Publications
Fast-tracking Road Transport Decarbonisation through a New ‘International Sustainable Transport Alliance’
Research Paper
| July 14, 2023
Clean and affordable public transportation can lower carbon emissions, improve urban air quality, and enable economic development. India’s G20 presidency can leverage the country’s National Electric Bus Programme to serve as a model that can be replicated across emerging market and developing economies.
Tailoring Blended Finance to the Local Context to Support SDG-7
Research Paper
| July 12, 2023
The Indian government places high priority on the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector because of its significance in alleviating poverty. Its goal is to raise the sector’s share of the GDP to 50 percent and create jobs for at least 150 million people. However, the MSME sector faces several challenges, such as supportive infrastructural gaps related to energy provisioning, especially clean energy.
Towards a Circular Plastics Economy: India’s Actions to #BeatPlasticPollution
Article
| July 12, 2023
World Environment Day 2023 serves as an important reminder that the actions we take to mitigate plastic pollution have a significant impact. Now, more than ever, we must intensify these efforts and swiftly transition to a circular economy. Avanti Roy-Basu and Girija K Bharat say that as the world celebrates World Environment Day in 2023, focusing on “solutions to plastic pollution under the campaign #BeatPlasticPollution”, it is crucial to understand that each one of us has multiple roles to play in addressing this global crisis.
Developing a Global Nitrous Oxide Reduction Policy for A Food-Secure Future
Research Paper
| July 11, 2023
Multilateral approaches to nitrogen pollution are generating synergies between climate change and food security and presenting opportunities to reduce nitrous oxide (N2O) globally. N2O is the most abundant ozone-depleting substance not yet regulated by the Montreal Protocol and a powerful greenhouse gas. Failure to reduce emissions will delay ozone layer recovery and worsen the climate crisis. While cost-effective mitigation technologies to reduce N2O emissions are available, policies and incentives to encourage the uptake of such measures are lacking.
What Adolescents Know and Believe About Reclaimed Water and Water Scarcity: A Survey of School Children in National Capital Region
Research Paper
| June 21, 2023
Based on a questionnaire survey administered to 540 adolescents (10-14 years old), the study offers some insights into what adolescents perceive as the causes of water scarcity in cities and whether reclaimed municipal wastewater can alleviate it. The study revealed that adolescents are aware of looming water crisis but lack solution based knowledge. Advertisements, community workshops and educational campaigns can enhance their water caring behaviour. Also girls are warier than boys to use reclaimed water for drinking.
Acceptability of reclaimed municipal wastewater in cities: evidence from India’s National Capital Region
Research Paper
| June 20, 2023
Willingness to reuse reclaimed municipal wastewater was ascertained through a questionnaire completed by 424 respondents, opinions of 17 experts, and interviews with 15 farmers. Information was collected to assess their knowledge of water scarcity and to determine the influence of demographics, correlation to perceived risk, willingness, challenges, and barriers related to the acceptance of reclaimed water. Most respondents were receptive to the idea of using it for purposes other than drinking, and ‘water conservative’ individuals were inclined towards using it even for drinking.
Strengthening Health System Responses to Climate Risks in Multilateral Processes
Research Paper
| June 16, 2023
Climate change, identified by the World Health Organization as the biggest health threat of the 21st century, has wide-ranging impacts on human health and well-being. These include direct effects like heatwaves from rising temperatures, and indirect effects such as respiratory disorders from air pollution. Economic consequences include increased unemployment, financial stress, and social inequalities. Additionally, global health systems face significant risks, such as the emergence of new diseases, frequent extreme weather events, and heightened vulnerability to existing health challenges.
Reformed MDBs for a Just Energy Transition in Emerging Economies
Research Paper
| June 14, 2023
Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) are potentially an important source of finance for low-carbon transition pathways and just transition in the emerging economies. However, there is increasing concern among the developing countries that MDBs are unable to mobilise adequate finance to be in line with the global goals. The G20 injected a huge momentum towards reforming MDBs’ operations by commissioning an independent review of their Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF), which primarily defines their capacity to leverage shareholder’s capital contribution for financing.
Low Carbon Development Pathways for Cooling: Leveraging Kigali Amendment Across Residential Applications
Research Paper
| June 14, 2023
Heating and cooling demand for space conditioning and refrigeration accounts for around a fifth of global final energy consumption. Climate change, urbanisation, and economic development have tripled electricity demand for cooling alone since the 1990s, with the majority coming from the use of inefficient cooling equipment, which burdens electricity grids, especially during the peak hours. It is imperative to address the energy required to provide cooling.
From Planning to Action: Rethinking the Role of Cities in Accelerating Net-Zero Transitions
Research Paper
| June 14, 2023
Cities are responsible for over 70 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and 75 percent of primary energy consumption. By 2050, over two-thirds of the world population will live in cities, resulting in even greater infrastructure needs and increased carbon emissions. Yet, cities largely remain on the side-lines in the design of national and international green transition policies. Cities can combine policy, practice, and participation by leveraging innovation, technology, and partnerships while transforming local governance models.