Industry decarbonisation: Building ideas and coalitions for a carbon neutral future

As India develops, the demand for key materials is expected to shoot up in the coming decades, placing India at the centre of global growth in energy demand and emissions. The energy choices made by Indian industry today will have longstanding global ramifications for a climate safe future.

As part of its decarbonization agenda for Indian industry, TERI released its report ‘Towards a Low Carbon Steel Sector’ in January 2020. The report highlighted that India’s steel demand is set to quadruple by 2030, and in a business-as-usual scenario (BAU), it will lead to 837 million tonnes of CO2 emissions, which is nearly three to four times the current emissions from the sector. TERI’s report recommended a series of measures to support the growth of steel industry while reducing environmental impact.

TERI also released a policy brief on hydrogen’s potential in helping India transition to a carbon neutral economy, highlighting its economic benefits for the Indian industry.

The Potential Role of Hydrogen in India
Launch of PRAMAAN: Portal for Renewable Energy Action Assessment Metrics

Taking forward India’s leadership at the Industry Transitions track at the 2019 UN Climate Action, Summit, TERI facilitated a coalition of leading Indian CEOs to commit to a near zero emissions pathway by 2050. The coalition, starting with six founding signatories, launched an Industry Charter for Near Zero Emissions by 2050 at the Climate Week NYC in September 2020.

Launch of Industry led Near Zero Emissions initiative at Climate Week NYC

We are committed to play a leadership role by our actions and engagements towards achieving our carbon negative commitment by 2040.

Mahendra Singhi
MD & CEO, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited

CEOs for the Future: 8 Priority Business Actions for a Green Recovery

Earlier, TERI and We Mean Business, along with a consortium of partners facilitated a group of 20 CEOs, who signed a 'call to action' outlining priorities for repurposing business activity to stimulate green growth and create a more resilient India in the economic recovery required in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Invest in green jobs; End fossil-fuel subsidies: António Guterres, UNSG at DSML 2020

At the annual Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture, TERI’s vision for India’s energy and industry transition was echoed by Antonio Guterres, the UN Secretary General, who called upon countries to invest in green jobs and end fossil-fuel subsidies. He said that investments in renewable energy generate three times more jobs than investments in polluting fossil fuels and highlighted that in the light of the economic fallout of Covid-19, such a job creation opportunity can’t be missed.

Invest in green jobs. Do not bail out polluting industries. End fossil-fuel subsidies. Take climate risks into account in all financial and policy decisions. Work together. Most important, leave no one behind

Antonio Guterres
United Nations Secretary General

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