Climate Policy

Anthropogenic climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our times. Our climate reality is changing at a rapid pace right in front of our eyes. Heat waves have become more frequent over the past decades. The frequency of heavy precipitation events has increased over most areas. Sea levels are rising, and global average temperatures have increased noticeably . Rising carbon emissions from socio-economic activities that depend upon traditional, carbon-intensive sources of energy are largely at the heart of the challenge confronting our society today.

Rising emissions are not the only concern. Deteriorating air quality due to the release of hazardous pollutants from multiple sources is a growing challenge. Most Indian cities report poor levels of air quality, threatening the health of its citizens and adversely impacting economic activity.

India faces the dual challenge of reconciling its rapid economic growth with a pressing need to address climate change. Post its ratification of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change in 2016, India has invested considerably in domestic and international action to address climate change. The Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) committed to under the Paris agreement affirm India’s commitment to a low-carbon pathway for development. The NDCs set a clear signal for clean energy in reducing the emissions intensity of the Indian economy and recognise the importance of aggressively restoring forest cover. Achieving its NDC targets can help India achieve greater climate resilience as well as improve air quality standards while sustaining its economic growth.

Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation’s Climate Policy programme supports several efforts to transition India towards a low-carbon pathway which can help mitigate climate change. We aim to foster sustained dialogue and engagement at the sub-national and national levels on climate and energy issues. We work to strengthen greenhouse gas (GHG) management capacities for informed policymaking. Over the last few years, our efforts have helped inform air quality monitoring in the country, assess mitigation options, and advance evidence-based research, stakeholder capacity building and outreach.