CSTEP_India

Episode 2: Translating Climate Action Across Scales The second episode of CSTEP’s podcast series, ‘From Declarations to Design: Learning from India’s Climate Journey’, features Ramya Natarajan, Kaveri Ashok, Aparna Sundaresan, and Divya Davis—modellers and systems thinkers in CSTEP's Climate, Environment, and Sustainability sector. In this episode, the speakers share their experiences of how climate action and implementation move from national targets to the state, city, and ward level. Through stories, examples, and modelling insights, they show us why every scale matters, because climate action is built on decisions made at each level. Editor: Thejas Shawn Raj Design: Bhawna Welturkar Voice-Over Artist: Preston Paul

Episode 1: The Fine Print of Adaptation This inaugural episode of CSTEP’s new podcast series, From Declarations to Design: Learning from India’s Climate Journey, explores what climate implementation truly entails at COP30 and beyond. Join Dr Indu K Murthy, Tashina Madappa Cheranda, Sahil Mathew, Lakshmi Menon, and Vidhatri Thakkar from CSTEP’s Climate, Environment, and Sustainability team as they draw insights from Odisha, Karnataka, and Gujarat. Through the lens of data systems, water resilience, and community leadership, they examine how adaptation is being shaped and scaled across India. Editor: Thejas Shawn Raj Design: Bhawna Welturkar Voice-Over Artist: Preston Paul

This episode of Perspective Xchange features a discussion between Dr Jai Asundi (Executive Director, CSTEP) and Prof. S N Tripathi, Dean of the Kotak School of Sustainability and Professor at IIT Kanpur. A pioneer in the fields of air pollution and climate science, Prof. Tripathi shares insights on how advancements in IoT sensors and AI are revolutionising air quality monitoring. He also discusses India’s unique challenges in tackling air pollution, the crucial role of aerosols in climate change, and the need to integrate science into policymaking. With examples ranging from crop residue burning to digital twins for cities, this conversation sheds light on pathways for cleaner air and sustainable development. Featuring: Jai Asundi and Prof. S N Tripathi Editor: Thejas Shawn Raj Designer: Bhawna Welturkar Voice-Over Artist: Garima Singh

This episode of Perspective Xchange features a discussion between Dr Jai Asundi (Executive Director, CSTEP) and Margarita Gómez (Executive Director, Southern Voice) on the work done by Southern Voice and the need to amplify the voice of the Global South. Featuring: Jai Asundi and Margarita Gómez Editor: Thejas Shawn Raj Design: Bhawna Welturkar Voice-Over Artist: Preston Paul

This episode of Quotes & Notes brings to you the insights from a study that we conducted to aid Kerala’s efforts towards clean energy by financial year 2039-40, specifically by increasing the share of renewable energy in its generation mix. Featuring: Rishu Garg and Mallik EV Editor: Thejas Shawn Raj Design: Alok Kumar Saha Script: Rishu Garg, Mallik EV, Garima Singh Voice-Over Artist: Garima Singh

Sreerekha Pillai, Head of Communication and Policy Engagement, in conversation with Radio Mirchi's RJ Jimmy on what makes the eARTH Intiative unique.

In this edition of Quotes & Notes, we talk about our framework that can help quantify and report the substantial climate-positive outcomes of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), which currently go unrecorded.   Featuring: Tashina Madappa, Sahil Mathew, Kanchan Kargwal Editor: Thejas Shawn Raj Design: Bhawna Welturkar Voice-Over Artist: Garima Singh

The impacts of climate variability, climate change, and extreme events are visible globally and in India. The Global Climate Risk Index 2021 ranks India seventh, considering the extent to which our country has been affected by the impacts of weather-related events. In this context, CSTEP published Climate Atlases for the Southern, Central, Western, Eastern, North-Eastern, and Northern states of India. CSTEP’s Climate Atlases project district-level changes in temperature and rainfall pattern across regions in India in the next thirty years and compare data against the historical period, from 1990 to 2019. In this edition, we catch up with the chief architects of this ambitious project—Dr Indu K Murthy, Sector Head, and Vidya S, Senior Analyst—from the Climate, Environment and Sustainability team in CSTEP. Editor: Mr Thejas Shawn Raj, Design: Mr Alok Kumar Saha , Script: Mr Reghu Ram R, Voice-Over Artist: Ms Shayantani Chatterjee

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be a powerful tool for strengthening India’s efforts to combat the intensifying impacts of climate change. In this episode, we talk about our study that assessed the potential of AI applications for aiding India’s climate change mitigation and adaptation initiatives, especially in its water and transport sectors. Editor-Mr Thejas Shawn Raj; Design-Mr Alok Kumar Saha & Ms Pooja Senthil; Script-Mr Rajesh Shenoy, Dr Anjali Taneja, Ms Karen Alphonso

In this episode, we talk about how AI is being used by climate science researchers. Featuring: Mr David Rolnick (Assistant Professor of Computer Science, McGill University; Co-founder and Chair of Climate Change AI); Dr Jai Asundi (Executive Director, CSTEP); Mr Rajesh Shenoy (Sector Head - AI & Digital Platform) Credits - Visual Design: Alok Kumar Saha ; Narration: Merlin Francis ; Editor: Thejas Shawn Raj.

In this episode of Perspective Xchange, CSTEP Executive Director Dr Jai Asundi talks to Ms Pramoda Gode, Senior Advisor at the World Economic Forum, on the current status of E Mobility in India and the way forward. Credits - Visual Design: Alok Kumar Saha ; Narration: Merlin Francis ; Editor: Thejas Shawn Raj.

In this edition, we discuss the spillover effects of low-carbon policies on the economy. Editor-Thejas Shawn Raj; Design-Alok Kumar Saha; Script-Ramya Natarajan

In this episode of Quotes & Notes, CSTEP researchers Dr Sreekanth Vakacherla and Dr Padmavati Kulkarni share insights on using satellite monitoring data to assess air pollution in select Indian cities. Editor-Lydia Sareena N; Design-Alok Kumar Saha; Script-Reghu Ram R

India is witnessing a rapid pace of electric bus adoption in its urban public transport fleet. While it is the right move, it is not an easy one. In this episode, we talk about the challenges in deploying e-buses, and how the planning tool E-DEPOT offers holistic solutions to overcome them. Editor-Lydia Sareena N; Design-Bhawna Welturkar; Script-Garima Singh

Electric vehicles play a key role in the transition to clean energy. In this edition, we discuss the challenges involved in switching to electric vehicles and how location planning can help fast-track the transition. Credits: Editor-Lydia Sareena N; Visual Design-Alok Kumar Saha;

In the latest edition of Perspective Xchange, CSTEP Executive Direction, Dr Jai Asundi, and Head of the Energy and Power Sector, Mr Abhishek Nath, speak to Mr Reji Kumar Pillai, President of the India Smart Grid Forum on enabling a clean energy future through a modern grid system. Credits - Editor: Lydia Sareena; Visual Design: Bhawna Welturkar; Narration: Merlin Francis

In this episode of Perspective Xchange, CSTEP ED, Dr Jai Asundi, and Head of Energy and Power sector, Mr Abhishek Nath, join Mr Vipul Tuli, CEO of Sembcorp Industries, South Asia, and the Chair of FICCI's Power Committee, to discuss the challenges of charting a clean & green energy path. Credits - Editor: Lydia Sareena; Visual Design: Bhawna Welturkar; Narration: Merlin Francis

Lack of access to quality energy is detrimental to lives and livelihoods. In this episode of Perspective Xchange, CSTEP ED, Dr Jai Asundi, and Head of Energy & Power Sector, Mr Abhishek Nath speak with Ms Deepali Khanna of The Rockefeller Foundation on improving energy access to meet various UN Sustainable Development Goals. Credits - Editor: Lydia Sareena; Visual Design: Bhawna Welturkar; Narration: Merlin Francis

In this episode of CSTEP’s podcast series ‘Perspective Xchange’, our Executive Director, Dr Jai Asundi, is in conversation with Dr Mukund Rajan, Chairman – ECube Investment Advisors, and also Chair of the Environment Committee at industry body FICCI. They discuss some important aspects of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) norms, and the role Indian industry needs to play in the areas of climate and sustainability. Credits - Editor: Lydia Sareena; Visual Design: Bhawna Welturkar; Narration: Garima Singh

In the 6th episode of CSTEP’s PerspectiveXChange podcast series, Mr Pramod Bhasin, Chairman, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), discusses with Dr Jai Asundi, Executive Director, CSTEP, how businesses can act as a force for climate good. They emphasise the need for industry to stop seeing climate change as a hurdle and, instead, look upon it as an opportunity to create newer, better, and more climate-friendly businesses. Credits: Editor: Lydia Sareena; Visual Design: Bhawna Welturkar; Narration: Merlin Francis

This episode of CSTEP's podcast series ‘Perspective Xchange’ has Dr Jai Asundi, Executive Director, CSTEP, in conversation with Padma Vibhushan awardee, Dr R A Mashelkar, Governing Council Chairperson, Marico Innovation Foundation, and former Director-General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), on how we can nurture an innovation ecosystem in India that maximises the potential and economic impact of research and innovation. Editor-Lydia Sareena N; Visual Design-Bhawna Welturkar; Script-Garima

The agriculture sector is vulnerable to climate change. In this edition, we discuss the risks posed by the changes in climate and rainfall patterns to rain-fed crops, and how to build their resilience. Editor-Lydia Sareena N; Visual Design-Bhawna Welturkar; Script-Sreerekha Pillai

In this episode of Perspective Xchange, we have with us Mr Tim Gould, Head of Division – Energy Supply and Investment Outlooks, at the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA). Mr Gould is in conversation with Dr Jai Asundi, Executive Director of CSTEP, and Mr Abhishek Nath, Sector Head – Energy & Power, at CSTEP. They discuss the IEA’s India Energy Outlook 2021, and how India has the opportunity to meet the aspirations of its citizens without following the high carbon-pathway that other economies have pursued in the past. Credits - Editor: Lydia Sareena N; Visual Design: Bhawna Welturkar; Narrator: Merlin Francis.

The third episode of CSTEP's podcast series, Perspective Xchange, has CSTEP's Executive Director, Dr Jai Asundi, in conversation with Mr CP Gurnani, CEO & Managing Director of Tech Mahindra and former Chairman of NASSCOM, discussing issues around ethics in AI – who decides and how? Resolving this is key to enabling the scalable use of AI for social good. Credits: Editor, Lydia Sareena N: Visual Design, Bhawna Welturkar: Narrator: Merlin Francis.

The second episode of CSTEP's Perspective Exchange podcast series has CSTEP's Executive Director Dr Jai Asundi in conversation with Mr S Ramadorai, Former Vice Chairman, Tata Consultancy Services, to discuss the way forward for Artificial Intelligence and how it can act as a force for good benefiting all. Editor-Lydia Sareena N; Visual Design-Bhawna Welturkar; Narrator–Merlin Francis.

India's energy sector is undergoing a dramatic transformation, and the whole world is taking notice. The International Energy Agency has recently published a detailed report titled "India Energy Outlook 2021." In this podcast, CSTEP's Executive Director, Dr Jai Asundi, and Energy & Power Sector Head, Mr Abhishek Nath, discuss India’s power sector, the rising aspirations of its citizens, and the consequent impact on both energy and emissions, in light of the key findings of this report. Credits: Editor-Lydia Sareena N; Visual Design-Bhawna Welturkar; Script & Narration-Merlin Francis

Perspective Xchange, CSTEP’s new podcast series, attempts to capture different perspectives from thought leaders, industry experts, and policymakers on science and technology and its impact on policy and society. In our first episode, Dr Jai Asundi, Executive Director of CSTEP, speaks to Mr Kris Gopalakrishnan (Chairman, Axilor Ventures, & Co-Founder and Former Vice-Chairman of Infosys) and Mr TV Mohandas Pai (Chairman of the Board, Manipal Global, & Former Infosys Board Member) on the implications of the National Research Foundation, announced in the Union Budget 2021-22. Credits: Editor-Lydia Sareena N; Visual Design-Bhawna Welturkar; Voice Over: Merlin Francis

The southern states of India are leading renewable energy (RE) deployment in India. In this edition, we discuss the technical implications of high-RE injections for the electrical grid. Editor-Lydia Sareena N; Visual Design-Bhawna Welturkar; Script-Sreerekha Pillai

From kerosene lamps to LED lamps—that’s how far Kudagaon, a remote island-village in the Indian state of Odisha, has come. In this edition, we discuss how mini-grids could be the answer to electricity woes in remote areas with difficult terrains. Credits: Editor-Lydia Sareena N; Visual Design-Bhawna Welturkar; Script-Sreerekha Pillai

Electricity distribution companies (DISCOMs) are known as the weakest link in India’s electricity supply chain. In this edition, we analyse where the power sector in India is going wrong and propose solutions to make DISCOMs more efficient. Editor - Lydia Sareena N; Visual Design - Bhawna Welturkar; Script - Sreerekha Pillai

Patna ranks among the five most polluted cities in the world. It has also been identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in India as one of the 122 non-attainment cities in the country. This podcast discusses the Patna Clean Air Action Plan, prepared for the state government by the Centre for Air Pollution Studies (CAPS) at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP). Editor - Lydia Sareena N; Visual Design - Bhawna Welturkar; Script - Sreerekha Pillai