As a developing economy, India has numerous developmental aspirations. How India meets these goals without worsening the climate crisis is at the heart of CSTEP's work. Addressing climate change and enabling a secure and sustainable future for Indian citizens require an overhaul of previous paradigms on development and resource utilisation. This is reflected in our work on developing low-carbon trajectories for development with an emphasis on nature-based solutions.
We are working with state governments across India to build capacity on risk and vulnerability assessments to inform their respective action plans on climate change. The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is crucial to achieving a secure and sustainable future. CSTEP's studies explore the possibility of a greater integration of renewables in the energy sector.
Towards the long-term sustainability of ethanol use in India
It is well established that to achieve net-zero emissions, decarbonising the transport sector is crucial. In 2022, road transport contributed to around 12% of India’s energy-related CO2 emissions. The contribution is expected to double by 2050.
Decarbonising India’s transport sector: Navigating trade-offs of biofuel use and electrification
Decarbonising the transport sector is essential not only to achieve the net-zero target but also to improve quality of life through benefits such as better air, reduced traffic-related woes, and urban heat management. Studies have modelled low-carbon strategies for the transport sector in India, with a focus on energy demand and emissions, but the cross-sectoral trade-offs of the strategies, such as their impact on land, water, and material use, are often missed.
Krithika Ravishankar spoke about the discussion on carbon markets at COP29 in a podcast by The Hindu
Mapping the resilience of renewable energy systems and assets in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan to extreme weather events
Climate hazards such as droughts, flood, and cyclones are becoming more severe and frequent, posing a threat to the resilience of renewable energy. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), India, in collaboration with the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), conducted a study across four states in India (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan) with a high percentage of wind and solar energy infrastructure. The study employed the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report 5 (AR5) risk assessment framework.
Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation in coastal urban areas
CSTEP is developing a comprehensive Nature-based Solutions (NbS) Feasibility Framework to enhance urban resilience against climate risks such as flooding, heatwaves, and storms. This project targets Chennai and Mangaluru, two cities at the opposite ends of the urbanisation spectrum. While Chennai, a densely urbanised metropolis, requires large-scale NbS interventions to address its severe climate risks, Mangaluru, a rapidly growing city, offers an opportunity to embed NbS early in its development to protect natural ecosystems.
Compendium: Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation in coastal urban areas
Coastal urban ecosystems are under siege from climate change, rapid urbanisation, and environmental degradation. These escalating pressures threaten the sustainability, resilience, and well-being of communities in these regions. Despite the transformative potential of nature-based solutions (NbS) to combat these issues, their integration into urban planning and policy frameworks remains lacking owing to a persistent knowledge gap and ambiguity surrounding NbS concepts.