‘Rising Ambition’ Launched: TERI Unveils New Vision for India’s Energy Future
Book outlines sector-wise pathways for achieving Net Zero with equity and economic resilience.
New Delhi, December 4, 2025: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) today launched Rising Ambition: Carving New Pathways: India’s Energy Transition, authored by Mr Ajay Shankar, Distinguished Fellow, TERI, and former Secretary, Government of India.
The book comes at a pivotal moment as India advances toward its Net Zero commitments and navigates the interlinked priorities of growth, energy security, and climate action. It presents a practical, sector-specific roadmap for the energy transition, covering renewable energy expansion, the Green Hydrogen Mission, industrial decarbonization, and equity-centred strategies for phasing down fossil fuels.
In his opening remarks, Mr Girish Sethi, Senior Director, TERI, commended the relevance and readability of the book. Delivering a special address, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, observed that the book brings timely attention to key issues such as equitable access to clean cooking, the rapid rise of renewables since 2010, and the essential role of private investment.
Reflecting on his motivation for writing the book, Mr Ajay Shankar placed India’s choices within the broader global climate context. He noted that recent scientific assessments suggest the world has moved beyond the 1.5°C limit and could reach significantly higher warming levels by the end of the century—making the current moment a decisive one. Although India’s Net Zero target of 2070 may appear distant, he emphasized that “present-day decisions will define the transition’s success”.
In his Vote of Thanks, Mr AK Saxena, Senior Director, TERI, reflected on his long professional association with Mr Shankar and noted that the book provides actionable steps for a realistic yet ambitious Net Zero pathway.
The book has been lauded by global climate leaders, including Lord Adair Turner and Suman Bery, for its clarity, rigour, and relevance.
Rising Ambition positions India’s green transition not only as an environmental imperative but also as a strategic pathway for becoming a competitive, inclusive, and developed economy.