Policy Briefs/Reports

India's ambition is substantial in social, political and environmental terms: Key messages from India's NDC

07 Dec 2018
| Mr Karan Mangotra

India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) must be seen in a holistic manner, the aim being to achieve sustainable development within the framework of 8 quantitative and qualitative NDCs. India's plan as per its quantified NDC targets is to: lower emissions intensity of its GDP by 33-35% compared to 2005 levels by 2030; increase total cumulative electricity generation from fossil free energy sources to 40% by 2030; create additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tons through additional forest and tree cover. With total annual emissions of 1,884.3 million tons of CO2

'India can manage a progressive transition from coal to renewables'

04 Dec 2018
| Mr Thomas Spencer
| Mr Raghav Pachouri
| Mr G Renjith
| Ms Sachi Vohra

In the coal vs renewables question in India, a more flexible power system can help manage a progressive transition, according to TERI's new discussion paper 'Coal Transition in India'

Loss and Damage: The Gradual Progression and the Road Ahead

31 Oct 2018
| Ms Kavya Bajaj

Loss and damage, in the context of climate change, is associated with the particular impacts of climate change in developing countries vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, such as sea level rise and extreme weather events. In this article, Kavya Bajaj helps us understand the milestone developments that have taken place in various climate conferences regarding this controversial mechanism.

Linking Carbon Markets: A case study of India's PAT and REC Schemes

31 Jul 2018
| Ms Tamiksha Singh
| Mr Karan Mangotra
| Swati Agarwal

Following the enactment of the Paris Agreement, the carbon markets in national and international spheres are poised for revival. Although the global carbon market dependent on the Kyoto Protocol have nearly collapsed, many voluntary or national carbon markets are still functioning in several countries under relevant regulations or voluntary arrangements. These include markets and trading systems such as Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) and Perform Achieve and Trade (PAT) in India. One of the key questions emerging from the Paris Agreement is how such existing markets are to be integrated with the cooperative mechanisms to be evolved under Article 6 of the Agreement.

Market-based approaches of the Paris agreement: Where are we now?

31 Jul 2018
| Ms Kavya Bajaj

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (PA) focuses on a framework for countries to voluntarily cooperate using market and non-market based approaches to raise climate ambition. In the process there is also recognition of the need to establish an emissions accounting framework that will promote sustainable development, and environmental integrity.

Understanding vulnerabilities using a hotspot approach

04 May 2018
| Ms Suruchi Bhadwal
| Mr Ganesh Gorti
| Amir Bazaz
| Prathigna Poonacha
| Tuhin Ghosh
| Ramkumar Bendapudi

Study shows higher temperature increase in India's mountains affects agriculture, water resources and the millions of people living in the mountains and its foothills

Improving air conditioners in India

26 Apr 2018
| Mr Karan Mangotra
| Swati Agarwal
| Alex Hillbrand
| Sameer Kwatra
| Bhaskar Deol
| Amartya Awasthi
| Anjali Jaiswal
| Stephen O. Andersen
| Nancy J. Sherman
| Durwood Zaelke

Most modern ACs in India already use climate friendly gases, but increasing their energy efficiency will further boost carbon reduction

SDGs: An imperative for climate change

13 Nov 2017
| Ms Mrinal Mathur

This paper examines the historical progression of the important global developments and climate change agendas as well as throws light on the interface between climate change and sustainable development. The paper

Significance of the Decision at Kigali: Implications for India

23 Mar 2017
| Swati Agarwal
| Mr Barath Mahadevan
| Mr Karan Mangotra

What lies ahead for India as countries undertake the Kigali amendment, and the innovative approaches required to meet the targets On October 15, 2016 nearly 197 countries got together to mark incremental progress in overcoming differences, drawing upon creativity, compromises, and trust towards finally reaching an agreement which is ambitious, balanced, and unique.

Road Map for Mainstreaming Urban Climate Resilience in Goa

26 Jul 2016
| Ms Riya Rahiman

This policy brief is based on the learning that emerged from The Energy and Resources Institute's (TERI) two-year long program on 'State-level policy engagement for mainstreaming urban climate resilience' in Goa and Uttarakhand, with support from the Rockefeller Foundation under its Asian Cities Climate Change Resilient Network (ACCCRN) initiative. ACCCRN—a 9-year initiative (2008–16)—has been instrumental in bringing forth the urban climate change resilience agenda to cities in Asia.