Publications
Mobilising Finance for Climate Action and Disaster-Resilient Infrastructure in Developing Countries
Research Paper
| May 29, 2023
A fundamental obstacle all cities, especially those in developing countries, must overcome on the path to a low-emissions and climate-resilient future is the lack of capital and access to finance. International adaptation finance flows to developing countries remain between five and ten times lower than the estimated needs, and the gap is widening. As the impacts of climate change intensify, the developing world urgently needs financial mechanisms to mobilise funds to help vulnerable countries and communities adapt and build disaster-resilient infrastructure.
Delivery of Agrochemicals and Nutrients Through a Biopolymer‑Based System Derived from Lignocellulosic Rice Straw
Research Paper
| May 26, 2023
Contemporary agricultural practises have stimulated environmental pollution, which has led to the debasement of the ecosystem, land, and environment. The utilization of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is increasing annually, which further damages agriculture. The current situation in agriculture has become unsustainable. Recent advances in nanotechnology have provided an innovative and resourceful approach to the agriculture sector by implementing a biopolymer-based delivery system that delivers agrochemicals in a controlled manner without polluting the environment.
A novel essential small RNA, sSp_p6 influences nitrogen fixation in Azospirillum brasilense
Research Paper
| May 25, 2023
Azospirillum brasilense Sp245, a diazotrophic plant growth-promoting bacterium influences host plants via wellknown mechanisms, gene interactions and confers abiotic and biotic stress tolerance mediated by signalling molecules. We present here, the functional characterization of a small RNA (sRNA), sSp_p6, identified from the 468 sRNAs identified in A.
Genome-wide identification of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 small RNAs responsive to nitrogen starvation and likely involvement in plant-microbe interactions
Research Paper
| May 22, 2023
Small RNAs (sRNAs) are non-coding RNAs known to regulate various biological functions such as stress adaptation, metabolism, virulence as well as pathogenicity across a wide range of bacteria, mainly by controlling mRNA stabilization or regulating translation. Identification and functional characterization of sRNAs has been carried out in various plant growth-promoting bacteria and they have been shown to help the cells cope up with environmental stress. No study has been carried out to uncover these regulatory molecules in the diazotrophic
Assessment of the pesticidal behaviour of diacyl hydrazine-based ready-to-use nanoformulations
Research Paper
| May 22, 2023
Application of nanotechnology for crop protection in the form of nanopesticide has attracted significant interest in modern agriculture for the management of devastating polyphagous pests. In the present work, highly stable, ready-to-use water-based nanoformulations of hydrazine-based pesticides were evaluated for their Insect Growth Regulatory potential against the polyphagous insect pest—Spodoptera litura. Also, the nanoformulations were screened for their antifungal behaviour against plant pathogenic fungi; Colletotrichum gloeosporioides,
Factors affecting acceptance of electric two-wheelers in India: A discrete choice survey
Research Paper
| May 22, 2023
Government of India has adopted policies to grow the share of electric vehicles (EVs) to ‘de-carbonize’ India’s transport sector and reduce import dependence for oil. For the lower-middle income economy two-wheelers play a significant role in the private vehicle market. This paper focuses on the effectiveness of some of the demand incentives; roles of infrastructure, market visibility; and peer effects on acceptance of electric two-wheelers in India. It utilizes a discrete choice survey to collect responses from Indian residents. Respondents in six different
Monitoring the Role of Temporal Land Cover Changes on Mountain Hazard Susceptibility in Beas Valley, Himachal Pradesh, India
Research Paper
| May 22, 2023
In the last 50 years, drastic change in the spatio-temporal variation of climate patterns have been observed over the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) resulting increase in the frequency of Extreme Weather Events (EWE) such as cloud burst, flash flooding, land slide etc. Change in climate parameters has direct impact and consequence on the Himalayan ecosystem, which in turn adversely affects livelihood of people living in the high altitude area. Also, alteration in Land Use
Maximising Resource Efficiency and Circularity in the Electrical and Electronic Equipment Value Chain and the E-Waste Sector
Research Paper
| May 19, 2023
Countries face various challenges in streamlining the management of e-waste, whose global volume reached an estimated 53.6 million metric tonnes (MT) in 2019. Primary of these challenges is lack of accurate data reporting. The untapped recovery of e-waste also results in huge financial losses. The Global E-Waste Monitor, 2020, calculated the valuation of materials that could be recovered from e-waste generated in 2019 alone at about US$57 billion.
From Linear to Circular: Pathways for Sustainable Lifestyles
Research Paper
| May 17, 2023
As countries around the world commit to more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to climate action, it has become increasingly important that policies deal with de-coupling economic growth and environmental degradation, and re-coupling growth with planetary and ecological sustenance. Towards this, SDG-12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) acts as the bedrock of strategies aimed at accomplishing the Sustainable Development Goals. This Policy Brief outlines pathways to nudge behaviour towards a Circular Economy approach and away from linear production and consumption.
Building the Climate Resilience of Sub-National Infrastructure
Research Paper
| May 17, 2023
Extreme weather events and climate change-induced disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity across the globe. This has devastating impacts particularly for sub-national entities such as cities and local regions that continue to record higher infrastructural damage and losses during climate change-induced extreme weather events and disasters. Building back better, post-pandemic, therefore necessitates building robust resilience systems by mainstreaming resilient infrastructure in the planning of these countries, especially at the sub-national level.