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.
India's Aspirations for Low-Carbon-Dioxide Growth
A policy brief analysing India's aspirations of achieving development without leaving a massive carbon footprint.
Climate Parliament: Legislators working worldwide to combat climate change
A brief on climate policy in kannada.
Building Smart Cities in India: An opportunity for strategising urban development
Problem highlights:
Lack of clarity on smart city concept in the Indian context
Increasing intra and inter-regional disparity despite increasing urbanisation
Urban development strategies not effectively integrated with overall national/ state development agenda
Proposed solutions:
Constitute smart city working group at state and city level including all stakeholder representatives
Select pilot cities to achieve spatial inclusiveness and create exemplars for best practices
Sustainable Access for All: Building Sustainability into Universal Energy Access
This paper investigates whether the goal of universal energy access in the post-MDGs dialogue sufficiently addresses the challenges faced by the Southern countries. Though access to energy is an important precondition for development and resilience to socio-economic and climate variability and change, about 1.7 million people lack access to electricity. Hence, the post-MDGs dialogue mandates attention to energy poverty reduction. A critical review of literature on the dialogue was conducted to analyse gaps in the current conceptualisation of the goal.
Integrated Urban Sanitation Decision Support Tool
This report is a prelude to the development of a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) decision support tool that will aid cities in providing cost-effective, inclusive and sustainable sanitation options for all with a particular emphasis on the urban poor This is proposed to be achieved through an integrated assessment framework of alternative sanitation technologiesA PoC decision support tool is planned to be developed, with an aim to facilitate an integrated approach to the sanitation investment planning process for ULB in India The PoC tool is envisioned to provide stakeholders the information and kno
A Sustainable Development Framework for India's Climate Policy: An Interim Report
As a large developing country, India’s challenge is to meet its development aspirations in a carbon-constrained world This study, undertaken by the Centre for Study of Science Technology and Policy (CSTEP) uses Sustainable Development (SD) as the overarching framework and aims at equitable access to energy, clean air and water, food, health and livelihoods and economic growth The study connects elements of SD in an integrated bottom-up approach to understand the implications for economy, energy trajectories, emissions and costs
Intelligent Transport System
An approach towards an intelligent transportation system
Urban Transport Crisis in Emerging Economies: India
Ch 5: India in 'Urban Transport Crisis in Emerging Economies' (The Urban Book Series).
Affordable Housing in Urban India
This policy briefs about the problems in urban areas and proposes solutions some highlights are here: Problem Highlight:
• 65 million Indians live in slums or substandard housing
• Prohibitive costs of private housing projects make them unaffordable
Proposed Solutions:
• Bank loans for purchasing land for affordable housing
• Reduce land costs through higher FSI/FAR provision
• Lower registration charges
• Shorter approval cycle
Climate Change: Need to Act Now
The threat of climate change is a serious global concern. There is near consensus among scientists that the threat is due to man-made emissions of Greenhouse Gases (such as Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxides, etc).