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The Indian government is implementing a series of reforms to reduce its petroleum subsidy bill, including daily price revisions for petrol and diesel and the gradual elimination of LPG and kerosene subsidies by March 2018. Simultaneously, the government is expanding electricity access through the Saubhagya scheme and restructuring distribution company debt via UDAY. There is also a proposal to integrate petroleum products into the unified Goods and Services Tax (GST) mechanism to simplify the current dual-taxation system.

The report examines the utility of extreme event attribution (EEA) through interviews with government officials and NGO representatives in Ethiopia, Kenya, and India. While generally viewed positively, the practical application of EEA varies by country and sector. In Ethiopia and Kenya, EEA is seen as a critical tool for securing international climate finance and improving drought early warning systems. In India, stakeholders expressed more skepticism, emphasizing the need for a 'critical mass' of studies to identify trends before the science can effectively influence national mitigation or adaptation agendas. Across all regions, significant barriers persist, including the high technical complexity of EEA outputs, a lack of predictive capacity for future events, and the need for down-scaled, non-technical communication to reach local communities and farmers.

The document analyzes the inefficiencies of India's Public Distribution System (PDS) for kerosene, noting high rates of leakage and poor targeting. It argues that current subsidies make solar lighting less cost-competitive for households, particularly for mid- and high-end systems. The authors recommend streamlining eligibility, phasing out subsidies in electrified areas, and redirecting funds toward a 'lighting subsidy' for solar solutions.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of decarbonizing Indian Railways (IR) by 2030. It evaluates various pathways for the traction and non-traction segments, concluding that transitioning to renewable energy—specifically through captive generation at an accelerated rate—is significantly cheaper than a business-as-usual scenario. The report emphasizes the necessity of full electrification and identifies regulatory barriers regarding state-level net metering and open access policies.

The report assesses the decarbonization of Indian Railways (IR), the world's second largest railway network and India's largest electricity consumer. It identifies that transitioning to an electrified network is a prerequisite for decarbonization. The study compares eight pathways based on procurement (captive generation vs. purchasing), rate (accelerated by 2020 vs. normal by 2030), and technology (solar vs. solar-wind mix). Findings indicate that accelerated captive generation is the most cost-effective pathway for both traction and non-traction segments, offering savings of 32% and 61% respectively over business-as-usual scenarios. Implementation challenges include inconsistent state policies on net metering and open access, as well as the need for load balancing technologies like power banking and pumped hydro storage.

On 19 May 2016, Phalodi, India, recorded an all-time record high temperature of 51°C. An analysis by the Raising Risk Awareness Project found that while annual mean temperatures across India are increasing and heat waves in some small areas are becoming more frequent and intense, human-induced climate change did not play a detectable role in this specific event or a similar one in Andhra Pradesh in May 2015. The study suggests this lack of a detectable trend might be caused by irrigation use and the masking effect of aerosols on warming.

The New Climate Economy report 'Better Cities, Better Growth: India’s Urban Opportunity' finds that compact cities in India experienced faster economic growth from 2002-2012 than sprawled cities. Smart urban growth could save India between $330 billion and $1.8 trillion annually by mid-century, representing up to 6 percent of GDP. The document identifies three target areas for reform: land regulations, sustainable urban infrastructure (such as bus rapid transit), and the strengthening of urban local governments. It highlights the high costs of car-driven growth, citing Delhi as an example where traffic congestion and air pollution create significant economic and livability crises.

The report analyzes the transition from biomass and kerosene to LPG in Ghaziabad, India. It finds that while there is high willingness to use clean fuel, poor households are deterred by high startup costs and documentation requirements, often resorting to a costly black market. The study highlights the regressive nature of current subsidies and the significant impact of female literacy and household income on fuel switching.

The document argues that the current trajectory of urbanization in the Global South—characterized by rapid population growth outpacing economic growth and the 'urbanization of poverty'—risks locking cities into unsustainable patterns. It proposes a new categorization of cities based on economic productivity and population growth, focusing on 'struggling' and 'emerging' cities. The authors contend that providing equitable access to core services (housing, water, sanitation, energy, and transport) is the essential entry point for broader transformative urban change. Using case studies from Medellín and Surat, the paper illustrates how solving a 'seminal problem' can trigger a virtuous cycle of improvement across governance, finance, and planning, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for all residents.

The document reports on a COP21 side event regarding Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs). Speakers argued that NAMAs currently lack regulations on stakeholder engagement and environmental criteria, which undermines their potential for sustainable development. Case studies from Costa Rica and India illustrated how the dominance of the industrial sector and international agencies can marginalize civil society and informal workers, such as wastepickers. The event concluded that universal safeguards, including grievance mechanisms and transparent monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) systems, are essential to ensure NAMAs are community-led and effective.

The report examines the distribution of centrally financed fuel subsidies in India, highlighting a significant disparity where Bihar, one of the poorest states, consistently receives the lowest per capita transfers for diesel, LPG, and kerosene compared to wealthier states like Haryana, Delhi, and Gujarat.

The report argues that India's energy efficiency market is stalled due to a lack of reliable baselines, high perceived risks for financiers, and prohibitive tax treatments. It proposes ten 'big ideas', including the creation of India-adjusted monitoring, verification, and financing protocols, the use of corporate social responsibility funds, and the establishment of a national ESCO association. The document also highlights the potential for 'negawatt' trading to improve the financial health of electricity distribution companies (discoms).

The report examines how the removal of fossil-fuel subsidies for LPG, kerosene, diesel, and electricity affects men and women differently in India. It finds that current subsidies largely fail rural women, who rely heavily on biomass, and that shifting to cash transfers via bank accounts creates barriers for women due to lower financial inclusion. The author argues for gender-responsive budgeting and targeted interventions to prevent women from reverting to dirtier fuels while promoting their empowerment.

The evaluation of the Kotkasim pilot project reveals that while direct cash transfers effectively reduced kerosene leakages to the black market, they also led to a dramatic decline in household kerosene consumption due to higher upfront costs and poor banking access. The study highlights significant implementation gaps, including inadequate information dissemination and the financial burden placed on Fair Price Shop (FPS) dealers. Recommendations include improving financial literacy, digitizing records, and ensuring better coordination between district authorities and beneficiaries.

The report finds that India's LPG subsidy system is highly regressive, primarily benefiting wealthy urban households while the poorest fifth of the population receives less than 1% of the total direct subsidy. While an initial household cylinder cap of six in September 2012 temporarily limited subsidy growth and improved distribution, subsequent increases of the cap to nine and then 12 cylinders effectively reversed these gains. The Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) program is criticized for failing to decouple subsidy receipt from fuel consumption and for introducing administrative inefficiencies without improving equity or fiscal responsibility.

The report examines India's energy subsidy regime, highlighting the significant fiscal burden of fuel subsidies, which cost an average of 1.4 per cent of GDP since FY 2008. It details policy shifts in diesel, LPG, kerosene, and natural gas markets, noting that while the government has pursued incremental price increases for diesel and consumption caps for LPG, currency depreciation and high international oil prices have maintained high under-recoveries. The document also analyzes the regressive nature of these subsidies, their impact on the trucking industry, and the inefficiencies of subsidized agricultural electricity, which encourages groundwater depletion. It recommends transitioning toward market-based pricing, targeted cash transfers, and structural improvements in transport and irrigation management.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) reports its internal climate management and GHG emissions for the 2013 reporting year. WRI has established 2020 reduction targets for Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions, supported by an internal carbon fee of $50/mt CO2e on business travel. While Scope 1 and 2 emissions decreased, Scope 3 emissions—particularly from purchased goods and services—increased. WRI identifies reputational and operational risks related to climate change and is piloting primary data collection with its supply chain.

The report finds that India's clean cooking sector is hampered by a lack of cross-government coordination, limited access to commercial finance for entrepreneurs, and a significant gap in consumer awareness. While the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has established technical standards, the sector remains supply-driven, often ignoring the agency and specific preferences of rural households. The authors argue that the National Biomass Cookstoves Initiative (NBCI) should evolve into a cross-government National Mission to leverage the distribution networks and awareness-raising capacities of other ministries.

The document analyzes how structural and regulatory inefficiencies in India's trucking industry, such as poor road quality and toll delays, exacerbate the impact of rising diesel prices. It finds that truck operators are largely 'price takers' unable to pass fuel cost increases to customers due to fierce competition and a dependence on brokers. To mitigate these impacts, the brief recommends short-term interventions like reducing toll waiting times and fixing minimum freight rates, alongside long-term structural reforms including computerized exchange networks and improved fuel efficiency standards.

The text highlights the ecological and social costs of coal mining in Central India, specifically the loss of biodiversity and displacement of forest communities. It notes that despite doubling coal production capacity since 2007, 400 million Indians still lack electricity. The document criticizes the failure of 22 out of 29 Indian states to meet Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) targets in 2012 and argues that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) acts as a fossil fuel subsidy by providing credits to coal plants that do not achieve real emission reductions.