The Centre for Social and Economic Progress is delighted to invite you to our next Flagship Seminar on ‘Towards a Strategy for India’s Decarbonisation’ on August 6, 6 PM-7.30 PM. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Distinguished Fellow, CSEP and Utkarsh Patel, Associate Fellow, CSEP, will be presenting, followed by comments from discussants and a question-and-answer round with participants.

Abstract: Decarbonisation has moved to the centre stage globally and the CoP-26 meeting in November is expected to consider the need for ratcheting up commitments beyond those committed at Paris in 2015. Major CO2 emitters such as the US, the EU and China have already put forth net zero targets.

In this presentation, we deliberate on the issues that India needs to consider in outlining its path to low carbon development. We review the findings of several studies to examine the scope for defining a low carbon trajectory based on a dual strategy of electrifying as many sectors as possible and generating the electricity needed through non-fossil fuel sources. We outline the many challenges involved in achieving such a transition and focus on some of the structural changes that are necessary to facilitate it. Based on our review we conclude that India could endorse the need for all countries to adopt a low carbon trajectory but in this context emphasise that a common net zero date for all countries is not just and developed countries should get to net zero earlier than 2050 while developing countries get more time.

We propose that India could consider a long term target of reaching net zero between 2070 and 2080 and also indicate a peaking date for coal capacity in electricity generation some time after 2025 with a gradual decline thereafter. These targets must be anchored in a firm international commitment to ensure adequate financing support for the structural transformation that will be necessary.

Download the Presentation

Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8316276274381/WN_OZDArMgdQoq3EBQDIR74MQ 

Chair: Rakesh Mohan, President & Distinguished Fellow, CSEP

Presenters: Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Distinguished Fellow, CSEP & Utkarsh Patel, Associate Fellow, CSEP

Discussants: 

Lord Nicholas Stern, IG Patel Professor of Economics and Government and Chair of the Grantham Research Institute of Climate Change and Environment at London School of Economics

Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog

Indu Shekhar Chaturvedi, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India

Mohua Mukherjee, Former World Bank Head of India Solar Programme

Moderator: Laveesh Bhandari, Senior Fellow, CSEP

Special Participants:

Jamshyd Godrej, Managing Director, Godrej & Boyce

Ajay Mathur, Director General, International Solar Alliance

Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, Council on Energy, Environment and Water

Ulka Kelkar, Director, Climate Program, World Resources Institute, India

Rahul Tongia, Senior Fellow, CSEP

Agenda: 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details about joining the webinar. During the discussion, you will be able to submit your questions via the Q&A chatbox on Zoom. Alternatively, you can also share your questions with us in advance by emailing Ayush Khare, at akhare@csep.org. If you are unable to join us via Zoom, please join us on our YouTube Livestream.

Please contact zkazmi@csep.org for media inquiries.

All content reflects the individual views of the speakers. The Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP) does not hold an institutional view on any subject.