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This research paper proposes that India can develop a cost-competitive sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry using power-and-biomass-to-liquids (PBtL) technology, leveraging low-cost green hydrogen and agricultural residue to reduce crude oil imports and aviation emissions.

This policy brief argues that India is uniquely positioned to lead in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production by utilizing its low-cost solar power and abundant agricultural residue. The authors propose the power-and-biomass-to-liquids (PBtL) pathway as a cost-competitive alternative to fossil jet fuel and other SAF technologies, offering benefits for energy security, air quality, and climate targets.

This policy brief by RMI evaluates the techno-economic potential of hydrogen trucking in India, comparing fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs) and hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) trucks against diesel, battery electric (BET), and LNG alternatives. The analysis finds that while FCETs are projected to be more cost-competitive than diesel for long-haul, heavy-duty applications by 2040, they currently face high total cost of ownership (TCO) due to expensive hydrogen fuel, infrastructure, and taxation. The document recommends a coordinated roadmap involving policy incentives, strategic infrastructure planning, and tailored financial solutions to enable hydrogen to complement electrification in decarbonizing India's freight sector.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative, WRI India, and CEEW analyzes the financial and regulatory landscape for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) in Indian cities. It identifies significant gaps in private sector investment, which currently accounts for only 10% of global NbS finance, and provides early recommendations to improve project bankability, diversify funding sources, and strengthen the enabling environment for urban climate resilience in India.

RMI proposes a 'whole-systems' approach to energy efficiency that combines electrification with 'energy end-use efficiency'—reducing the actual energy services required. By focusing on land-use, passive design, and material circularity, the report argues that overall energy demand can be reduced by 50-75% in some sectors, far exceeding the COP28 goal of a 4% annual improvement rate.

This case study examines how Lodha (Macrotech Developers Ltd), a major Indian real estate developer, employs an "emergence strategy" to drive sustainable building practices. By utilizing its Palava project as a smart city learning lab and establishing the Lodha Net Zero Urban Accelerator, the company aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 and set new industry standards for India's rapidly growing urban environment.

This case study examines how Gogoro transitioned from a stealth startup to a global leader in light electric vehicle (EV) battery swapping by employing an 'emergence strategy.' The company focused on the two-wheeled urban scooter market, utilizing a combination of technical innovation, open battery standards, and diverse business models to scale rapidly across multiple countries.

This report synthesises 50 'Voices from the Frontline' stories from June 2020 to October 2021, documenting how local communities in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean coped with the compounding effects of Covid-19, climate change, and socioeconomic vulnerability. It examines these experiences through the lens of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting grassroots resilience and the need for external actors to support locally-led solutions.

This research paper by Aditya Nigam analyzes the Indian government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, arguing that the state used the health crisis to further a Hindu supremacist agenda, suppress political dissent, and benefit corporate interests while neglecting the welfare of millions of migrant workers.

This briefing by RMI argues that shifting the focus from individual net-zero energy buildings to net-zero energy districts allows for greater cost-effectiveness, better grid integration, and optimized clean mobility through urban-scale planning.

This case study describes the collaboration between Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and the Lodha Group to apply a net-zero energy (NZE) district design framework to Palava City, a large-scale greenfield development near Mumbai, India. The project aims to demonstrate how integrated design across energy, mobility, and water systems can create sustainable, high-density urban environments in emerging markets.

This guide, published by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) in 2019, distils the findings of the IPCC's Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate specifically for decision-makers in South Asia. It details the physical changes occurring in the oceans and high mountain frozen lands, the resulting risks to ecosystems and human livelihoods, and the necessity of integrating mitigation, adaptation, and transformative governance to build regional resilience.

This guide, published by RMI and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), provides a comprehensive framework for improving urban freight efficiency. It identifies key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor logistics performance, details best practices for reducing congestion and emissions, and offers a policy workbook for municipal authorities to implement data-driven planning and stakeholder engagement.

The State Bank of India issued a USD 650 million senior unsecured Certified Climate Bond on September 28, 2018, as part of a larger USD 3 billion green finance program.

The India Green Economy Barometer 2018 report assesses India's progress toward a sustainable and inclusive economy. It finds that while India has high potential and has made significant strides in renewable energy and corporate social responsibility, the overall transition is slow and insufficient. The report highlights critical barriers, including the perception that environmental protection hinders economic growth, and calls for systemic reforms in finance, national accounting, and high-impact sectors like agriculture and construction to ensure a fair and green transition.

This policy brief examines the extreme rainfall event in Chennai on 1 December 2015, which saw a record 494 mm of rain in 24 hours. While climate attribution studies concluded the event was not caused by anthropogenic global warming, the document highlights how unplanned urbanisation and poor infrastructure exacerbated the disaster's impact, costing the Indian economy an estimated US$3 billion.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International examines the financial and regulatory impacts of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms on countries negotiating the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). It argues that ISDS allows foreign corporations to sue governments over public interest regulations, creating significant financial burdens and a 'regulatory chill' that undermines democracy and the right to regulate.

The Loans4SME Lab Instrument Analysis describes a proposed technology-driven peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform designed to provide debt financing to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in India for renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. The platform aims to bypass traditional banking barriers—such as strict collateral requirements and long sanction times—by connecting SMEs with high net worth individuals, family offices, and corporate treasuries using a proprietary credit scoring algorithm.

This executive summary distils findings from the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report specifically for South Asia. It details observed climate changes, projected risks to food and water security, and the necessity of integrating adaptation and mitigation strategies into regional development to protect vulnerable populations and economic growth.

This report by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) distils the findings of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) specifically for South Asia. It outlines how climate change is already impacting the region through temperature extremes and sea-level rise, and projects future risks including food and water shortages, flood damage, and heat-related mortality. The document emphasizes the necessity of integrating adaptation and mitigation into long-term development planning to avoid 'maladaptation' and leverage co-benefits across sectors such as agriculture, energy, transport, and urban planning.