Mission and Goals

About Us

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) is an independent, not-for-profit research organization advancing innovative solutions in energy, environment, climate change, and sustainable development. Headquartered in New Delhi, with regional centres in Gurugram, Bengaluru, Guwahati, Mumbai, Panaji, and Nainital, TERI is powered by a 1,000+ strong multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, economists, and sociologists engaged in action-oriented research and implementation.

TERI was established in 1974 as the Tata Energy Research Institute, with Shri JRD Tata serving as its first Chairman. In 1975, Shri Darbari Seth became the Vice-Chairman of TERI Governing Council. Both Shri Tata and Shri Seth were devoted to sustainable energy use and environmental stewardship. Later, Shri Ratan Tata joined the Governing Council as a valuable member.

Dr R K Pachauri, TERI’s first Director, provided transformative leadership from 1981 to 2015 and later as Executive Vice-Chairman until 2017. His visionary leadership and global advocacy positioned TERI as a leading voice on energy and climate policy.

Over the decades, TERI has established itself as a research leader, developing evidence-based, science-backed interventions in diverse fields—ranging from clean energy and sustainable agriculture to water security, land resource management, air pollution, and low-emission transport systems. Our work spans cutting-edge innovations in biotechnology and renewable energy, including advanced biofuels and decentralized energy solutions for rural livelihoods.

A pioneer in the field of sustainable habitat, TERI has led efforts to design and promote resource-efficient buildings. The institute developed and currently administers the Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA)—India’s own national rating system for green buildings—guiding the construction sector toward energy efficiency and environmental stewardship.

In the domain of sustainable agriculture, TERI supports resilient farming systems by promoting climate-smart practices, through the application of biofertilizers and nano-fertilizers, enhancing soil and water productivity, and leveraging biotechnological interventions. Its work in transport and sustainable infrastructure focuses on decarbonization pathways, electric mobility, and integrated urban planning to enable a just transition toward net-zero futures.

With a strong foundation in land use and resource management, TERI provides tools and policy advice on afforestation, watershed management, and ecosystem restoration.

TERI informs and influences national and sub-national policies by working closely with governments, businesses, and civil society. Its engagement extends globally through collaborations with multilateral institutions and think tanks, contributing to international climate negotiations, sustainability frameworks, and South-South cooperation. The Institute also believes in shaping the future by nurturing environmental consciousness among the youth. Through interactive programmes and school engagement, TERI empowers young minds with the knowledge and skills to become sustainability champions.

As the world faces the urgency of limiting global warming to 1.5°C and accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), TERI continues to catalyse bold action. From research to implementation, it champions scalable, science-led, and inclusive solutions that respond to India’s developmental needs and global ecological imperatives.

As we gear up for the next 50 years, TERI is determined to carry forward the legacy of multidisciplinary approach, of providing holistic solutions, and playing a pivotal role in crafting eco-friendly and equitable solutions for India and neighbouring countries.

Our Mission

TERI’s mission is to usher transitions to a cleaner and sustainable future through the conservation and efficient use of energy and other resources, and innovative ways of minimizing and reusing waste.

Our Goals

We pursue our mission by working towards the following key goals:

• Enhancing access to clean energy for all
• Helping a global transition to renewable energy pathways
• Enhance energy efficiency, especially in industries, public utilities and buildings
• Facilitating more efficient use of materials, especially iron and cement
• Enhancing conservation, utilization of and access to water, including watershed management
• Enabling the planning and governance of environmentally sustainable cities through green buildings and through management of solid waste, sewage, sanitation, mobility and air quality
• Building resilience to adverse impacts of climate change due to cyclones and variations in hydrology and temperature
• Accelerating pollution abatement through innovative policies and environment treatment products
• Enhancing ecosystem services, especially in forestry and biodiversity
• Developing green mobility solutions
• Enabling sustainable food production and nutritional security through quality planting material, bio-based agricultural inputs and crop diversification
• Developing innovative solutions for clean air, regionally and in cities

Our Methods

Our success of over four decades is a result of a multitude of approaches:

• Interdisciplinary and integrated research and analyses
• Evidence and data based decision making
• Taking solutions from lab to pilot and field scale
• Early validation of business models
• Enhancing livelihood through new technologies and practices
• Policy advisory and consultancy
• Education and outreach to influence decisions and consumer behavior
• Capacity building and handholding of stakeholders
• Partnerships across stakeholders, nationally and internationally

Our Promise

In all the work that we do, we fulfill one or more of the following promises:

• Increasing sustainable inputs
• Promoting resource use efficiency
• Reducing adverse impacts on environment and climate
• Increasing access to basic services
• Upscaling and enhancing uptake of resource efficient and waste management solutions

Values