As a developing economy, India has numerous developmental aspirations. How India meets these goals without worsening the climate crisis is at the heart of CSTEP's work. Addressing climate change and enabling a secure and sustainable future for Indian citizens require an overhaul of previous paradigms on development and resource utilisation. This is reflected in our work on developing low-carbon trajectories for development with an emphasis on nature-based solutions.
We are working with state governments across India to build capacity on risk and vulnerability assessments to inform their respective action plans on climate change. The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is crucial to achieving a secure and sustainable future. CSTEP's studies explore the possibility of a greater integration of renewables in the energy sector.
Tackling heatwaves: Why India must revisit its options for cooling
Several parts of India reeled under a heatwave in April with temperatures soaring from 43 Degree Celsius to 46 Degree Celsius - the highest since 1901. The grim news is that in the decades to come, India is expected to suffer more frequent and intense heat waves as a result of climate change, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and district-level climate projections made for India at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy.
Economic Impacts of Low-Carbon Policies
Meeting India’s short- and long-term climate commitments made at COP26 entails a complete economic transformation, which can have considerable developmental tradeoffs. Many long-term energy and climate models that project low-carbon pathways for the country consider the gross domestic product (GDP) to be exogenously driving growth in various sectors. However, low-carbon policies or technologies will also impact GDP, as well as other economic variables like employment and income.
Behavioural Shifts Will Drive Decarbonisation in the Transport Sector
Almost 10 per cent of the total GHG emissions in India come from its transport sector. Attaining the ‘net zero’ goal calls for strong sectoral interventions, therefore.
For a breathable Bengaluru
In the race for generating data to carry out scientific studies and publish reports, we tend to forget that end-users of such studies or reports are often the employees of state and Central departments. For them to understand the message from the report and the scientific process behind the conclusion, it is essential to make them a part of the studies right from the word ‘go’.
[कमेंट्री] बढ़ रहा मौसम का प्रकोप,भविष्य की चुनौतियों के लिए खुद को तैयार करने की जरूरत
- 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।
Climate Action Series: Warming Up to Climate Action – Incentives and Finance
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.
Realigning Developmental Programmes for Reducing Climate Vulnerability for Adaptation: Case Study of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in India
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.
Promoting Blue-Green Infrastructure in Urban Spaces Through Citizen Science Initiatives
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.
At the Root of Stubble Burning
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%.