Building resilience for climate risks and recovering from the economic shock of COVID 19 require the same pathway - one which is distinctly green.

Through our discussion paper on ‘A Fiscally Responsible Green Stimulus Package’, TERI argued that India’s stimulus package should be used to further a green and climate-conscious economy. The package recommended six focus areas in which demand and jobs can be created without or minimal government spending. These measures, we believe, would accelerate the growth of renewable energy and at the same time address India’s worsening air pollution problem.

The pandemic also brought to fore the problem of burgeoning biomedical waste (BMW) and limited capacities in several states to treat this waste. TERI highlighted the need for a strategy to handle and monitor the increasing BMW quantities in India under the COVID 19 situation.

In Delhi, TERI recorded a reduction in the heavy metal pollution in Yamuna river. At least seven heavy metals went below even detection levels, demonstrating that a clean Yamuna is not a pipe dream. TERI reiterated a number of recommendations such as regular audit of effluent treatment plants, and development of natural waste treating systems (such as certain wild plant species that have high heavy metal accumulating potential).