Climate

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

    Report

    Locked houses, Fallow lands: Climate Change and Migration in Uttarakhand, India

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Projects

Articles

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.

Climate Actions for Businesses

How Big Should These Be?

When we talk and act on climate action and the energy transition in emerging economies, the discussion can range from topics such as climate mitigation, adaptation, energy transition, financing, and business model innovation to next-generation technologies.

COP27: Climate Chaos and Warfare for People and the Planet

COP27 took place in November 2022 in the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm el-Sheikh. The Conference concluded with a historic decision to establish and operationalize a loss and damage fund. Dr Anil Pratap Singh takes us through the highlights of this important climate conference and concludes that at COP27, unrelenting deliberations took place on setting the needs and priorities of the Parties; thereby resolute implementation plans for the future were developed during the deliberations.

India-EU Track-II Dialogue First high-level meeting of the Finance Working Group

The first high-level meeting of the India-EU Track II dialogue on Finance Working Group jointly curated by TERI, Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) along with the European Climate Foundation (ECF) took place successfully on December 16th, 2021. The meeting was attended by over 10 experts representing leading think tanks, industry and academia from India and the EU, who have been instrumental in driving climate action in both regions.

Managing Heat Stress during the COVID-19 Lockdown in 2020

Ms Neha Bharti
,
Ms Suruchi Bhadwal
,
Ms Dhriti Pathak
,
Mr Santosh Kumar Muriki

Due to the increase in anthropogenic activities, global temperatures have shown a warming trend of approximately 1°C (likely between 0.8°C and 1.2°C) above pre-industrial levels. Annual surface air temperatures over India also have shown increasing trends of similar magnitude during the period 1901–2014. The Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) of The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released in 2021 has predicted heat waves and heat stress to be more intense and frequent during the 21st century in South Asian region including India.

Events

Capacity Building Workshop- Accelerating Net Zero Transition of Public Transportation in Kolkata

May 10, 2023
to May 10, 2023

10 May 2023 | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (IST)

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in association with the West Bengal Transportation Corporation, is organising capacity building workshop titled "Accelerating Net Zero Transition of Public Transportation in Kolkata" on May 10, 2023 in Kolkata.

SAP joins TERI Business Council

April 18, 2023
to April 18, 2023

On April 18, 2023, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI convened a CEO breakfast roundtable meeting along with Mr Paul Marriott, President, SAP Asia Pacific Japan, Dr. Lovneesh Chanana, Vice President & Head of Government Affairs (Asia Pacific and Japan), SAP ASIA Pte Ltd and Mr Kulmeet Bawa, President, and Managing Director, SAP Indian Subcontinent. SAP announced its formal association with TERI Council for Business Sustainability.

2nd Development Working Group Meeting, Side Event

April 6, 2023
to April 6, 2023

6 April 2023 | 1:45 PM – 5:00 PM (IST)

World Sustainable Development Summit 2023

February 22, 2023
to February 24, 2023

The 22nd edition of the annual flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)—the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS)—will be held from 22-24 February 2023 in New Delhi. The Summit deliberations will focus on the umbrella theme: Mainstreaming Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience for Collective Action.

G20 in action: How collective effort drives development and keeps 1.5 degree C target within reach

February 20, 2023
to February 20, 2023

The world is on the path of crossing the 1.5°C guardrail as early as 2026 (WMO, 2022). The twin challenges of stabilizing climate change in the long-term, and slowing the rate of warming in the near term have to be tackled urgently to reduce the risk of extreme climate events

February 20, 2023 | 6:00 PM IST

News

What is India bringing to the G20 table on climate?

May 1, 2023 |
May 1, 2023
The Third Pole

There is really nothing on offer within G20 to induce India to revisit its net-zero dateline. It is more likely that the issue will be discussed and decided within UNFCCC (the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change) where the national commitments are to be taken into account both in the short run (2030) and the long run (2050), says Mr R R Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow,  Resource Efficiency and Governance Division, TERI.

India's climate policy is about pursuing intent with action

April 29, 2023
| Dr Vibha Dhawan
| Sunday Guardian

India's position in the global climate change debate is unique. While the background conditions-the low levels of historical and per-capita emissions and urgent developmental priorities-that inform India’s negotiating position remain unchanged, India as a nation has come a long way in the global negotiations starting from its position as a mere spectator to a climate leader, enhancing its national commitments to be in line with the climate action targets set during the Paris Agreement. Presently, the climate debate in India has become complex and multi-faceted in nature.

Listen: 'Setting Up Smog Towers to Filter Polluted Air Is a Huge Waste of Taxpayers' Money'

March 21, 2023 |
April 21, 2023
The Wire

"Not just in big cities, but even in rural areas, people now breathe polluted air," says Dr Anju Goel, Fellow, TERI, during the podcast interview with Mr Sidharth Bhatia. Dr Goel thinks pollution should become a political issue like education, which will make a big difference.

Greening attempt by govt: Plants at doorstep for free

April 20, 2023 |
April 20, 2023
The Hindustan Times

Delhi environment minister Mr Gopal Rai said that a "Save Environment" roundtable conference would hold on May 15 to look at further ideation on improving Delhi's real-time source apportionment to reduce pollution in Delhi-NCR further. Representatives from the Commission for Air Quality Management, the Central Pollution Control Board, IMD, World Bank, Safar, and organizations like TERI and the CSE and states including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Haryana will be invited for this conference.

Rallying For A World Where Development And Sustainability Go Hand In Hand

April 7, 2023 |
April 7, 2023
Outlook India

The Ministry of External Affairs, RIS, and TERI co-hosted the G20 India Second Development Working Group side event in Kumarakom, Kerala, experts underscored the unique challenges faced by developing countries, particularly the enormous costs of green transitions and the need to adhere to the principles of equity in just transition.

G20 development Working Group meet begins at Kumarakom

April 6, 2023 |
April 6, 2023
The Hindu

The second G20 Development Working Group meeting under the G20 Sherpa Track kick-started at Kumarakom in Kerala on 6 April. The side event was organised by the Ministry of External Affairs and G20 Secretariat in partnership with Research and Information System for Developing Countries, The Energy and Resource Institute, United Nations in India, Digital Impact Alliance, and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Policy

Oceans-Climate Interface: Implications For Global Commons Based Climate Action

January 3, 2023

The High Seas or the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (ABNJ), are a global common, which covers about two-thirds of the ocean surface and more than 90% of its volume and contains rich biodiversity of marine life. Oceans are the largest known carbon sink in the world.

Internationalizing Lifestyles For Environment: Messages For G20

January 3, 2023

Sustainable consumption and lifestyles must be seen from the perspective of resource value chains that include resource extraction, manufacturing, processing, use by consumer, and disposal. Mainstream frameworks on sustainable consumption and production focus more on upstream and mid-stream components, such as resource efficiency and circular economy.

Road to Sharm El-Sheikh: Towards Equity and Climate Justice

November 7, 2022

Egypt will host the 27th Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC (COP27) in Sharm El-Sheikh from 6th -18th November 2022. The COP27 Presidency lays out the vision for inclusive, rules-based, ambitious, substantive outcomes, commensurate with the challenges based on science and guided by principles building on agreements, decisions, pledges, and commitments from Rio 1992 to Glasgow 2021.

Joint Crediting Mechanism and Article 6 of the Paris Agreement: Strengthening Japan-India Technology Collaboration

July 1, 2022

Under the ambit of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, this issue brief explores the potential of a Japan –India partnership and examines the opportunities for shaping mutual ties through the Joint Crediting Mechanism.

Transitioning to a Low Carbon Technology for the Road Transport in India

March 14, 2022

India is the world’s third largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions. At present, India accounts for a significant multimodal road transport sector contributing approximately 10 per cent of country’s total CO2 emissions, making it the second most carbon emitting sector in the country. Driven by rising population, income, and urbanization, under a business-as-usual scenario, India’s energy demand from transport is projected to increase six fold in 2050 from current levels.

Super Efficient AC Deployment: Opportunities through business models in India

February 13, 2021

The policy brief aims to analyse the bulk procurement program for Super-Efficient Air Conditioners which includes key business strategies and technical criteria. The paper further analyses the existing framework of the model and elucidates key takeaways for impact enhancement. It explores various international models available in the cooling sector to recognize their applicability in the Indian context to promote low GWP refrigerant based energy-efficient air conditioners.

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.

Director, Earth Science and Climate Change
Fellow and Area Convenor, Center for Global Environment Research
Area Convener, Centre for Environmental Studies