India's Energy Transition: At Crossroads?
This event will discuss the opportunities and challenges to energy transition and sustainable, low carbon development in India.

Often overlooked when discussing international climate action and politics in favour of its slightly larger neighbour to the North-East, India is currently running one of the largest and most ambitious renewable energy capacity programs in the world. It is one of the few countries on track to meet its Paris target, with room to publish even more ambitious targets in the run up to COP26.
However, achieving these targets requires more than just technological transformations, with climate action having to contend with the nation’s carbon-intensive development strategies, as well as the country’s strong dependence on coal for electricity and heavy industry. While no new coal power stations have been built in 2020, the government is encouraging more coal mining and increased coal production – neither of which are consistent with the Paris Agreement.
India’s ability to ensure affordable, clean and reliable energy for its growing population will be vital for the future development of its economy. However, avoiding the carbon-intensive development of other countries will require strong policies, technological leaps and a surge in clean energy investment, according to a new report released by the IEA. While expanding solar and wind is transforming the electricity sector, the transport and industrial sectors are proving far more challenging to develop in a sustainable manner. More than any other major economy, India’s energy future depends on buildings, factories and vehicles not yet built or bought. This represents a huge opening for policies to steer India onto a more secure and sustainable course, and we look forward to discussing the difficulties involved in making this transition.

To provide insight to this topic, we are delighted to be joined by Professor Navroz Dubash and Mr Amitakh Kant.

Navroz K Dubash is a Professor at the Centre for Policy Research, where he conducts research and writes on climate change, energy, air pollution, water policy, and the politics of regulation in the developing world. He has been actively engaged in the climate debate as a scholar, policy adviser and activist for 25 years, and is currently a Coordinating Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Sixth Assessment). Within India, Navroz has been a member of the group that developed India’s Low Carbon Strategy for Inclusive Growth and the Committee for a Long Term Strategy for Low Carbon Development for India; he continues to serve on advisory committees on energy, water and air pollution.

Amitabh Kant is the CEO of the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI), a government think-tank that designs strategic and long term policy programmes for the government. He is a member of the Indian Administrative Service, and the author of Branding India – An Incredible Story. Until May 2016, he was the Secretary for the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, responsible for formulation and implementation of industrial policy and strategies for industrial development. He was also the National Project Director of the Rural Tourism Project of the UNDP, and is a Chevening Scholar.
This event will be live-streamed on our Youtube channel:
www.youtube.com/channel/UCOoksFYBCHqZWwVBU9qewZg

We will post the exact link when the event starts at 5pm.

You can find more about our speakers at the following links:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitabh_Kant
www.cprindia.org/people/navroz-k-dubash
Date: 17 February 2021, 17:00 (Wednesday, 5th week, Hilary 2021)
Venue: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOoksFYBCHqZWwVBU9qewZg
Speakers: Amitabh Kant (National Institution for Transforming India), Professor Navroz K. Dubash (Centre for Policy Research)
Organiser: Oxford Climate Society
Organiser contact email address: oxfordclimatesociety@gmail.com
Booking required?: Recommended
Booking url: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/141129749881
Cost: Free
Audience: Public
Editor: Safaa Loukili Idrissi