Sunita Narain

New report out: Mini-Grid Markets, Mechanisms and Monestisation India has over 100 defunct mini-grids representing crores in stranded assets-not because of technical failure, but due to a policy vacuum. When the national grid arrives, otherwise functional mini-grids collapse. There are no feed-in tariffs allowing them to sell power, no buyout mechanisms to protect investments, and no franchise models to preserve their distribution infrastructure. Our new report examines how Tanzania, Nigeria, Kenya, Indonesia, and Sri Lanka have solved this through adapted feed-in tariff frameworks. It translates international evidence into actionable Indian policy: how to design tariffs, manage grid arrival, value battery storage as grid infrastructure, and transform mini-grids from risky ventures into bankable, integrated assets within India’s expanding renewable energy system. Download the full report to understand how feed-in tariff frameworks operationalise: cseindia.org/mini-grid-mark…

Congratulations @rajusajwan and thank you jury of the 33rd Umesh Dobhal award. This is a huge honour

Cycling to work as a white-collar worker: Four months ago, @_KushagraG, a researcher with @CSEINDIA decided to cycle to work. Cycling turned out to be almost as fast as motorised transport on congested roads, while offering a very different perspective on how our cities function (or don’t). Read the full piece to understand how he put this idea to test, and what it reveals about the conditions, constraints, and quiet privileges of being a white-collar commuter in Delhi: downtoearth.org.in/air/cycling-to… Read the piece in Hindi: hindi.downtoearth.org.in/pollution/usin…

Rethinking E20: : Is it time to pivot our ethanol strategy? From April 1, oil marketing companies across India will be required to sell petrol blended with up to 20 per cent ethanol, a mixture commonly known as E20. The government’s stated aim is to curb crude oil imports and cut emissions. Yet the strategy is increasingly being viewed as a double-edged sword: it not only has a mixed impact on emissions but, as a transitional fuel, may also detract attention from the transport sector’s vital transition to zero-emission alternatives such as full electrification. This raises a critical question: rather than mandating progressively higher blends for internal-combustion engines, should ethanol be prioritised as an industrial feedstock and fuel? Read the full article by @AnumitaRoychowd for @down2earthindia here: downtoearth.org.in/energy/dte-exc…

Shepherds of Himachal Pradesh have so far been largely absent from government policy. That is now beginning to change. In its latest budget, the HP govt has announced a Rs 300 crore scheme called PEHEL. Watch the video to know more about the provisions of this scheme: youtu.be/mvVC_hL7IAA

10 episodes of Carbon Politics! Carbon Politics, CSE’s first long-running video podcast, has been decoding the politics of climate change for the Global South. Over the past months, we have explored some of the most pressing issues shaping climate action today, from sovereign debt and climate finance to carbon pricing, trade, and multilateralism. We have been fortunate to host voices like @MarinaZucker, Dr. Rob Davies, @brandoncwu, @kmac @70sBachchan, @Rlalen, and @advaitarun_, among others, bringing grounded perspectives to these conversations. A big thank you to everyone who has watched, engaged, and supported us along the way. Special thanks to the teams behind the scenes: our design team and multimedia team, and of course our colleagues at @CSE_Climate, for making this possible. Watch the 10 episodes here: cseindia.org/page/carbon-po… 👇 Tell us in comments what you would like us to explore next. What topics are we missing?

We are happy to announce that @down2earthindia's Dhruval Parekh and Rohini Krishnamurthy (formerly Down To Earth) received the the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Award (RNG) for Excellence in Journalism, in the Environment, Science and Technology Reporting category (Broadcast) for the video, ‘Is Hindon dead?!’ Congratulations to both the winners! This marks the third consecutive RNG win in the video category, an extraordinary milestone that reflects the unwavering dedication, creativity, and purpose-driven work of our teams. Scan the QR code to watch the award winning video.

Climate change is intensifying urban heat vulnerability across Indian cities, threatening public health, energy systems, affordability and overall habitability. CSE has developed an integrated urban cooling framework for Jaipur that addresses both immediate heat mitigation and long-term heat-resilient development through spatial planning, energy transition, and coordinated policy action. To know more about the framework, visit: downtoearth.org.in/governance/coo…

Is lantana silently reshaping India’s forests and wildlife? This invasive species is spreading rapidly across India, altering habitats and impacting biodiversity, including big cats. It is also a key focus in @down2earthindia's State of India’s Environment 2026. Join @ninad_mungi and @himanshujourno in this CSE Live Chat as we unpack the story behind the “lantana tiger” and what it means for our forests. Watch here: cseindia.org/tale-of-the-la… Click the bell icon to turn on notifications to catch the discussion live.

WATCH | @sunitanar, @CSEINDIA Director-General and @down2earthindia Editor, talks about Delhi, where she grew up, and other Indian cities, all of which are facing multiple crises today. India must ensure that its cities do not become mega-messes as they grow—even implode, says Narain. @JoelMichaelhps @sukanyanair3007

Steel and cement will remain central to India’s growth story in the coming decades. As these sectors expand their production capacities, pathways for decarbonisation have become increasingly clearer and more implementable. The technologies to produce low-carbon steel and cement are emerging, but the key question now is: will there be enough demand to scale them? With India investing heavily in infrastructure every year, the government is one of the largest buyers of steel and cement in the country. This creates a powerful opportunity. By prioritising low-carbon materials in public procurement, the government can act as a first mover and help create the early demand needed to scale green production. As definitions and standards for low-carbon materials become clearer, sustained demand will be crucial to drive decarbonisation not only in manufacturing but also across the buildings and infrastructure sectors. Write Sayantan Haldar and @parthkumar24, CSE. Read the full piece here: downtoearth.org.in/climate-change…

Last month’s Anil Agarwal Dialogue 2026 sparked conversations that travelled far beyond the room. Held at the Anil Agarwal Environment Training Institute, the dialogue brought together over 65 journalists from across India to discuss some of the most pressing environment and development challenges of our time. Looking at the reach of #AAD2026, it is heartening to see how far these conversations have travelled. Beyond the numbers, the real success lies in the conversations sparked by the journalists who spent these days with us, and in the continued interest in credible, evidence-based discussions on the environment. We are also truly grateful to all the speakers who enriched the dialogue with their expertise and experiences. A big thank you to everyone who attended, watched the sessions online, and supported CSE’s work over the years. Your engagement helps ensure that environmental issues remain firmly on the national agenda. All the presentations, videos and reading lists from the dialogue are now available here: cseindia.org/page/aaddialog… @down2earthindia @hindidown2earth

Heat stress due to anthropogenic global warming is increasingly being recognised as a major global health challenge and one that disproportionately affects the poor. A new study measures 'livability' based on climatic conditions as well as physiological parameters such as age and sweating limits, and maps regions where dangerous heats restrict activity for people. 👉 India, the report shows, faces severe limitations on daily activities due to extreme heat, affecting both younger and older adults. The Indo-Gangetic Plain and eastern lowlands are particularly impacted. Due to a high population and severity of livability reduction overlap, the country sees 100 billion people-hours of limitation for younger adults and over 1 trillion people-hours of limitation for older adults. This exacerbates inequality, as poorer populations are less able to adapt. Read the full analysis: downtoearth.org.in/health/extreme… 🖊️ @preetha___

Is climate change making young people angry? As the climate crisis intensifies, many young people are grappling with anxiety, frustration and deep uncertainty about the future of their planet. Experts are increasingly describing this emotional response as “eco-rage”, a psychological reaction to living in a world shaped by environmental crisis. In this conversation, @down2earthindia Managing Editor @Richiemaha speaks with Dr Radhey Shyam Sharma, Head of the Department of Environmental Studies at the @UnivofDelhi, about how climate stress is shaping the emotions, attitudes and behaviour of younger generations. Watch the live conversation on March 19, 2026: youtube.com/live/U0oqLvg0f… Subscribe and turn on notifications to catch the discussion live.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Water and Energy, Ethiopia (@mowe_ethiopia), to establish a knowledge partnership focused on collaborative research, capacity building, knowledge exchange and advocacy in the water and sanitation sector. As part of this partnership, a series of training programmes and exposure visits have been planned to strengthen the capacity of government officials on faecal sludge and septage management (FSSM). These visits will include learning exchanges in selected towns where sanitation infrastructure is being developed. Meet the visiting delegation below.

The Kashmir Valley is witnessing one of its most unusual early springs in decades, with the river Jhelum, its lifeline, dropping below the zero-gauge level while temperatures surge to record highs @irfanaminmalik reports from Srinagar downtoearth.org.in/climate-change…

Photo of the Day: Death of a Delhi wetland Where once water and wildlife thrived, there is now only plastic Photos by Vikas Choudhary downtoearth.org.in/water/death-of…

Himachal Pradesh is experiencing its earliest heatwave in five years. This year, the Himalayan state recorded 'heatwave' to 'severe heatwave' conditions on March 6, 2026 — a month earlier compared to last year and 74 days earlier compared to 2024! downtoearth.org.in/climate-change… First heatwave dates in Himachal Pradesh (2022–2026) 👇

CSE's @rudrathavinashi will be speaking at a side event on the European Union Deforestation Regulation (#EUDR) and its implications for agricultural exports from Global South countries at the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Yaounde, Cameroon (March 28, 2026). This side event is being hosted by the International Institute for Sustainable Development. To register for the event, visit: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAI… If you are attending #WTOMC14 and are interested in the intersections of climate change, trade, and development, you can reach out to Rudrath Avinashi or @TrishantDev .

The gut microbiome performs functions beyond digestion and has a widespread impact on human health. @CSEINDIA's Amit Khurana & @rajeshwari_s14 explain the factors influencing gut health and how sustainable food systems that ensure dietary diversity and nutrition can go a long way in strengthening this "multi-organ system" downtoearth.org.in/food/fix-food-…