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

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.

Global Risk Resilience Discourse and Adaptation

November 11, 2024
to November 11, 2024

News

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.

News9 Global Summit: The Green Dilemma between the developed and the developing

November 22, 2024 |
December 3, 2024
News9 Live

Commitment is there, but lack of implementation and finance remains a problem, a problem highlighted by Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, when she spoke about meetings like the COP and the problem of financing. "Over a period of time it has become very clear that we are making promises, in terms of last year it was loss and damage fund and implementation of that. But then the money which is committed never comes on the table."

'Where is the money?' No clarity on Climate Finance as COP29 talks enter last day

November 22, 2024 |
December 3, 2024
News 18

Talking about the issues raised by the Global South, Ms Suruchi Bhadwal, Senior Fellow and Director, Earth Science and Climate Change Division, TERI said, "There are concerns from the developing countries related to the inclusion of the private sector and passing the buck onto the private sector with no clear mention of common but differentiated responsibilities of developed country parties and public finance support from them. Means of implementation also need to be clearly mentioned, especially in the context of assisting developing countries.

COP29: Stalemate on climate finance

December 3, 2024
| Dr Manish Kumar Shrivastava
| The Pioneer

The 29th annual Climate Summit in Azerbaijan reached an impasse as developed and developing nations remained divided over climate finance commitments, says Dr Manish Kumar Shrivastava, Senior Fellow and Associate Director, Earth Science and Climate Change Division, TERI.

COP29 fails to clear trust and equity test

November 25, 2024
| Dr Shailly Kedia
| Hindustan Times

The decision on climate finance was supposed to mark a breakthrough, yet it instead underscored the growing chasm between the rhetoric of equity and the reality of exclusion, says Dr Shailly Kedia, Senior Fellow and Associate Director, Sustainable Development and Outreach Division, TERI.

COP29 ends with a weak outcome, India rejects the deal calling it an optical illusion

November 24, 2024 |
November 24, 2024
The Times of India

Asked what India's rejection of the climate finance outcome meant at this juncture, Mr R R Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow, TERI and India's former lead negotiator, said India, in expressing formal disappointment about the $300 billion NCQG, acted as a leader of the Global South. "It is significant that, after a long time, India and many other diverse groups within the developing world have shown a common and united stand on this issue," he said.

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