Headquarters
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
Darbari Seth Block, Core 6C,
India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi - 110 003, India
At the COP 26 Climate Summit in Glasgow, India set an ambitious target of attaining net-zero emissions by 2070 and a 45% reduction in the emissions intensity of its GDP below the 2005 levels by 2030. The transport sector holds responsible for 14 percent of energy-related CO2 emissions, and it also accounts for 70 percent of total diesel consumption and 100 percent of gasoline consumption.[1]
To enable journalists to understand, analyze and report on air pollution from science, policy, and public health perspectives, a workshop "Gaining Strength to Combat Air Pollution: Harnessing Media Support." was organized by TERI in collaboration with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) and Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC), under the Clean Air Project in India, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, on 18th January 2023 at Nashik.
Indoor air pollution is a critical issue in rural areas. The use of biomass in the traditional household cookstove of the rural areas is also an important source of atmospheric black carbon. Conventional cooking methods have also been reported as important source of ambient air pollution in different cities. Promoting cleaner fuels like LPG to remote rural areas has different issues. In West Bengal, many rural households still depend on cooking in traditional cookstoves using locally available biomass materials.
India is undergoing rapid urbanization, with its urban population expected to surpass its rural population by 2031. This process has been accompanied by a gamut of social, economic, and environmental changes, including increased greenhouse gas emissions and the potential for greater vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. One of the main challenges Indian cities are facing as they grapple with adversities is the need to adapt to extreme weather events. These events can have significant impacts on public health, economic productivity, and infrastructure.
Recognizing the enormous potential for DSM among industrial consumers, TERI, with support from MacArthur Foundation, undertook a study to explore the scope for aggregation of the DSM opportunities among SME industrial consumers in India. For the study, a partnership with the largest private sector power utility, Tata Power, was forged. About 100 SME customers were selected in consultation with Tata Power spread across Delhi, Ajmer, and Mumbai. The selection of the SMEs was followed by unit level energy assessment studies.
The Land Resource Division of TERI has been actively involved in the rehabilitation/remediation of mined-out areas as well as the dissemination of rehabilitation technology through the implementation of pilot projects and training and capacity building.
Developing Nano-Fertilizers and Mycorrhizal Biofertilizers to reduce the dose of chemical fertilizers by 25 to 50 per cent and supplementing the same with these innovative fertilizers. Shell India (Industry Partnership) is providing support for research and field trials on maize and direct seeded rice (DSR) for multiple seasons (Rabi and Kharif). Soil health is also being monitored (e.g. soil organic carbon and microbial population, etc.) in comparison with the recommended dose of fertilizers for developing suitable Package of Practices.
By 2025, countries are expected to produce new NDCs covering the post-2030 period, informed during the 2022-23 period by the 6th Assessment Report of the IPCC and the Paris Agreement Global Stocktake. Project results are anticipated to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes: Provision of information for the preparation of climate policies and national planning for the post-2030 period, in light of the Paris Agreement goals and the need to reduce global net greenhouse emissions to zero by 2050.