Climate Change

In the post-Paris agreement era, accelerating climate action is the biggest hope to ensure a safe future for all. In India, our work focuses on climate modelling to develop a better understanding of climate variability at regional scales. We study the risks and vulnerabilities of key sectors such as water, health, agriculture and industry. Our work in climate science is inextricably linked to policy research and recommendations for the Indian government to shape its domestic policies, as well as contribute to its position in global negotiations. Through a number of initiatives, we are beginning to extend our knowledge and research in climate science and policy to other emerging economies.

climate

NEW IN CLIMATE

  • Financing

    Report

    Financing Low Carbon Transition in India's MSME Sector

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    urban-heat

    Theme

    HFCs – Enabling efficient refrigerant transitions

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  • climate change video

     

    Explainer

    A primer on climate change, its impacts, actions and assessments

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  • climate

    Policy Brief

    Mobile Air Conditioning (MAC): A technology landscape, challenges and opportunities for sustainable cooling

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  • Adaptation future

    Article

    Urban Flood Analysis and Early Warning Solution for Disaster Resilience

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Projects

Articles

WSDS2024: Launch of MTCoE’s Daylight Plugin Tool at the thematic session "Advancing Sustainable Building Practices: Role of Laboratories and State-of-the-art Infrastructure to Enhance Energy Efficiency & Thermal Comfort."

Ms Shiren Pandita

The session was conducted as a part of the World Sustainable Development Summit 2024, the only leading sustainable development summit in the Global South. Held on February 8th, 2024, at the India Habitat Centre, it focused on exploring the potential of smart technologies and data analytics in managing energy and optimizing building performance, emphasizing the significance of human-centric design for improving occupant comfort.

Heat Waves and Action Plans: How Does India Fare?

While preparedness, alerts and warnings, and other measures of heat action plans have vastly reduced the impact of heat waves, the duration and frequency of climate-induced heat waves are on the rise. Jency Samuel says that as heat waves impact people’s health and livelihood, and the nation’s economy adversely, there is a need to improve and better implement the heat action plans.

Urban Flood Analysis and Early Warning Solution for Disaster Resilience

Mr Prasoon Singh

Abstract

The objective of this work is to present the experimental findings of an urban flood early warning system developed by combining a mesoscale numerical weather prediction model (WRF) forecast with a distributed hydrologic modeling system. Hydrodynamic models have been used in the simulation of intricate and interrelated dynamic systems, such as urban watersheds and urban water infrastructure. The use of these models in assessing flood hazard, vulnerability, and risk is well-established.

Dr Vibha Dhawan meets heads of governments of Japan and Guyana

Director General brings focus on TERI’s multiple initiatives during visits to Japan, Guyana and the United States

TERI director general Dr Vibha Dhawan met heads of government of Japan and Guyana, and the Indian Ambassador to the United States of America (USA) in the month of October.

Brahmapuram Landfill Fire: Points towards the Need for Decentralized Waste Management

In this article, Sharada Balasubramanian highlights that a series of flames have been breaking out, year after year, at the Brahmapuram landfill in Kerala. Yet, it was not taken seriously. This year, the massive uncontrollable fire breakout urged the Kochi Corporation to take serious steps to resolve this issue as it impacted the health of people and the environment. Brahmapuram is the only landfill that is a bone of contention in Kerala, where solid waste management, otherwise is decentralized and systematic.

Mainstreaming Climate-Resilient Water and Sanitation Infrastructure For Long Lasting Impacts

Ms Manisha Jain

In this article, Manisha Jain and Dr Kriti Akansha highlight that it is necessary to support long-term thinking, transformation, flexibility and innovation while taking the associated climate risks into consideration to attain climate resilience. There is a need for a robust framework that ensures climate policies are integrated into all sectors and that planning, implementation, and evaluation are strictly followed.

Events

World Sustainable Development Summit 2025

March 5, 2025
to March 7, 2025

Workshop on Solar Geoengineering Scenario Development

December 17, 2024
to December 18, 2024

Board of Directors of Tata Projects visit TERI Gwal Pahari Campus

November 27, 2024
to November 27, 2024

On November 27, 2024, TERI hosted the leadership team of Tata Projects, including its Board of Directors, CXOs, and MD and CEO, at its Gwal Pahari campus.

News

India's climate challenge and the rise of a new green economy

December 24, 2024
| Dr Vibha Dhawan
| Mint

India's current climate trajectory is characterized by increasingly frequent and severe weather anomalies, from the inundating floods in Mumbai to the relentless heatwaves across Rajasthan, writes Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI.

Baku To Belem: Charting Equitable Climate Pathways For The Global South

December 9, 2024 |
December 9, 2024
Krishak Jagat

A high-level roundtable discussion titled ‘Future of Climate Change Negotiations: Lessons from COP29’ was held in New Delhi, offering an in-depth debriefing on the outcomes of COP29, hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event, organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), provided a platform for experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to deliberate on the critical challenges and opportunities for the Global South, particularly in the areas of climate finance, adaptation, and energy transition.

COP29 Ends with $300B Climate Deal Amid Global Tensions

December 8, 2024 |
December 8, 2024
The Caribbean Camera

Looking ahead, delegates agreed to develop a “road map” for climate finance, which will be presented at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. This roadmap will outline steps to meet higher climate finance targets and address lingering disagreements. Mr Dipak Dasgupta, economist at The Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi, stressed the importance of this process, urging careful consideration and scientific rigor as negotiations progress.

Reflections on Baku's ‘NCQG outcome’

December 4, 2024
| Dr Ritu Mathur and Dr Sanchit Saran Agarwal
| The Hindu

It appears to have bypassed the principles of equitable burden sharing and climate justice, having failed to have recognised the financial needs of the global south, says Dr Ritu Mathur, Senior Fellow and Director and Dr Sanchit Saran Agarwal, Associate Fellow, Energy Assessment & Modelling Division, TERI.

COP29: Too costly a failure?

December 3, 2024 |
December 3, 2024
Business India

The plea of India and other countries, which have been urging the developed countries to take responsibility, did not cut much ice and the agreement unveiling saw walkouts by several nations and blocks including India, AoSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) and LDCs (Least Developed Countries) calling it inequitable and inadequate. "India, representing the interests of the Global South, rejected the inequitable agreement and processes on the climate finance goal.

12th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum: Shaping the Future of the Third Pole and Eastern Himalayas

November 29, 2024 |
December 3, 2024
Krishi Jagran

The 12th Eastern Himalayan Naturenomics Forum discussed the critical role of the Third Pole in climate regulation and sustainable development. The Awards programme also celebrated 50 years of TERI’s (The Energy and Resources Institute) critical and forward-looking work on science, research and sustainable development in both India and around the world.

Policy

Financing Just Transition: Synergies between NCQG and JTWP

November 18, 2024

The discussions and negotiations for the JTWP and the NCQG so far reflect the broader challenge of aligning global ambitions with practical actionable steps towards equitable climate action. Looking ahead, the JTWP has the potential to be a framework for deeper, more effective collaboration towards a collective narrative around implementing the Paris Agreement through just transition pathways at global as well as national scales, leading to tangible progress towards a sustainable and equitable future. This potential cannot be realized without a commensurate outcome of the NCQG process.

Road to Baku: The New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance

October 15, 2024

Climate finance plays a crucial role in climate efforts. This paper examines the evolution of the discussions on the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG), which will be a key determinant of the success of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29). Despite recent progress, current climate finance targets and mechanisms remain inadequate. This paper analyses the positions of various countries and coalitions. Developing countries stress the responsibility of developed countries, emphasizing equity in climate finance.

Internationalizing Sustainable Lifestyles for Climate Justice

September 27, 2024

Mainstream frameworks on sustainable consumption and production fail to holistically capture downstream segments of resource consumption and production systems, especially in relation to lifestyle choices. Building on previous work by TERI, this policy brief seeks to develop composite metrics on consumption for G20 countries and discusses ways to further internationalize sustainable lifestyles.

Services

Climate change risk assessment

We generate climate projections at global and regional scales and impacts, vulnerability and adaptation assessments in key sectors using established models and our in-house super-computing facility. We also conducts GHG inventorization and mitigation analysis. We provide national and international policy analysis and review, and contribute to key issues in negotiations encompassing adaptation, mitigation, technology, and finance.

Team

Distinguished Fellow, Earth Science and Climate Change
Distinguished Fellow, Earth Science and Climate Change
Distinguished Fellow, Green Shipping
Director, Climate Change and Air Quality
Associate Director, Earth Science and Climate Change
Area Convenor, Center for Climate Change Research
Associate Fellow and Area Convenor, Centre for Climate Modelling