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The document examines Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as a cost-effective, low-carbon alternative to private car-based transport in rapidly growing cities. It details the hardware and software components of BRT, analyzes the value chain and organizational roles (owner, manager, and asset manager), and discusses the political economy challenges, such as resistance from informal transport operators and car owners. The report emphasizes that while BRT is a mature technology, its success depends on local context, institutional capability, and integration with broader transport networks.

The workshop, held at the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) in Bhopal, focused on bridging the knowledge gap for low carbon, climate resilient (LC-CR) solutions in rural and small-town contexts. It combined expert lectures on climate change, energy and carbon intensities, and passive design strategies with practical applications, including a site visit to the Water and Land Management Institute (WALMI) and a group design exercise for a demo centre. Key discussions highlighted the dual responsibility of the construction sector to both adapt to and mitigate climate change, the lack of regulations for embodied energy compared to operational energy, and the need to integrate alternative technologies into official Public Works Department (PWD) schedules of rates to ensure wider adoption.

The document outlines several CDKN-supported initiatives in Nepal, most notably a project launched in October 2012 to calculate the economic costs of climate change within the water and agriculture sectors. It also highlights efforts to strengthen Nepal's strategic engagement with the UNFCCC, including the training of a Core Negotiating Team and Nepal's election as chair of the LDC Group. Other mentioned projects include the integration of climate indicators into the Food Security Monitoring System (NeKSAP), the development of the Nepal Climate Change Knowledge Management Centre (NCCKMC), and research on disaster risk reduction in the Koshi River Basin.

The document argues that India's fuel subsidies are fiscally unsustainable and create market distortions. It proposes a phased roadmap to eliminate diesel under-recoveries, phase out LPG subsidies through capping and price increases, and replace PDS kerosene subsidies with targeted cash transfers. To manage the resulting inflationary pressures and political opposition, the brief suggests specific compensation measures for transport sectors and the implementation of a biometric-based cash transfer system for low-income households.

The study uses a qualitative generative research methodology in four villages of Haryana State to understand why traditional biomass stoves (chulhas) persist despite health and environmental risks. Findings reveal that users value the ability to regulate heat by combining fuelwood and cow dung, the specific taste of food cooked with biomass, and the low cost of self-made clay stoves. While users desire reduced smoke and fuel savings, advanced stoves approved by the National Biomass Cookstove Initiative (NBCI) often fail to meet practical needs, such as the ability to bake roti or use dung. The authors argue that technical efficiency standards must be balanced with real-world usability to ensure the adoption of cleaner cooking technologies.

The document contends that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) fails to ensure environmental integrity in the waste sector, creating perverse incentives that prioritize waste disposal over recycling and composting. It highlights the displacement of informal waste pickers, the issuance of carbon credits for 'business-as-usual' projects that lack additionality, and the failure of landfill gas capture systems to prevent significant methane leakage. Specific examples include the Timarpur-Okhla plant in Delhi, the Bisasar landfill in Durban, and incinerators in China.

This fact sheet describes a project aimed at improving energy access in least developed countries by evaluating low-GHG alternatives to traditional biomass. The project focuses on three emission sources: non-renewable biomass, lifecycle fuel emissions, and products of incomplete combustion, such as black carbon. Using peri-urban case studies in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Delhi, India, the project examines the socio-economic and cultural factors influencing the adoption of efficient cookstoves and cleaner fuels like LPG, ethanol, and electricity. In Delhi, the study compares advanced stove options against baseline data, while in Dar es Salaam, it focuses on charcoal supply chain constraints and efficiency.

The author contends that climate change is frequently misclassified as a narrow environmental issue, leading to siloed governance and ineffective decision-making. To address the uncertainty and scale of climate impacts, the document advocates for framing climate change as a central strategic risk, establishing statutory duties for action, creating a Cabinet-level Office of Country Risk, and retraining civil service bureaucracies in systems thinking. It highlights examples of progress, such as the UK's Climate Change Act and the US national security community's view of climate change as a "threat multiplier."

The document highlights that just 1% of India's superhot rock geothermal resource could provide 303 GW of capacity, potentially meeting 43% of the country's projected 2050 electricity demand. It argues that this technology could replace all coal and gas imports for electricity, significantly reduce land use compared to other renewables, and improve urban air quality by replacing fossil fuel combustion.

The document discusses the tension between aesthetic and functional choices in urban greening across Indian cities, noting that many commonly planted exotic species are prone to uprooting during extreme weather events like cyclones. It highlights a lack of scientific rigour in national guidelines and fragmented institutional management of urban greenery, while weighing the biodiversity benefits of native species against the perceived hardiness of non-native species in urban environments.

The document examines the vulnerability of India's financial system to climate change, noting that extreme climate events affect over 75% of Indian districts and could reduce annual GDP by 2.5% to 4.5%. It identifies significant gaps in the Indian financial sector, including limited data on risk factors, a lack of a green taxonomy, and a reliance on external credit ratings that do not capture the long-term quality of green projects. The paper advocates for the adoption of the TCFD framework for disclosures, the implementation of climate-specific stress tests, and the development of innovative products such as parametric insurance and carbon ratings. It specifically highlights the need for tailored interventions for the MSME sector and improvements in the payout efficiency of natural disaster insurance.

The report identifies four priority sub-sectors for green investment in India: Green Hydrogen, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA), and Waste Management & Material Circularity. It highlights a significant investment gap, noting that India may face a shortfall of $3.5 trillion to achieve its net-zero target. For Green Hydrogen, the report emphasizes the need to reduce costs from above $4/kg to $2/kg to achieve economic viability. In the BESS sector, it projects annual battery demand between 106 GWh and 260 GWh by 2030. Climate Smart Agriculture is presented as a critical area for both mitigation and adaptation, though currently underfunded in upstream and on-farm solutions. Waste Management is highlighted as a $45 billion market opportunity by 2030, with a specific focus on the growing potential of lithium-ion battery recycling. The document also argues for the urgent scaling of private adaptation financing, noting that 80% of key adaptation markets in India are currently nascent or mid-level.

Black carbon (BC), or soot, is a potent short-lived climate pollutant resulting from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels and biomass. It causes significant respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, contributing to millions of excess deaths annually, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Economically, BC exposure and reliance on unclean cooking fuels cause trillions of dollars in losses. Climatically, BC warms the atmosphere by absorbing solar energy and accelerates ice melt in the Arctic and Himalayas by reducing albedo. The report argues that reducing BC emissions—especially through clean cooking fuels in sub-Saharan Africa and transportation improvements in urban areas—would prevent millions of premature deaths, reduce deforestation, and help limit global warming to 1.5°C.

The document describes the methodology for the Indian States’ Electricity Transition analysis, which evaluates 16 states representing approximately 90% of India's annual power requirement. The analysis uses 17 parameters across four dimensions: Decarbonisation, Performance of the Power System, Readiness of the Power Ecosystem, and Policies and Political Commitments. Data for financial year 2021-22 was primarily sourced from government entities such as the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and NITI Aayog, then normalised and weighted by sectoral experts to produce state-wise scores.

The report evaluates 16 Indian states on their electricity transition across four dimensions: decarbonisation, power system performance, ecosystem readiness, and policy commitments. Karnataka is identified as the top performer across all dimensions, while states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal are urged to ramp up efforts. The analysis highlights that many renewable-rich states have significant untapped potential and recommends improving data transparency, strengthening transmission infrastructure, and expanding green market mechanisms to accelerate the transition.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accreditation Panel recommends the accreditation of IL&FS Environmental Infrastructure and Services Limited (IEISL), a private sector entity in India, for 'small' projects with a 'medium risk' environmental and social category. While IEISL demonstrated strong capabilities in project management, environmental and social safeguards, and gender policy, the assessment identified gaps in its basic fiduciary standards, specifically regarding procurement dispute resolution, conflict of interest guidance, and reliance on related-party funding. Accreditation is recommended subject to several conditions, including the recruitment of a gender expert and the update of its prohibited practices policies.

The report details the traditional ecological knowledge and resource governance of communities in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, while highlighting systemic challenges regarding land tenure, relocation, and the lack of basic amenities.

The 'Deliver Electric Delhi' pilot is a collaboration between RMI, the Dialogue and Development Commission of Delhi (DDC), and 36 private sector partners to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) for final-mile delivery. The initiative addresses the high pollution and carbon emissions caused by urban freight, which accounts for 45% of vehicular NOx pollution in Delhi. The pilot follows a three-phase approach—design, execution, and documentation—to gather data on total cost of ownership (TCO), vehicle productivity, and charging patterns. This data is intended to reduce risks for EV owners and financiers and inform public policy and infrastructure planning.

The report argues that technical and rational arguments for energy efficiency are insufficient on their own and should be paired with emotion-based narratives to drive systemic change. It highlights the 'Lifestyle for Environment' (LiFE) movement launched by India and provides a series of case studies from G20 nations—including India, the USA, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Indonesia, and Japan—across the sectors of buildings, industry, and transport. These examples illustrate how leveraging feelings of pride, empowerment, and community responsibility can accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and behaviours.

The document outlines key takeaways from the INSIGHT 2022 conference and a related carbon markets workshop, focusing on the financial and regulatory mechanisms needed to electrify India's public transport. It highlights the potential of carbon markets, the success of the Grand Challenge aggregation model, and the need for cross-sectoral collaboration and independent regulatory oversight to manage e-bus procurement and battery lifecycles.