The India Energy Hour Presented by 101Reporters

In recent years, heatwaves in India have become more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting. This increase can be attributed to the larger problem of global warming and climate change. Rising greenhouse gas emissions have led to a rise in average global temperatures, which directly contribute to the occurrence and severity of heatwaves. In order to understand the importance of Heat Action Plans and implications of extreme weather, we spoke to Aditya Valiathan Pillai, a fellow with the Initiative for Climate, Energy and Environment (ICEE) at the Centre for Policy Research (CPR). His current work focuses on strengthening policies to combat extreme heat. Full transcript of the episode is available here Suggested Reading: How Is India Adapting to Heatwaves?: An Assessment of Heat Action Plans With Insights for Transformative Climate Action Presented by 101Reporters Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Aditya Valiathan Pillai is on Twitter & Linkedin Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin Podcast Producer, Tejas Dayananda Sagar on Twitter & Linkedin

For years, multiple Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have relied on integrated assessment models or IAM modelling pathways to achieve global net zero targets.  The IPCC reports and IAM pathways have become key drivers of government policy on keeping a lid on global warming in many countries.  However, scholars from Global South have argued that IAMs have failed to incorporate the principles of equity and rights of developing countries while charting decarbonisation pathways. For instance, questions have been raised about how it is fair to ask both the U.S. and India to achieve a net zero by 2050, given U.S. massive historical emissions. To discuss the issue of lack of equity in net zero pathways, and ways for designing equitable models for climate action, we interviewed Dr. Tejal Kanitkar, Associate Professor at National Institute of Advanced Studies, and Dr. Rahul Tongia, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress. Both Tejal and Rahul are India’s leading scholars and thinkers on climate and energy policy and have decades of experience working in this area. Full transcript of the episode is available here Suggested Readings: IPCC’S climate reports reveal an unequal science: https://carboncopy.info/ipccs-climate-reports-reveal-an-unequal-science/ Presented by 101Reporters Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Tejal Kanitkar is on Twitter & Linkedin Rahul Tongia is on Twitter & Linkedin Our hosts, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin Podcast Producer, Tejas Dayananda Sagar on Twitter & Linkedin

Climate financing in India is crucial for achieving sustainable development and mitigating the impacts of climate change. The government’s efforts to mobilize climate finance, along with support from international institutions are essential for achieving these goals. In order to understand the complexities and challenges of financing climate change initiatives in India, including the role of government, private sector, and international institutions, we interviewed Varad Pande, Climate Finance and Investment Expert. Varad has held diverse roles across government, strategy, multilateral, investment organisations working on issues of economic development, social impact, and base-of-pyramid (BOP) business models. Full transcript of the episode is available here Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Varad Pande is on Twitter & Linkedin Our host, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin Podcast Producer, Tejas Dayananda Sagar on Twitter & Linkedin

Climate philanthropy globally and in India are starting to play a catalytic role for enabling climate action. They are starting to bet on innovative ideas and projects that enable decarbonisation of key sectors, foster solutions that benefit communities and economies, and bridge the gap between philanthropy and commercial investment. To understand more about how climate philanthropy works, the different funding models and the main challenges of funding climate projects, we interviewed Vikas Mehta, Executive Director of SED Fund, a venture philanthropy providing funding to organizations in India across their life cycle and continuing to support them in their growth and scale-up journey. Vikas has decades of experience in philanthropy, strategic planning, fundraising, and portfolio management. Full transcript of the episode is available here Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Vikas Mehta is on Twitter & Linkedin Our host, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin Podcast Producer, Tejas Dayananda Sagar on Twitter & Linkedin

Under ‘Move for Earth’ initiative, co-founder of SwitchON Foundation Vinay Jaju cycled over 3,000 km across different states in East India, connecting with farmers, women and youth to address clean air, sustainable agriculture and renewable energy. Vinay Jaju is also the co-founder of ONergy and ONskills. He has collaborated with various ministries of Government of India and bilateral organizations such as US Embassy, United Nations Development Programme, General Electric and World Wildlife Fund. He is currently the Managing Director of SwitchON Foundation and looks after the daily operations of the organization. Full transcript of the episode is available here Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Vinay Jaju is on Twitter & Linkedin Our host, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin Podcast Producer, Tejas Dayananda Sagar on Twitter & Linkedin

To meet global climate targets, renewable energy sources such as solar and wind will need to be deployed at scale. This will mean large-scale mining and processing of critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements, which form key components of the solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles required for the energy transition. To understand the role of critical minerals in energy transition, including whether the world has enough of these minerals, we spoke to Dr. Seaver Wang, Co-Director of the Climate and Energy team at the United States-based Breakthrough Institute. Dr. Wang writes on critical minerals and recently published a paper titled “Future demand for electricity generation materials under different climate mitigation scenarios,” which unpacks the feasibility of using critical minerals at scale to meet climate goals. Full transcript of the episode is available here Suggested reading: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2542435123000016 Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin & YouTube Seaver Wang is on Twitter & Linkedin Our host, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin Podcast Producer, Tejas Dayananda Sagar on Twitter & Linkedin

India's wind energy sector has never had a breezy year for close to a decade now. An early mover in the green energy space, wind energy players relied on tax benefits for initial growth. But as incentives and subsidies faded, so did the fortunes. Recently, in another major policy shift, the bidding regime for the wind sector would undergo significant changes. To talk about the past, present and future of the wind energy sector, we spoke with Mr. D V Giri. He is the secretary general of Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association (IWTMA), the industry lobby body for wind turbine makers. Giri has held senior executive positions in several sectors including foreign wind energy majors. He has been associated with Indian Wind Turbine Manufacturers Association since its inception. Full transcript of the episode is available here Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube Our host, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin Podcast Producer, Tejas Dayananda Sagar on Twitter and Linkedin

This year marks the starting line for India’s energy transition plan, in line with its Net Zero ambitions. The country has made a range of ambitious announcements starting from renewable energy addition to assertive stand on global climate platforms. Challenges of balancing energy needs versus climate commitments aside; India’s energy transition would need to also balance economic needs versus social obligations. We talked with Ulka Kelkar, Director, Climate program, World Resources Institute India to assess the climate action plan of India and what lies ahead. An economist by training, Kelkar has a rich experience in climate change research where her work has ranged from field studies in rural areas to designing state action plans. She is one of India’s most respected voices on low-carbon and climate-resilient economic planning. Reading Suggestions: https://www.wri.org/research/pathways-decarbonizing-indias-energy-future-scenario-analysis-using-india-energy-policy https://www.wri.org/research/sustainable-development-impacts-renewable-power-insights-three-indian-states https://www.wri.org/just-transitions/snapshots Full transcript of the episode is available here Rukhmabai Initiatives 2023 - Are you a woman journalist, writer or student who loves to amplify the voices of striking women who have compelling insights into the world of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics and hold a unique place in the field, the Rukhmabai Team is looking for you! Rukhmabai Initiatives was launched in 2020, in honor of one of India’s first practicing female doctors. This year, we will be providing three grants of Rs 40,000 each. Each grantee will produce three stories – two profiles and one feature story – aligned with the objective of Rukhmabai Initiatives; to inspire and inform. The link to the applications is in the show notes and the last date of submission is 31st January 2023 Apply Now! Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube Ulka Kelkar is on Twitter, Linkedin Our host, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin Podcast Producer, Tejas Dayananda Sagar on Twitter and Linkedin

A major part of India's energy transition would come from the power sector but for the broader goal of decarbonization, energy-intensive industries need to plan a green future. The steel industry which forms the backbone of the country's infrastructure growth is the foremost industry to plan a transition. The sector which relies on metal mining, drives bulk electricity demand and employment generation across its supply chain. This makes it imperative for it to lead to industrial decarbonization in the country. To understand the shift undergoing the steel sector, we spoke with Manish Mishra. A seasoned steel sector executive, Mishra has held various roles at a variety of locations in Tata Steel, one of India's leading steel producers. Mishra is currently Chief Corporate Affairs with the company in New Delhi. Full transcript of the episode is available here Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube Manish Mishra is on Linkedin Our host, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin Podcast Producer, Tejas Dayananda Sagar on Twitter and Linkedin

India has set a net zero target by 2070. If this target is to be achieved, India will have to reduce its reliance on coal. However, decreasing coal production and use is complex as it will impact millions of workers, communities and coal-dependent states. In order to mitigate the impact on workers and communities in coal-dependent states, the states will have to enable a just energy transition and the planning will need to start from now. Jharkhand, India’s most coal-dependent state has acknowledged the enormous just transition challenge and has taken a bold initiative by creating a new task force on just transition. The work and success of this task force has the potential to inspire other coal-dependent states to follow suit. To get a ringside understanding of this just transition in Jharkhand we interviewed Mr. Ajay Kumar Rastogi, Chairman of Jharkhand’s Sustainable Just Transition Taskforce. Mr. Rastogi recently retired as the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests after serving for over three decades in key ministries of Forest and Climate Change, Land and Revenue in Jharkhand and Bihar. Full transcript of the episode is available here Follow TIEH podcast on Twitter, Linkedin and YouTube Ajay Kumar Rastogi is on Twitter and Linkedin Our host, Shreya Jai on Twitter, Linkedin & Dr. Sandeep Pai on Twitter, Linkedin Podcast Producer, Tejas Dayananda Sagar on Twitter and Linkedin