGY, POLICY AND BUSINESS PATHWAYS FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND COEXISTENCE

WSDS-ACT4EARTH National Roundtable: Road to Baku

September 17, 2024
to September 17, 2024

News

Baku’s test: Can CoP 29 deliver on climate promises?

November 10, 2024
| Mr R R Rashmi
| Deccan Herald

Doubts about the Baku CoP emanate primarily from the uncertainties caused by the two wars raging in the neighbourhood, says Mr R R Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow, Resource Efficiency and Governance Division, TERI.

All eyes on Baku and the climate finance goal

November 8, 2024
| Dr Vibha Dhawan
,
| Dr Shailly Kedia
| The Hindu

With developing countries burdened by the climate crisis they did not cause, the critical question is whether negotiations on global climate finance will deliver outcomes or just promises, says Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI and Dr Shailly Kedia, Senior Fellow and Associate Director, Sustainable Development and Outreach Division, TERI.

Why climate adaptation can’t wait any longer

November 1, 2024
| Mr RR Rashmi, TERI and Mr Karan Mangotra, ISA
| Hindustan Times

Developing countries that are facing the brunt of climate impacts are struggling to access the resources needed to adapt, says Mr RR Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow, Resource Efficiency and Governance Division, TERI and Mr Karan Mangotra, Strategy Specialist, ISA.

Baku COP29: Will climate finance hit the $1 trillion mark?

October 30, 2024
| Mr R R Rashmi
| The Economic Times

It is almost certain that there will be no singular figure of trillions of dollars from developed countries. Instead, it will be a multi-layered goal, providing and mobilising development finance and investment, says Mr RR Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow, Resource Efficiency and Governance Division, TERI.

Experts highlight the role of social technologies in promoting health equity and Climate adaptation at G-STIC 2024

October 25, 2024 |
October 25, 2024
Krishak Jagat

A Deep Dive session titled ‘Social Technologies to Promote Health Equity and Climate Adaptation’ was held during the 7th Global Sustainable Technology and Innovation Conference (G-STIC), co-hosted by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and VITO, Belgium. Ms Suruchi Bhadwal, Director, Earth Science and Climate Change Division, TERI, in her opening remarks noted, in addressing climate change, we must prioritize health equity, recognizing that marginalized communities face the brunt of health impacts.

Climate Change and Land Use: Will it pose new limits to sustainability?

October 20, 2024
| Mr Amlan Mishra; Mr R R Rashmi, TERI
| The Financial Express

Urgent climate action is needed as land-based interventions can significantly mitigate emissions while impacting the livelihoods of India's population reliant on agriculture, says Mr Amlan Mishra, Research Associate, Earth Science and Climate Change Division and Mr R R Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow and Programme Director, Resource Efficiency and Governance Division, TERI.

Policy

Road to Baku: The New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance

October 15, 2024

Climate finance plays a crucial role in climate efforts. This paper examines the evolution of the discussions on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), which will be a key determinant of the success of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29). Despite recent progress, current climate finance targets and mechanisms remain inadequate. This paper analyses the positions of various countries and coalitions. Developing countries stress the responsibility of developed countries, emphasizing equity in climate finance.

Internationalizing Sustainable Lifestyles for Climate Justice

September 27, 2024

Mainstream frameworks on sustainable consumption and production fail to holistically capture downstream segments of resource consumption and production systems, especially in relation to lifestyle choices. Building on previous work by TERI, this policy brief seeks to develop composite metrics on consumption for G20 countries and discusses ways to further internationalize sustainable lifestyles.

Sustainable Organic Waste Management : A Playbook for Lucknow, India

September 23, 2024

In 2020, global municipal solid waste (MSW) generation reached 2.24 billion tonnes, a figure projected to rise to 3.88 billion tonnes by 2050. This increase will be largely driven by the fastest-growing regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, where waste levels are expected to double or even triple.

Green Public Procurement for Advancing Sustainable Development in India: Policy Nudges for Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production

August 9, 2024

Green Public Procurement (GPP), a sub-component of sustainable public procurement, seeks to achieve environmental sustainability by leveraging the government sector’s purchasing power. GPP can be defined as the deliberate and systematic integration of environmental objectives into the procurement process of goods, services, and works by public agencies. This policy brief employs a case study-based approach to identify strategies for promoting GPP in India.

Accelerating the Growth of Green Bonds in India

February 8, 2024

India's enormous financial requirements to address climate change and ensure just transitioning for its economy cannot be met by the lone public sector and would require catalyzing private finance and institutional investment into climate initiatives. Green bonds offer an emerging financial instrument that holds the potential to attract private investors into climate action. However, unlike the exponential growth of green bonds in the global market, they still occupy only a scanty share of the Indian bonds market.

Advancing Environmental and Climate Goals Through a Multidimensional Model of Green Budgeting

December 4, 2023

While environmental regulation is the principal responsibility of environmental ministries, their locus standi in terms of implementation is limited as much of the implementation lies with other line ministries/departments and public agencies. Hence, it is essential that ‘environment’ is mainstreamed across ministries, departments, and sectors.

Services

Climate change risk assessment

We generate climate projections at global and regional scales and impacts, vulnerability and adaptation assessments in key sectors using established models and our in-house super-computing facility. We also conducts GHG inventorization and mitigation analysis. We provide national and international policy analysis and review, and contribute to key issues in negotiations encompassing adaptation, mitigation, technology, and finance.

Team

Distinguished Fellow, Earth Science and Climate Change
Distinguished Fellow, Earth Science and Climate Change
Distinguished Fellow, Green Shipping
Director, Climate Change and Air Quality
Associate Director, Earth Science and Climate Change
Area Convenor, Center for Climate Change Research
Associate Fellow and Area Convenor, Centre for Climate Modelling