Publications

Internationalising Lifestyle for the Environment

Research Paper
| June 24, 2025

Lifestyle for the Environment’ (LiFE), introduced by India’s Prime Minister at COP26, emphasises behavioural shifts for sustainable consumption. This chapter explores the integration of LiFE into multilateral processes to strengthen global sustainability efforts. It analyses opportunities within the G20, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to embed lifestyle-centric approaches into global governance. 

India’s New AC Set Point Rule: A Small Tweak with Big Implications

Article
| June 19, 2025

Why a shift from 16°C to 20°C could reshape the nation’s energy future and cooling habits.

Climate Anxiety in Youth: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions

Article
| June 11, 2025

A recent survey reveals that 94% of Indian youth are grappling with eco-anxiety amid the climate crisis.

Assessing the Impact of Regional Climate Variability on Forest Vulnerability in Assam Using a GIS and Machine Learning-Based Approach

Research Paper
| June 10, 2025

Assam, one of India’s richest regions in terms of biodiversity, faces significant environmental threats due to regional climate variability and anthropogenic pressures. This study explores a GIS and machine learning (ML)-based approach to assess the impact of climate change on forest and biodiversity vulnerability across the state.

Bioremediation of oil spills and oil contaminated soil by Oil zapper

Article
| June 2, 2025

Oil spills are a worldwide phenomenon that pose a major threat to ecosystems and their flora and fauna. Despite the greatest efforts of the petroleum industry and consumers, oil spills throughout the country are increasing. Aside from oil spills, oil refineries produce a significant amount of toxic hydrocarbon waste that must be managed in an environmentally responsible manner. Physical (storing oil sludge and drill cutting in secured pits) and chemical techniques of removing these hydrocarbons are both costly and harmful to the environment.

The Silent Disaster: Why India Must Build Stronger Heatwave Resilience

Article
| May 30, 2025

Between 1992 and 2015, official estimates recorded 24,223 deaths caused by heatwaves, earning it the labels of a “silent killer” or an “invisible disaster.”

India and Commonwealth: Examining the Debates on Contemporary Relevance and Continued Membership

Research Paper
| May 30, 2025

India’s continued membership in the Commonwealth has led to an emergence o f two opposing perceptions. The first group perceives it as a relevant organisation, and India should continue its membership to pursue its varied interests. The second group relegates it as a relic o f the colonial past and strongly advocates for exiting the organisation.

Climate change—WASH services—health nexus: the Indian case

Research Paper
| May 27, 2025

Climate change introduces a wide range of factors that affect human health, which are now becoming increasingly evident Worldwide. This emphasizes the necessity for a more profound understanding of the intricate health issues to implement preventive measures and intervention strategies aimed to safeguard lives on the planet earth. The current set of circumstances calls for more intensive research to gain a better comprehend of the emerging health risks associated with climate change and to identify the most vulnerable populations.

Towards A Greener Tomorrow: White Paper on Indo-Dutch Opportunities for the Biotransition

Policy brief
| May 27, 2025

The shift to a sustainable and low-carbon future is imperative as global temperatures have risen above a critical point. Therefore, switching to alternative renewable energy sources is essential to address climate security concerns and meet the growing energy demand. Bio-based resources are renewable and have great potential for achieving the decarbonization goal. We call this the biotransition, which refers to the shift from a fossil-based economy to biobased economy that places a strong emphasis on using biological resources.

High-value products from microalgae—Unlocking the potential for large-scale commercialization

Research Paper
| May 26, 2025

Microalgae are a sustainable source for the commercial production of nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and pharmaceutical industries. In order to obtain the optimum yields, current focus should be to develop a process chain that revolves around cost-efficiency and ease of up-scaling to develop holistic microalgal biorefineries. Enhanced biomass yield through optimization of nutrient composition, light intensity, agitation, cultivation techniques, or genetic engineering is one of the promising solutions.