Areas of Work
NRDC India seeks to advance national and global climate goals through community-based solutions that prioritize public health and equity, create jobs, and boost resiliency. Our approach is to collaborate on pilot projects that offer the potential for tangible environmental and public health benefits. When we have a strong proof of concept, we bring our solutions to scale at the state level – with the goal of informing national policies and unlocking the public investments needed to implement them. Our work falls within five interconnected focus areas:
Renewable Energy Growth and Access
To achieve and exceed India’s renewable energy targets, stronger policies, creative finance mechanisms, and clean energy access are all needed. NRDC India is working with partners to advance clean energy policies and jobs, develop finance solutions and enhance village energy access – which in turn improves lives for poor communities and fights climate change.
View DetailsCooling and Energy Efficiency
With rising temperatures, increasing consumer power, and rapid urbanization, the demand for cooling is growing in Indian cities. To help meet these challenges, NRDC India is working to phase down HFCs, increase air conditioner efficiency, and promote cool roofs and green buildings for all.
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Climate Resilience And Health
Deadly pollution levels, rapid urbanization, and rising incidence of climate disasters are all making communities in India increasingly vulnerable to climate change. NRDC India is focusing on city-led programs connected to national policies to mitigate air pollution and build climate resilience to extreme heat.
View DetailsClean Transportation
India, the world’s fourth-largest renewables market and the fifth-largest automobile producer, is also the world’s third-largest oil importer. By transitioning to renewable energy powered electric vehicles, the country can save billions on energy imports, drastically improve air quality in India’s cities, while combating the climate crisis already impacting millions of Indians. Deadly pollution levels, rapid urbanization, and rising incidence of climate disasters are all making communities in India increasingly vulnerable to climate change. NRDC India is focusing on city-led programs connected to national policies to mitigate air pollution by advancing electric mobility.
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Climate Goals and Global Engagement
India’s progress on climate change remains strong, despite COVID-19 and the ensuing economic slowdown. India announced new climate goals at COP26 in Glasgow that are significantly more ambitious than its Paris Agreement targets. Key goals are to meet 50 per cent of its energy requirements with renewable energy by 2030 and reduce the carbon intensity of its economy to less than 45 percent within the same time period. India has also committed to achieving economy-wide net zero emissions by 2070. India has historically contributed little to the climate crisis, but as one of the world’s largest economies, the country is critical to solving it.
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