WRI India

The Kolahoi glacier, the largest in the Kashmir Valley, has lost about 23% of its mass in recent decades due to rising temperatures (Kashmir Observer). Farmers relying on glacier-fed streams face erratic water supply – threatening food and water security for millions. This #WorldWaterDay, we must recognize the urgency of protecting glaciers, which act as natural water reservoirs for climate-vulnerable regions like Jammu and Kashmir. Sustainable water management, early warning systems, and adaptation strategies are key to mitigating these impacts. Ensuring the resilience of mountain communities starts with preserving the glaciers that sustain them.  Read our blog on the importance of regional planning for an ecologically fragile region like the Kashmir Valley: https://lnkd.in/dz7vhd3T #WorldWatersDay2025 #ThrivingEcoCityRegions  

📢 Call for Innovators! 📢 We are seeking innovative prototypes and products to accelerate a sustainable and circular battery ecosystem. If you're part of:  🔬 Innovation labs or academic institutions with research-backed battery technologies, or 🚀 Startups or established companies offering market-ready or transformative solutions in battery circularity.    Apply now to showcase your groundbreaking innovations at Battery Summit 2025 and be part of India's journey towards sustainability.  http://bit.ly/3D3thXa     The Battery Summit 2025 is being hosted by Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with NITI Aayog, UN Environment Programme, #WRI India, and Battery360 Alliance.    The Summit is supported under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)-led initiative ‘Electrifying Mobility in Cities: Investing in the Transformation to Electric Mobility in India’, launched with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and under the leadership of NITI Aayog.     #ViksitBharat #BatterySummit2025 #Battery360 #ElectricMobility #EVMatters 

On World Water Day, we're shining the spotlight on the impact of our recent community efforts. Over the past three months, we've engaged with Delhi's Bakkarwala and Mubarakpur Dabas on a spectrum of water-sensitive interventions. For the community and by the community, each of these initiatives is a step towards effecting broad systemic change – be it rainwater harvesting, micro-irrigation or the setting up of new water pipelines. Through the Australia India Water Security Initiative (AIWASI), supported by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, we're part of a consortium Mahila Housing Trust, McGregor Coxall and National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). AIWASI’s vision for water and urban resilience focuses on strengthening collaboration between community leaders, experts and the government, and prioritizing the inclusion of women, persons with disabilities and elderly residents in decision-making. #WorldWaterDay #AIWASI #WaterSecurity #WaterResilience #GEDSI #WSUD

As part of our efforts to advance sustainable agriculture, consultations were recently held in Gwalior and Datia with Farmer Producer Organizations, scientists from the Agriculture University, and Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK). These discussions focused on understanding region-specific challenges, ongoing sustainable initiatives in agriculture, and the support needed from the government and other stakeholders. Key takeaways include: ➡️ Farmer needs & awareness: Identifying knowledge gaps and capacity-building measures through KVKs, research institutes, and training programs. ➡️ Sustainable practices: Encouraging climate-resilient farming techniques, resource-efficient models, and region-specific solutions. ➡️ Market access & infrastructure: Improving the availability of bio-inputs, enhancing processing and storage facilities, and strengthening cooperative networks. ➡️ Technology & resource management: Leveraging innovations in resilient seeds, water conservation, and renewable energy to optimize farming. ➡️ Stakeholder collaboration: Identifying areas where government policies, private players, and research institutions can provide targeted support By bringing together diverse perspectives, these consultations aimed to bridge the gap between scientific research and on-ground implementation, fostering scalable and region-specific solutions for sustainable agriculture. #SustainableAgriculture #ClimateChange #ClimateAction #CircularEconomy #Farmers #FPOs #OrganicFarming 

📢 Save the Date: Battery Summit 2025! Join us at Battery Summit 2025, hosted by Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, in collaboration with NITI Aayog, UN Environment Programme, #WRI India, and Battery360 Alliance.     📍 Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi  📅 April 29, 2025 | 🕒 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM IST  🔗 Register here: bit.ly/41Pm0CC     The Summit is supported under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)-led initiative ‘Electrifying Mobility in Cities: Investing in the Transformation to Electric Mobility in India’, launched with funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and under the leadership of NITI Aayog.      As India strives for Viksit Bharat by 2047, a resilient battery ecosystem will be key to achieving Net-Zero, fueled by progress in renewable energy, electric mobility, and energy storage. The Battery Summit 2025 will host discussions focused on advancing R&D and technology development for batteries, the role of academia and startups in enabling high value-added innovation and indigenization, and the need for collaboration between government, industry and research institutions for developing a competitive battery ecosystem in India. The Summit will also feature the Battery Technologies Showcase, an exhibition highlighting cutting-edge technological advancements along the battery value chain from academic institutions, research labs, startups and organizations.     #ViksitBharat #BatterySummit2025 #Battery360 #ElectricMobility #EVMatters

🌳 Urban forests are not just an aesthetic addition to cities – they are absolutely essential for climate resilience, biodiversity and public health. From mitigating heat islands and improving air quality to reducing urban flooding, trees play a crucial role in making our cities livable and enjoyable. Yet, urban forestry is often undervalued – seen as a cost rather than an asset. Programs like Kawaki ("to make a grove" in Malayalam) demonstrate how community-led greening initiatives can transform urban spaces while supporting local livelihoods by 🥀 Protecting existing green spaces from conversion and degradation 🌦️ Promoting tree-based solutions to enhance urban resilience 🪴 Investing in long-term care and maintenance of saplings planted Know more about the Kawaki initiative here: https://lnkd.in/d3iXRwiR #ForestDay #InternationalDayOfForest #WorldForestDay #Kawaki #NbS4India #ClimateResilience

#DidYouKnow Over 250 million people in India, including indigenous and rural communities, rely on forests for their survival. Forests are more than just trees — they are a source of food, fuel, and livelihood for millions. But with 28% of natural forests lost in the last eight decades, these vital ecosystems are at risk. It's time for urgent action. According to WRI India's findings, restoring 140 million hectares of degraded land could sequester 3-4.5 gigatons of carbon by 2040, ensuring food security and climate resilience. This #InternationalDayofForests, join the movement to protect and restore our forests — to build equitable and sustainable ecosystems for people, nature and climate. 🌿 To learn more visit: https://lnkd.in/dt-h8zU #ForestsAndFood #RestoreForests #ClimateAction #GenerationRestoration

🚛 Join us in Kochi next week for a full-day forum bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to advance zero-emission trucking (ZET) in Kerala. 🔹 SupplyCo’s transition to electric freight: Gain insights from a feasibility study on integrating e-trucks into Kerala’s public distribution network. 🔹 ZET Policy Advisory Consultation: Participate in a stakeholder discussion to refine the Bharat ZET Policy Advisory and shape a roadmap for scaling zero-emission trucking. Be part of the conversation shaping the future of clean freight mobility in Kerala! 🗓️ Date:   March 27, 2025 📍 Venue:  The Avenue Regent, Kochi ⏰ Time:   10:30 AM – 4:30 PM 🔗 Register your interest here: tiny.cc/ZETKochi #SustainableFreight #eFASTIndia #eFASTEvents #ElectricTrucks #ZETPolicy #EV #FreightElectrification #Kerala #SmartCity #SupplyCo #ZET #ElectricTrucks

The Thriving Eco City-Regions Forum recently convened a collaborative discussion at the Panchayat and Rural Development (PnRD) Department, Kokrajhar and saw the attendance of various line departments, eminent domain experts and research scholars to reflect upon the existing situation and land suitability analyses presentations made by the Thriving Eco City-Regions team. With an urbanization rate of 5%, and a vision of strengthening regional development, BTR has the distinct opportunity to harness its natural resources for inclusive and climate-resilient development.   Our discussions with the Bodoland Territorial Council, on co-creating a Regional Spatial Strategy, focused on cohesive strategies that prioritize development pathways aligned with the region’s unique geographic and socio-economic context.     Some takeaways from the discussion: ➡️ Strengthening climate resilience in BTR requires enhancing data systems and institutional frameworks for informed decision- making.  ➡️Leveraging BTR’s demographic dividend and empowering women in sericulture and agriculture, alongside flexible education and life skills programs, can improve livelihoods and quality of life.  ➡️Integrating indigenous knowledge with best practices is key to place-based service delivery, infrastructure, and economic development.   To know more about the Thriving Eco-City regions Forum, visit https://lnkd.in/g86vykcK    #ThrivingEcoCityRegions

Two powerful ideas to reflect on and, perhaps, live by — ⚖️ #𝘌𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘺. 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆: In the first episode of The Urban Q, author and former Mayor of Bogotá, Enrique Penalosa highlighted a simple yet profound idea — inequality is a barrier to happiness. He emphasized that cities should be designed with humanity at their core, built on values of respect and inclusivity, ultimately shaping urban spaces that foster joy and vibrancy. 🗝️ #𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵, 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴, 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆: Earlier this year on The Urban Q, author Amish Tripathi explored the wealth of wisdom in India’s heritage, illustrating how culturally rooted practices and traditional knowledge remain deeply relevant. He shared ways in which these learnings can help cities better align with contemporary environmental, economic and social needs and aspirations.   Catch both episodes here -   SPOTIFY – bit.ly/TheUrbanQSP  YOUTUBE - bit.ly/TheUrbanQYT #TheUrbanQ at WRI India #Throwback #ThisTimeLastYear #TheUrbanQPodcast #LivableNeighborhoods #PeopleNatureClimate #SustainableDevelopment #ResilientCommunities