Leveraging the COVID-19 India-wide lockdown situation, the present study attempts to quantify the reduction in the ambient fine particulate matter concentrations during the lockdown (compared with that of the pre-lockdown period), owing to the highly reduced specific anthropogenic activities and thereby pollutant emissions. The study was conducted over Bengaluru (India), using PM2.5 (mass concentration of particulate matter having size less than or equal to 2.5 µm) and Black Carbon mass concentration (BC) data.

The Indian power sector is going through a major transformation owing to extensive generation from sustainable energy sources such as solar and wind and the introduction of newer market mechanisms such as real-time market, which provide the opportunity to trade power within half-hour windows. However, there are challenges that hinder the evolution of the sector into a sustainable model. These include the poor financial health of electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs), slow momentum in attaining renewable energy targets, and the desynchronized functioning of various stakeholders.

Carbon dioxide levels have hit a record high yet again despite the slowdown caused by the coronavirus lockdowns globally. Based on estimates by the GHG platform, heavy industries comprising cement, steel, chemicals, and aluminium and heavy-duty transport such as shipping, trucking, and aviation are responsible for more than a third of the carbon dioxide emissions in India.

Climate change increases strain on agriculture systems through changes in the magnitude, distribution, and timing of rainfall; rise in temperature; and an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events. In Karnataka, agriculture is the key contributing sector for the state’s economy. Despite its importance, agriculture in the state is limited by the availability of irrigation (only 31.2%) and uncertainty in rainfall distribution. These factors greatly hamper the agricultural productivity of the state.

The 2021 Union Budget announced an institutional framework to instill liquidity into the corporate bond market. In sync with the pro-investor move, the country has an opportunity to scale up the green bond market, presently just under one per cent of the total domestic debt market. Green bonds are debt financing instruments for projects that involve renewable energy and energy efficiency, low-carbon infrastructure, and sustainable resource use.

Variability in the leaf phenology of tropical trees impacts their growth. How phenology of tree species responds over rainfall gradient is relevant to study in the light of current climatic changes. Airborne visible and infrared imaging spectrometer-next generation (AVIRIS-NG) spectral datasets have been considered for this study as they not only provide wider area of coverage, but also high spatial and spectrally resolved output.

Among the various battery compositions available today for use in electric vehicles (EVs), lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the most sought after. They are expected to dominate the EV market in the next decade, thus playing a substantial role in realising fossil-free transport. However, the cathode materials used in LIBs pose some environmental issues during various stages of their life cycle (mining, production, operation, and afterlife).

When it comes to powering electric vehicles (EVs), lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are the front runners globally. They offer higher specific energy (energy stored per unit mass) and longer lifetimes compared to other battery technologies available on the market. The storage demand for the EV sector in India is expected to reach 900–2,300 GWh (for two-wheelers, four-wheelers, and buses) by 2030—considering a 30% EV penetration.

The Union Budget 2021-22 is clearly a plan to bolster the nation's financial stability that has been down in the doldrums due to the pandemic. But, can the recovery plan, announced on the heels of India being ranked seventh on the Global Climate Risk Index 2021, lead to a resilient and regenerative economy?