• देश में प्राकृतिक आपदाओं के बढ़ने के साथ-साथ, जान-माल का नुकसान बढ़ता जा रहा है। हीट वेव, चक्रवात और अन्य मौसमी मार से खेती-किसानी में भारी नुकसान हो रहा है।
• इंटरगवर्नमेंटल पैनल ऑन क्लाइमेट चेंज (आईपीसीसी) ने हाल ही में जारी छठी आंकलन रिपोर्ट में भारत को भविष्य में मौसम सम्बन्धी आपदाओं के बढ़ने की चेतावनी दी है।
• मौसम में आने वाले बदलाव की सबसे ज़्यादा मार कृषि क्षेत्र को झेलनी पड़ती है। केवल पिछले 4 वर्षों में 200 लाख हेक्टेयर फसल-योग्य क्षेत्र को नुकसान हुआ। भविष्य की इन चुनौतियों से निपटने के लिए अनुकूलन के प्रयासों को बढ़ाने की जरूरत है।

The benefits of switching to electric process-heating technologies are evident. Traditionally, process heat is provided at temperatures well above the required levels, while electrical process-heating technologies deliver heat at precise temperatures.

Climate finance was one of the most contested issues at COP26 in Glasgow last November. Along with other emerging and vulnerable countries, India demanded greater climate action from the developed world, especially for providing climate finance.

India is vulnerable, in varying degrees, to multiple disasters. The risks are compounded due to inherent vulnerabilities related to socio-economic conditions, environmental and climate change. India has several flagship programmes with large budgets, delivering serendipitous adaptation. The MGNREGS is one such programme implementing works related to Natural Resource Management.

The compounded effects of urbanization and climate change are taking a serious toll on rapidly growing urban spaces around the world. Blue-green infrastructure offers a host of opportunities and benefits for addressing the multiple challenges of environment, social well-being and climate change. Cities can mobilize key actors for crosscutting and inclusive action, bringing diverse stakeholders such as national governments, private sector, civil society and common citizens together.

With an increasing demand for large-scale energy storage systems, there is a need for novel electrode materials to store energy in batteries efficiently. 2D materials are promising as electrode materials for battery applications. Despite their excellent properties, none of the available single-phase 2D materials offers a combination of properties required for maximizing energy density, power density, and cycle life.

In 2016, we at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) were studying the electrification status of various villages in Karnataka. The exercise gave us interesting insights into the scope of employing technologies like solar photovoltaic (PV) mini-grids to electrify such areas, where grid extension is not feasible. This motivated us to further investigate the last-mile electricity solutions. For getting deeper into the energy access issue, we decided to implement a mini-grid pilot project and better understand the ground realities.

The Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP) implemented the mini-grid pilot project during 2018–19 in Kudagaon, an un-electrified remote island on the Mahanadi River, in the Angul district of Odisha, where three generations of indigenous people live.

Punjab is at the heart of India’s agricultural success story. Buoyed by the Green Revolution and favourable policy measures, the state contributes to 16% of India’s agricultural exports. The Agricultural Export Policy (AEP) of Punjab, notified in 2019, aims to more than double the value of its total exports of rice, wheat, and fruits from INR 14,000 Cr to INR 32,000 Cr by 2027–28, a staggering increase of 233%.