Blogs

Situated along the coast of the Bay of Bengal, in Puri, Odisha, the Penthakata settlement relies on the sea for its livelihood. While men set sail for fishing, the narrow streets spanning through shacks and semi-pucca houses buzz with activities of daily living. Small, poorly ventilated houses and the need to share public utilities push women and children outdoors, to get fresh air or for cooking, showering, washing clothes and playing.

Like other women from the community, Chittama makes several trips to get water from the municipal public water taps for domestic use. Due to...

The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) that concluded earlier this week saw delegates from across the world fly down to Dubai, leading to resurfacing of the dilemma of carbon emissions associated with flying to attend the climate conference. The aviation industry accounted for 2.4% of the global carbon...

India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, despite an ongoing global slowdown. This growth must happen without compromising on sustainability, which is a cornerstone of holistic development and critical to India meeting its net-zero targets.

Much of the decarbonizing focus is on the transport sector, which is responsible for...

India accounts for nearly one fifth of the world’s annual child births and is enjoying a demographic dividend that is expected to peak around 2041. A supportive ecosystem and healthy physical environment are critical to helping our young children maximize their potential. Urban design and city planning, beyond just building playgrounds, play a crucial role in...

Earlier this month, the UK government dismissed ’15-minute cities’ – an urban planning concept that reimagines neighborhoods as self-contained spaces, offering residents all they need, in a 15-minute radius on foot or by bicycle. With the government taking up...

The issue of Delhi's poor air quality resurfaces episodically in the public consciousness. It garners attention on social media, in newspapers and in scientific studies, largely during the winter months. During this period, Delhi's air quality index (AQI) drops from 'poor' to 'severe', across most monitoring stations.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends air quality standards with limits on air pollutant concentration,...

This blog post is the first in a two-part series on the relevance of hydrogen hubs and key elements for their development. This part explores the significance of hydrogen hubs and their potential for accelerating the adoption of green hydrogen.

India currently consumes around 5 million metric tons (MMT) of hydrogen annually, of which 99% is used for petroleum refining and ammonia production. Most of this is grey hydrogen, meaning that it is produced from...

The G20 Leaders’ Summit that recently concluded in New Delhi released its much-anticipated G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, recognizing climate change, energy transition, and food and nutrition security as some of the key points of discussion under its preamble, For the Planet, People, Peace and Prosperity, indicating its perspectives and priorities. The G20, comprising the world’s most powerful economies, enjoys tremendous influence in matters of development....

As the number of electric vehicles on Indian roads increase, a surge in discarded lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is expected, underscoring the urgent need for a robust recycling ecosystem. This blog looks at the economic feasibility of a large-scale recycling unit and makes the case for the development of a circular economy.

Under its G20 Presidency, India has launched the Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Industry Coalition (RECEIC) for global sustainable environmental impact. To further promote...

Representatives from over 100 countries that have signed the Paris Agreement gathered in Bonn, Germany from 5 June 2023 to 15 June 2023 for the Bonn Climate Change Conference (SB58). This was the 58th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This year’s conference was built on the mandates that emerged from COP27 in Egypt last year and is seen as a precursor to COP28.

Steffi Olickal spoke with members of the WRI India...