Publications

Fleet Modernization: A solution to achieve better air quality

Policy brief
| December 10, 2019

India's transport demand has grown from a total of 5.3 million in 1981 to 230 million in 2016, with two-wheelers and cars having 73% and 14% share, respectively. Commercial vehicles though constitute only about 5% of the total fleet, contribute to nearly 80% of total PM emissions. Phase-wise implementation of fleet modernization (transforming pre BS-IV commercial vehicles to BS-VI) would lead to a 40-80% reduction in PM and NOx emissions from the sector by 2025.

My whole effort is to make mud a viable material, says Revathi Kamath

Article
| December 9, 2019

Delhi-based architect Revathi Kamath held a two-day mud and bamboo workshop close on the heels of the 11th edition of GRIHA Summit in Delhi where she introduced participants to the benefit of using earth architecture and techniques for a sustainable and integrated approach to development. The workshop also gave hands-on experience in sustainable architecture.

Opportunities with Biofuel: Co-benefit of Air Quality Improvement

Policy brief
| December 5, 2019

While biofuels have been discussed as one of the ways to reduce air pollution, changing the process of bio-diesel production is needed to reduce tailpipe emissions of nanoparticles. These are lesser known pollutants even more harmful than PM2.5 and PM10.

Green Education: Joining Hands to Address Climate Change

Article
| December 4, 2019

Tata Steel in association with TERI hosted a session at the UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid on building awareness in the community, especially the youth, and measures to be taken for imparting environmental values to the citizens of tomorrow.

A clean-up drive in the mangroves of Navi Mumbai

Article
| December 3, 2019

On 2 November 2019, TERI's Western Regional Center (WRC) helmed a cleanup campaign along the mangroves TERI's Western Regional Center (WRC), Mumbai is an implementation partner for outreach activities in Mumbai, under the Project entitled 'Promotion of countermeasures against marine plastic litter in Southeast Asia and India' funded by United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP).

Mountains Shall Stand Tall

Article
| December 3, 2019

The World Mountain Forum held in Bishkek last year met on the theme, 'Mountains in a Changing World: Strengthening Partnerships and Pathways towards a Thriving Mountain Future'. It brought together the global sustainable mountain development community to identify and develop solutions for mountain areas globally.

In the light of what we cannot see: Exploring the interconnections between gender and electricity access

Research Paper
| December 3, 2019

In this paper we quantify gendered decision-making patterns regarding electricity access, light and appliances in selected rural contexts in Mahadevsthan (Nepal), Homa Bay (Kenya) and Chhattisgarh (India). In the literature, decision-making in electricity has primarily been studied through case studies and qualitative methods. By quantifying some of the gendered patterns in this field, we first seek to document and compare the situation in selected contexts and then to refine the understanding of the nexus between gender and electricity access.

Nutrient pollution in the South Asia Seas (SAS)

Policy brief
| December 3, 2019

Anthropogenic activities like (i) agriculture fertilisers, (ii) coastal pisciculture, (i) sewage discharge, (iv) industrial activity, (v) burning fossil fuels and (vi) effluents from ports increase nutrients in surface water and seas. Nitrate pollution is largely caused by agriculture run-off, discharge from industry and manure or sewage. Phosphate pollution is tied to improper treatment of detergents in wastewater and from agro-fertilisers.

Climate action: Industries need to be frontrunners for a low-carbon future

Article
| November 27, 2019

Industries have an important role in bringing about low-carbon growth and meeting climate goals. The presence of a number of industry representatives at the UN Climate Summit 2019 was a sign of an increasing recognition of their role in taking steps to control carbon emissions, especially in ‘harder-to-abate’ sectors such as cement, steel, aviation etc.

Discussion Paper on Clean Development Mechanism as Catalyst for Sustainable Development Mechanism Under Article 6.4

Policy brief
| November 27, 2019

Our analysis highlights the necessity of undertaking a full transition of unused certified emission reductions (CERs) from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in order to create a trust in the international processes and the market mechanisms.