As India aims to pursue its net-zero commitments by 2070, this low-carbon transition presents significant economic opportunities but also poses substantial risks of exacerbating existing social and economic inequities. Despite cost reductions in renewable technologies, an increasing share of renewables in the grid could increase the cost of electricity, especially for lower-income groups who, according to studies, already spend a larger share of their income on energy. Additionally, while investments in renewable energy, green infrastructure, and sustainable industries are projected to generate new employment, the benefits of this transition might not be equitably distributed without proactive measures. Research indicates that workers in carbon-intensive sectors—such as coal mining, heavy industry, and fossil fuel-dependent manufacturing—face the highest risks of job displacement. Furthermore, informal sector workers, who constitute nearly 90% of India’s workforce, remain particularly vulnerable due to their precarious employment conditions and lack of social protection mechanisms.

Understanding and addressing these impacts is complicated since most assessments stop at the macro estimates. This might be due to a lack of granular data in terms of its availability, quality, or even due to method complexities. There is a need for deeper, evidence-based and policy-relevant research to understand the distributional impacts and advance an equitable low-carbon transition in India.

To understand these issues in detail, WRI India is organizing a workshop on “Assessing Distributional Impacts & Advancing Equity in India’s Low Carbon Transition” at IIT Delhi on April 29, 2025. This full-day workshop aims to convene leading experts to deliberate on analytical approaches to assess the distributional impacts of India’s low-carbon transition. This workshop also aims to facilitate knowledge-sharing and foster collaborations that can advance collective thinking on equitable decarbonization pathways for India.

The morning session of the workshop features a Masterclass on Data Sources & Methods for Distributional Impact Analysis, where leading experts will share tools, methodologies, and frameworks for understanding the socioeconomic consequences of decarbonization. Tailored for students, early-career researchers, and practitioners, this interactive session will offer practical insights into data use and emerging analytical techniques for evaluating the social consequences of climate policy.

The afternoon session is an invite-only Expert Discussion on Distributional Impacts and Equity in India’s Low-Carbon Transition, designed to foster deeper discussion among expert researchers. It will explore critical research questions, methodological challenges, and gaps in data and resources, as well as policy instruments to address transition inequities and support vulnerable groups.

For more information, please write to richa.richa@wri.org