Reports

Since the Green Revolution, which kicked off in the 1960s as a response to India’s low agricultural productivity and need to import food, the nation has relied on Urea to provide the nitrogen necessary for higher crop yields and food security.  But this reliance has come at a cost to the economy and the environment.

Urea use has a significant role in three major environmental challenges: nitrogen pollution, ozone layer depletion and climate change.

The report- Just Transition Just Finance- has been developed recognizing the need for an empirical basis to determine the cost of just energy transition, which can help countries to develop just transition plans, make necessary investments and foster global partnerships for securing finances. The report introduces an approach to estimate the cost of a just energy transition at the sub-national and national levels. The methodology can also be tailored to estimate transition costs for a coal mine or a power plant. It also outlines a broad spectrum of investments, including grants and subsidies, necessary to decommission and repurpose coal mines and power plants, supply green energy alternatives, promote economic diversity, assist workers and businesses, and strengthen community resilience.

Geoengineering refers to a suite of technological interventions aimed at slowing or halting some of the effects of climate change. Two of the major kinds of geoengineering that are at present gaining traction rapidly are Solar Radiation Modification (SRM) and Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR). SRM approaches focus on deliberately cooling the planet by reflecting a small amount of sunlight to space or by allowing more of Earth’s infrared radiation is to escape to space. SRM methods include utilizing mirrors in space to reflect sunlight (Space Based Reflectors), increasing the reflectivity of land or ocean surfaces (surface albedo), increasing the reflectivity of marine clouds (Marine Cloud Brightening), and increasing the reflectivity of the stratospheric aerosol layer via Stratospheric Aerosol Injection of SAI.

A Just Transition from coal dependence encompasses technological transition with social, economic, and institutional transformation. This study attempts to identify cost factors for each component based on a suitable denominator – the capacity of decommissioned thermal power plant (TPP), reduced coal production, affected worker or affected population.

For India to meet its net zero target by 2070 and energy independence goal by 2047, a framework of just transition at the national and state levels is essential. The framework(s) will guide strategic pathways and implementation mechanisms to achieve net-positive environmental, social and economic outcomes in a timebound manner and through the cooperation of all stakeholders.

The study of Maharashtra was undertaken as part of a research project that aims at, among other things, establishing the linkages between tendu patta collection practices and forest fires. Further, it aims at understanding the impact of these fires in terms of the area burnt and the emissions.

The study of Odisha was undertaken as part of a research project that aims at, among other things, establishing the linkages between tendu patta collection practices and forest fires. Further, it aims at understanding the impact of these fires in terms of the area burnt and the emissions.

The study of Chhattisgarh was undertaken as part of a research project that aims at, among other things, establishing the linkages between tendu patta collection practices and forest fires. Further, it aims at understanding the impact of these fires in terms of the area burnt and the emissions.

Developing countries require massive financial and technical support to ensure just and equitable phase out of coal under accelerated timelines, aligned with achieving decarbonization goals. The requirement of strengthened support has been brought up on several occasions at the ongoing COP26.

A precise definition and an appropriate framing of just transition in the context of India’s fossil fuel regions and economy is essential to build policy momentum and public engagement on the issue. This is also important for formulation of relevant policies and just transition plans that are guided by the principles of social and environmental justice, and are designed to achieve net positive social, economic and environmental outcomes.

There is a growing debate on enacting a ‘framework climate legislation’ to enhance climate change mitigation and adaptation action. International treaties, such as the Paris Agreement, do not have an enforcement mechanism as those found in national laws; the absence of which can undermine climate action. Through a detailed review of India’s environmental laws, climate litigations and framework legislations in various countries, this report explores whether India needs a framework climate legislation, and the scope and contours of it.

What is sustainable consumption? Can we solve the climate crisis with an ultimate win-win: consume but not pollute? This paper raises these uncomfortable questions and establishes that Efficiency is not Sufficiency.

The proposal, submitted to the UNFCCC in 2018, elaborates how the New Market Mechanism under the Paris Agreement should be designed to achieve real carbon emission reductions. It also proposes a non-market mechanism to enhance the sequestration of carbon on land and forests.

The report reviews the approaches to adaptation followed by different countries—developed and developing—in an attempt to understand the best way to plan adaptation.

This was a proposal submitted to the Warsaw Mechanism on Loss & Damage to protect farmers from climate-induced extreme weather events.

A scoping study on the role of agriculture insurance in protecting farmers of Asia and Africa from extreme weather events.

Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) is one of the world’s largest crop-insurance schemes supported by the government. This report assesses the performance of PMFBY and recommends changes to make it more effective as a safety net to combat climate change.

Global Stocktake (GST) in the Paris Agreement is to assess collective progress toward the Agreement’s long-term goals. But how do we ensure that GST review operationalizes equity and enhances ambition? This policy brief provides some key pointers for the same.

Indian Climate Research Network (ICRN) was an initiative of the Centre for Science & Environment, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras and IISc Bengaluru to promote climate change research in India. This is the second newsletter of ICRN.

Indian Climate Research Network (ICRN) was an initiative of the Centre for Science & Environment, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras and IISc Bengaluru to promote climate change research in India. This is the first newsletter of ICRN.

The Paris Agreement talks about a Global Goal on Adaptation without exemplifying what that goal should be. This report proposes a completely new framework on adaptation and how a global goal can be constructed around it.