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

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  • 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

Enhanced transparency

Preparedness towards implementing Enhanced Transparency Framework and tracking NDCs under the Paris Agreement

Sheetal

SHEETAL: Alliance for Sustainable Habitat, Energy Efficiency and Thermal Comfort for All

Hydropower

Development of a Hydropower Forecasting System Framework and Implementation of a Pilot Project for Hydropower Optimization in Bhutan

RSD Project

Develop an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) for RSD Project and Shahpurkandi Dam Project and Design Flood Review of Ranjit Sagar Dam Project

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.

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Events

7th G-STIC CONFERENCE IN INDIA

October 22, 2024
to October 23, 2024

HARMONISING TECHNOLOGY, POLICY AND BUSINESS PATHWAYS FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE AND COEXISTENCE

WSDS-ACT4EARTH National Roundtable: Road to Baku

September 17, 2024
to September 17, 2024

Experiential Learning Session for Sustainability Professionals from Corporates

August 31, 2024
to August 31, 2024

The One-day Experiential Learning Session was organized by TERI CBS in partnership with Jamshedpur Management Association as part of the Training Program on ‘Operationalizing and Accelerating Sustainability Imperatives and Actions among Businesses in India’ for sustainability professionals that aimed to enhance the knowledge, skills, and capacities of sustainability function-oriented management professionals in order to assist them become sustainability champions and drive long-lasting, sustainable change within and beyond their organization.

Twenty-Third Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture

August 29, 2024
to August 29, 2024

The 23rd Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture will be delivered on August 29, 2024, 3:30 pm (IST) onwards at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

Tata Projects delegation visit at TERI Gwal Pahari Campus

August 9, 2024
to August 9, 2024

On August 9, 2024, TERI welcomed Tata Projects’ delegation to its Gwal Pahari Campus for a comprehensive overview of TERI’s research work and sustainable practices. The visit aimed to align with Tata Projects’ sustainability goals and Tata Group’s Aalingana initiative, which is the north star of Tata Group’s sustainability journey.

Coal Dependence: Lives in an Extractive Economy Photo Exhibition

July 25, 2024
to July 25, 2024

The photo exhibition "Coal Dependence: Lives in an Extractive Economy", curated as a part of the "Just Transition: Understanding and the Implications of Moving Away from Coal" project supported by the MacArthur Foundation, was held in the Seminar Hall, Ground Floor, TERI, India Habitat Centre from July 25th to July 26th 2024. The exhibition intended to illuminate the lives of communities that are intricately connected to the coal economy, which is at the heart of the just energy transition debate.

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News

The hidden toll of climate change: India’s struggle with eco-anxiety and mental health

September 16, 2024
| Dr Varada Jayant Madge
| The Pioneer

Rising temperatures and erratic weather patterns are not only threatening the nation's economy but also fueling anxiety, depression and trauma, says Dr Varada Jayant Madge, Fellow, Air Quality Research Division, TERI.

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What India needs to do to better its dam management system

September 15, 2024 |
September 15, 2024

With climate change, there will be a greater number of extremes and higher precipitation in terms of rainfall, and this will certainly result in an increase in risk aspects of dams in many parts of the country, says Ms Suruchi Bhadwal, Director, Earth Science and Climate Change, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

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G20 Or COP29, West Will Keep Choosing Politics Over Climate

September 10, 2024
| Mr Manjeev Singh Puri
| NDTV World

The stress on their economies and energy security resulting from the Ukraine-Russia conflict are the articulated reasons for the European pullback on climate. But their thrust joins the US in the shirking of historical and capacity responsibilities and trying to shift the burden for climate action onto large developing countries, says Mr Manjeev Puri, Distinguished Fellow, Earth Science and Climate Change Division, TERI.

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Awareness about climate resistant crops, gene editing and correct use of fertilizers is also necessary

September 5, 2024 |
September 5, 2024
Dainik Jagran

The whole world is affected by the effects of climate change. Its effects on the weather are now clearly visible. The most impact of the change in weather is being seen in the agriculture sector. There are many solutions to deal with this disaster. In Jagran Krishi Panchayat, Mr Kalyan Goswami, head of Agro Chemical Federation, Mr Chandrabhushan, CEO of iForest and Dr. Arvind Kapoor, distinguished fellow in TERI's Sustainable Agriculture Division, expressed their views on the impact of climate change on crops.

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"India must embrace an exponential mindset to lead in global innovation," says Dr RA Mashelkar

August 30, 2024 |
August 30, 2024
Krishak Jagat

India has the potential to emerge as a global leader in innovation, but it requires an exponential mindset—one that is bold, transformative, and inclusive,” said Dr RA Mashelkar, former Director General of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), delivering the 23rd Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on 29 August 2024.

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Government to revise 2019 Climate Action Plan

August 22, 2024 |
August 22, 2024
The Tribune

Environment Minister Mr Gopal Rai on 21 August 2024 chaired a roundtable conference to address the climate crisis in the Capital, focusing on seven critical sectors-electricity, water, waste, green cover, transport, health and agriculture. Over 40 departments, experts and officials participated in the meeting, aimed at overhauling the existing 2019 climate policy, underscoring the urgent need for action as the city grapples with unprecedented heatwaves and record rainfall.

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Policy

Sustainable Organic Waste Management : A Playbook for Lucknow, India

September 23, 2024

In 2020, global municipal solid waste (MSW) generation reached 2.24 billion tonnes, a figure projected to rise to 3.88 billion tonnes by 2050. This increase will be largely driven by the fastest-growing regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East, where waste levels are expected to double or even triple.

Green Public Procurement for Advancing Sustainable Development in India: Policy Nudges for Promoting Sustainable Consumption and Production

August 9, 2024

Green Public Procurement (GPP), a sub-component of sustainable public procurement, seeks to achieve environmental sustainability by leveraging the government sector’s purchasing power. GPP can be defined as the deliberate and systematic integration of environmental objectives into the procurement process of goods, services, and works by public agencies. This policy brief employs a case study-based approach to identify strategies for promoting GPP in India.

Accelerating the Growth of Green Bonds in India

February 8, 2024

India's enormous financial requirements to address climate change and ensure just transitioning for its economy cannot be met by the lone public sector and would require catalyzing private finance and institutional investment into climate initiatives. Green bonds offer an emerging financial instrument that holds the potential to attract private investors into climate action. However, unlike the exponential growth of green bonds in the global market, they still occupy only a scanty share of the Indian bonds market.

Advancing Environmental and Climate Goals Through a Multidimensional Model of Green Budgeting

December 4, 2023

While environmental regulation is the principal responsibility of environmental ministries, their locus standi in terms of implementation is limited as much of the implementation lies with other line ministries/departments and public agencies. Hence, it is essential that ‘environment’ is mainstreamed across ministries, departments, and sectors.

Internationalizing Lifestyles For Sustainable Development

December 2, 2023

Mainstream frameworks on sustainable consumption and production fail to holistically capture downstream segments of resource consumption and production systems, especially regarding lifestyle choices, including its links to upstream and midstream components.

Discussion paper on Operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund: Challenges and Opportunities

November 29, 2023

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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

Dr Prodipto Ghosh

Distinguished Fellow, Earth Science and Climate Change

Mr Dipak Dasgupta

Distinguished Fellow, Earth Science and Climate Change

Mr R R Rashmi

Distinguished Fellow and Programme Director, Resource Efficiency & Governance

Ms Suruchi Bhadwal

Director, Earth Science and Climate Change

Dr Manish Kumar Shrivastava

Associate Director, Earth Science and Climate Change

Mr Prasoon Singh

Area Convenor, Center for Climate Change Research

Mr K Venkatramana

Associate Fellow and Area Convenor, Centre for Climate Modelling