Guest Blog
Perspectives and analysis from guest writers, adding depth, diversity, and new voices to the climate conversation.
If Energy Storage Comes at Scale, Can Flexi Coal be Left Behind?
Imagine a multi-way tug of war and the country’s electricity grid sitting in the middle of it. On one end is the rapid acceleration of renewable energy capacity and on the other end is a slowly crumbling, but strong foundation of thermal power. Add to it the complexity of lack of balancing energy sources. And then there is rising power demand led by cooling demand, new energy guzzling sectors such as data centres and modern electrification. There is also an emerging pull factor of decentralised energy solutions.
The Climate Crisis is also a Child Mental Health Crisis
We are running out of time to respond to the climate crisis, and for children, the consequences are already unfolding. Global reports continue to warn that climate change is a lived reality for several communities today. A 2021 UNICEF analysis highlighted that , nearly a billion children, that is almost half of the world’s population, are at extremely high risk from climate impacts. Also, nearly three in five young people aged 16–25 years report feeling very or extremely worried about climate change. Almost half say these fears are already affecting their daily lives, from sleep to concentration .
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Data is the New Collateral: Building a High-Fidelity Indian Carbon Market
India is laying the foundation stones of a national compliance carbon market. The market design features and regulatory systems are progressively under development, and industries are starting to prepare for the market. Much of the conversation so far has focused on targets, sectors, and trading rules. These are of course important — but the strongest foundation of an effective carbon market is something far more elementary.
From Baby Steps to Bold Leaps: India’s Next Green Frontier is Manufacturing
For more than two decades, renewable energy project developers have led India’s march to green energy growth. The independent power producers (IPPs) have helped grow the sector in gigawatts and have also shaped the country’s policies while doing that. But as India steers in the direction of self-sustained energy security, the green energy manufacturers have taken over to draft the next chapter of India’s energy future. From conglomerates expanding into solar equipment manufacturing to new age tech startups launching innovations in green fuel, energy storage and public sector giants reorienting their investment plans - all are riding on the green manufacturing boat. Indian states are also luring investors to set up green manufacturing plants.
Budget 2026: Strong Fiscal Signals, Fragmented Support for India’s Energy Transition
Against a backdrop of global economic uncertainty, the Union Budget 2026 underscores the government’s continued emphasis on fiscal discipline. The government has committed to reducing the fiscal deficit to 4.4% of GDP in FY2026-27 and further to 4.3% in FY2027, while continuing to lower the debt-to-GDP ratio, estimated at 55.6% in the coming fiscal year. This emphasis on fiscal consolidation is critical for maintaining investor confidence and long-term macroeconomic stability.
Why India’s Clean Cooking Revolution Must Be Electric
Strategic subsidy incentives for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and increased infrastructure deployment for piped natural gas (PNG) have shaped India’s clean cooking transition in the past decade. The rapid increase in connections for these fuels has helped people transition away from solid fuels, resulting in health and environmental benefits.
The $300 Billion Question Ahead of COP30
The climate finance target set at COP29 highlights ambition, but bridging the gap demands political leadership and structural innovation, not just funding pledges, writes Labanya Prakash Jena. $2.3 to $2.5 trillion – this is the amount of capital Emerging Markets and Developing Countries (EMDCs), excluding China, need per annum to meet their climate goals, according to the Independent High Level Expert Group (IHLEG).
Mapping the road to $1.3 trillion at COP30
The leadership of the upcoming COP30, being hosted in Brazil, has signalled that implementation will be the mantra of COP30 to advance the multilateral climate agenda which has emerged over a decade of negotiations. At its core lies a critical and overdue task: delivering on the high-level climate
Why Global Banks Are Exiting From the Net-Zero Banking Alliance
Launched in 2021, the alliance originally united more than 130 banks managing over $74 trillion in assets The Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) was established over four years ago but has struggled to keep its members since the election of US President Donald Trump, who has referred to climate change as a “hoax.”
India’s climate finance revolution: how financial institutions can transform with the new taxonomy
In May 2025, the Ministry of Finance released a document that could reshape India’s financial landscape. The draft Climate Finance Taxonomy framework covering power, mobility, buildings, agriculture, food security, water security, and hard-to-abate sectors, represents more than policy guidance.
India’s GST overhaul eases path for India’s green growth
The reforms have significantly slashed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on various components essential for green technologies, including renewable energy and electric vehicles. This reduction directly addresses the higher tax burden on clean manufacturers, making the production of clean energy components more expensive.
India’s climate finance taxonomy must put adaptation at the core
India’s 2024-25 Union Budget heralded a welcome, timely move: the development of a climate finance taxonomy. Finance remains a crucial lever for India’s burgeoning climate ambitions. Yet, significant hurdles persist, particularly in ensuring this taxonomy is truly ‘adaptation-forward’.