Blogs

Whether one seeks an escape from Delhi’s scorching summer heat or a winter afternoon basking in the sun, Sanjay Van National Park, one of the city’s few surviving urban forest, comes to mind. Mangalavanam in Kochi or Shalimar Bagh in Srinagar evokes a similar sentiment in residents of these cities.

Trees, parks, and urban forests are essential to cities not just as spaces of community building, but as they also offer multiple ecological benefits, from building resilience against climate change to water security, biodiversity, resident health, and well-being. Adequate green cover...

India ranks 7th out of 181 countries in vulnerability to climate associated risks. This two-part blog series explores the opportunities that Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) can offer to tackle the challenges posed by climate change and how they can be translated to climate-specific geographies, with a focus on the city of Jaipur in Rajasthan. The first blog in the series identifies strategies employed in the city for building climate resilience through NbS interventions....

In the final blog of the three-blog series on India’s fertilizer industry, we look at the importance of shifting to green hydrogen in the fertilizer industry to reduce import dependence and achieving energy and food security. Read the first and second blog of the series.

India’s fertilizer sector is dependent on imports...

India is home to ten of the world's fastest-growing cities. However, growth by itself is not a measure of quality. The quality of life in cities depends on equitable access to services and opportunities, as well as access to quality public spaces and safe streets. In India, city officials and urban practitioners help shape urban development which makes it important to build their capacity in designing neighborhoods...

The third and concluding photo essay of the Mithi River series looks at enhancing the river's capacity for flood resilience through planning and design. We highlight five opportunities to adapt open spaces for absorbing and holding water at strategic locations along the river’s stretch. Read the first and the...

Article 6 of the Paris Agreement establishes cooperative mechanisms, particularly carbon markets, for countries to meet their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and raise ambition to achieve global climate goals. These cooperative mechanisms can reduce the cost of meeting NDCs by an estimated...

This blog was first published in Alternate Policy Solutions on February 6, 2023.

Charting a Future for a Just Low Carbon Development in India

The United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP27) recently held at Sharm el-Sheikh concluded with a few notable advances for developing countries. Along with the establishment of a historic Loss &...

After the huge success of the Grand Challenge, state-owned Convergence Energy Services Limited (CESL), supported by WRI India, has accelerated the adoption of electric buses under phase-1 of the National Electric Bus Program with a tender for 6,465 electric buses...

In her introduction to the Budget for the financial year 2023-24, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said “We are implementing many programmes for green fuel, green energy, green farming, green mobility, green buildings, and green equipment, and policies for efficient use of energy across various economic sectors.” The term “green” appears 22 times in the speech. Green Growth has been stated as one of seven priorities alongside inclusive development and infrastructure and investment in the Union Budget announced on Wednesday. But how green, inclusive, and sustainable development-...

Shaping efficient and equitable urban service delivery for sustainable growth

India is projected to overtake China as the most populous country in the world this year. The shifting demographics are bound to see heightened demand for education, healthcare, jobs, and civic amenities, putting existing systems under stress. Current urban services delivery models, in transport, water and waste management are plagued by outdated legacy systems, lack of data and restrictive policies and regulations. Focusing on technology-led innovation has the potential to...