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.
Energy Consumption and CO2 Emissions by the Indian Mobile Telecom Industry
The Indian mobile telecom industry, one of the fastest growing sectors in India, had 5843 million subscribers in 2010-11 registering an annual growth rate of 4915%. The energy consumed by the sector was 163 PJ and the corresponding CO2 emission was estimated at 329 million tons. In this paper, the mobile telecom industry is dis-aggregated into various segments, based on the life-cycle of the device, and each segment’s contribution to the overall energy consumption and its respective CO2 emissions are discussed.
Disentangling the complexity of India's agricultural sector
Agricultural policies in India directly impact the livelihoods of close to two thirds of India’s population. Through policies, the
Creating Inclusive Cities: A Review of Indicators for Measuring Sustainability for Urban Infrastructure in India
Measuring progress towards the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) will substantially depend on how countries are performing in the implementation of targets under the goals. One of the key challenges lies in designing sustainability indicators. For developing countries like India, the challenge is even more complex, given the continuous tension between quality of life aspirations and commitments towards sustainable development pathways.
A theoretical analysis of creativity methods in engineering design: casting and improving ASIT within C-K theory
"This paper demonstrates the benefit of conducting analyses of methods with the aid of a theory Such an approach provides a clear basis for analysing different methods that could in turn be compared with each other. This approach is demonstrated through the critical analysis of advanced systematic inventive thinking (ASIT) – a practical method – using the C–K theory, a design theory that offers a formal model of creative thinking. The analysis uncovers a paradox in ASIT operation: being creative while ‘staying in the box’.
Sea level rise and climate change exiles: A possible solution
Will rising sea levels cause mass migrations of people from low-lying, impoverished equatorial areas into regions of higher ground—and if so, what will their reception be by their hosts? What can world leaders do to prepare for the population shifts likely to come from sea level rise already under way from the current high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Burying plutonium: Watt a waste
Burying plutonium: Watt a waste
How the Most Vulnerable Countries Fared at the Paris Meeting
The most vulnerable countries of the world had specific concerns going into the Paris meeting of the Conference of Parties on climate change. Some of these concerns were met at the conference, although the long-term implications remain to be seen.Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted by 160 countries. The purpose of the INDCs was to get commitments from all countries with the overall goal of bending their trajectories sufficiently by 2030 so that dangerous climate change could be avoided.
Carbon Counting
Carbon Counting
Low Carbon and Climate Resilient Irrigation Pumping in Karnataka - Challenges and Prospects
The policy note examines the growing need for energy efficient water pumping for agriculture in Karnataka (India's second most water-stricken state).