VIEWS

• If the Green Urea Mission is adopted, imports will be eliminated, subsidies will be reduced by 65%, and GHG emissions will decline by over 60%. Water and air pollution will also be significantly mitigated, and land degradation will be reversed. Most importantly, it will drive the growth in the two emerging industrial sectors – Green Hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Utilization,” writes Chandra Bhushan in his column in the Indian Express.
• India’s ‘energy’ sector (cooking fuel, electricity, heat and transport) accounts for 75.6 per cent of carbon and carbon-equivalent emissions. These are the by-products of the combustion economy that currently powers our lives and our economy. Importantly, this energy is largely imported, putting a question mark on India’s energy security," writes Chandra Bhushan in his blog marking International Clean Energy Day.
• In an era of accelerating ecological crises—climate change, biodiversity loss, and deepening social inequities—we need more Gadgils.” iFOREST CEO Chandra Bhushan pays tribute to Madhav Gadgil, the scientist who shaped India’s ecological conscience, in The New Indian Express.
• Dhanbad’s future doesn’t have to be written in coal dust. It can be built on green growth, new jobs, and restored landscapes,” writes Devrupa Paul in a blog for iFOREST.
• Odisha is set to generate thousands of new jobs in the coming years. The real question is simple: will these jobs go to local youth?" writes Suhail Mir, Programme Lead, in his piece for The New Indian Express. - 16/1/26
• In India alone, pollution is linked to an estimated 1.7 million deaths each year, accounting for roughly 18 per cent of total deaths and translating into a substantial economic burden due to lost lives, healthcare costs, and diminished workforce productivity," writes Pratima Singh, Director, Air Pollution, The Indian Express. 24/1/26
• Land is now the decisive bottleneck, with large solar parks increasingly competing with farms for space, water, and livelihoods. In this scenario, Agrivoltaics (Agri-PV) offers a way out—co-locating solar panels and crops so land produces both power and food," Director, Clean Energy, iFOREST & Abhishek Patil, Senior Programme Associate, in the Renewable Watch Magazine. - 8/1/26
• खनन के लंबे इतिहास के कारण झारखंड के पास इतनी जमीन उपलब्ध है, जितनी इस देश के बहुत कम ही औद्योगिक राज्यों के पास होगी. ऐसे में, राज्य की बंद और गैर-संचालित खानों की 11,000 हेक्टेयर से भी अधिक जमीन को हरित निवेश और यहां की अर्थव्यवस्था को विविध बनाने के लिए इस्तेमाल में लाया जा सकता है. इसके अतिरिक्त, अगले पांच से दस वर्षों में लगभग 27,000 हेक्टेयर जमीन झारखंड को और भी उपलब्ध हो सकती है. यह काम केंद्र सरकार के कोयला मंत्रालय द्वारा तय किये गये वैज्ञानिक खदान बंदी और भूमि पुनः उपयोग के नियमों के तहत किया जा सकता है.” writes Srestha Banerjee, Director Just Transition and Devrupa Paul, Programme lead for Civil Prabhat Khabar.

HIGHLIGHTS

Odisha Renewable Energy Investor Conclave 2026

As India accelerates its clean energy transition, Odisha is emerging as a key destination for large-scale renewable energy investment. iFOREST, as knowledge partner to the Energy Department, Government of Odisha, and GRIDCO Limited, anchored Odisha Energy Investors Conclave 2026. Inaugurated by the Deputy Chief Minister of Odish, the conclave focused on unlocking investment-ready projects and strengthening Odisha’s role as a clean energy hub in eastern India. It brought together policymakers, investors, and industry leaders to showcase the state’s diversified project pipeline, including floating solar, pumped hydro, and mine land repurposing.

Northeast India Clean Energy Conclave 2026: Powering the Region's Renewable Future

The Northeast region holds nearly 9% of India's waterbodies, making it one of the country's most promising frontiers for clean energy. iFOREST convened the Northeast India Clean Energy Conclave 2026, bringing together the renewable energy industry, investors, and government stakeholders to chart a strategic course for the region's clean energy future. The conclave showcased investment-ready opportunities across floating solar, agri-solar, pumped storage, small hydro, and biomass, alongside innovative financing models, enabling direct B2G, B2B, and B2C engagements to accelerate project execution.

Strengthening Online Air Quality Monitoring Ecosystem

iFOREST, in collaboration with International Labmate Ltd, convened CEM India 2026 -- India’s largest international conferences and exhibitions on online air quality monitoring. The event brought together 2,000+ participants, featuring 50+ technical sessions and 100+ exhibitors from India, the UK, and the US. The discussions emphasised a shift from enforcement to facilitation, greater support for MSMEs, and the growing role of monitoring systems like CEMS, alongside the rise of Made-in-India technologies.

Unlocking Post-Mining Land for Odisha’s Green Transition

Odisha, India’s largest mining state, has nearly 9,000 hectares of post-mining land that can be repurposed. To advance this opportunity, iFOREST launched a first-of-its-kind study, Repurposing Mining Land in Odisha: Opportunities for Catalysing Low-Carbon Development. The study provides a data-driven blueprint to transform closed and soon-to-be-closed coal and non-coal mines into strategic assets for a low-carbon future.

Advancing Lifecycle Refrigerant Management in India

India’s cooling demand is rising rapidly, bringing new challenges in managing refrigerants sustainably and limiting GHG emissions. In this context, iFOREST convened the National Policy Dialogue on Lifecycle Refrigerant Management at the India Habitat Centre. Drawing on iFOREST’s survey of over 3000 consumers and 650 technicians across 10 states, the dialogue highlighted on-ground challenges and unveiled a practical, India-specific framework to manage refrigerants across their full lifecycle, from installation to end-of-life.

Decarbonising Heat: Charting Pathways to Scale Heat Pump Adoption in India

Decarbonising heat in industry and buildings has become critical to India’s energy transition. iFOREST convened a National Consultation Workshop on heat pump adoption, bringing together policymakers, industry, financiers, and technical experts to explore pathways for scaling clean heat solutions. The workshop focused on market potential, technology readiness, and enabling frameworks for heat pump adoption in domestic market.

Scaling Floating Solar: Chhattisgarh’s Clean Energy Opportunity

Chhattisgarh holds significant untapped potential across water bodies, mine land, and wastelands. An iFOREST assessment, released at the Chhattisgarh Renewable Energy Acceleration Dialogue in Raipur, estimates that the state can unlock up to 151 GW of renewable energy. The report, Accelerating Floating Solar Photovoltaic Development in Chhattisgarh, highlights opportunities to scale deployment using existing assets

iFOREST Training Programmes & Workshops

Shaping Assam’s Climate Roadmap

On 28–29 January 2026, iFOREST, in collaboration with the Assam Climate Change Management Society (ACCMS), convened expert consultations in Guwahati to inform the Assam Climate Roadmap. The discussions brought together stakeholders from government, academia, industry, and civil society to assess how urban growth and infrastructure are driving energy demand, emissions, and climate risks. The discussions identified key gaps in building efficiency, transport systems, and industrial energy use.

Strengthening Institutional Capacity for Renewable Energy in Odisha- 4/02/26

iFOREST partnered in a two-day Capacity Building Workshop on Renewable Energy Technologies held on 4 February 2026 in Bhubaneswar, organised under the Public Enterprises Department with support from GRIDCO Limited. The workshop brought together PSU leaders and senior officials to strengthen institutional capacity, enhance techno-commercial understanding, and enable more coordinated decision-making for renewable energy deployment. It focused on improving project implementation, fostering inter-departmental coordination, and scaling proven models to accelerate progress towards Odisha’s Renewable Energy Vision 2030.

iFOREST and Assam Government Convene Consultations on Climate Resilience

iFOREST, in collaboration with the Assam Climate Change Management Society, convened three expert consultations from 10–12 February 2026 in Guwahati as part of the Assam Climate Roadmap. Covering disaster risk reduction, forests, and agriculture-water systems, the discussions identified key priorities, including risk-informed land-use planning, ecosystem-based approaches, and integrated water and climate-resilient agriculture strategies to strengthen state-wide resilience.

Strengthening Action on Air Pollution in Guwahati

Air pollution is a persistent challenge for rapidly growing cities like Guwahati, demanding coordinated action across municipal authorities and regulatory bodies. To address this, iFOREST, in collaboration with the Assam Pollution Control Board (APCB), conducted a two-day capacity-building workshop in Guwahati (25–26 February 2026), bringing together senior officials from Guwahati Municipal Corporation and APCB. The workshop focused on practical strategies for dust mitigation and waste burning, covering urban greenery, road dust management, solid waste, and construction waste, while enabling cross-agency coordination and knowledge sharing.

Driving Cleaner Boiler Operations in Varanasi’s Industrial Clusters

iFOREST, in collaboration with the Directorate of Boilers, Uttar Pradesh, and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB), organised a one-day Industry Awareness Workshop in Varanasi on reducing GHG emissions and pollution from boiler operations. The session brought together industry and regulatory stakeholders to discuss cleaner operations, emissions reduction, and compliance. It also shared insights from iFOREST’s cluster survey and highlighted the need for energy-efficient technologies and stronger air pollution monitoring systems.

PARTNERSHIPS

iFOREST Partners with IIT Guwahati to Advance Climate and Energy Solutions in the North-East

iFOREST has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian Institute of Technology-Guwahati to advance climte and clen energy cosultion in the North-East. Under this collaboration, both institutions will work together to advance research, innovation, and deployment of sustainable technologies the North East region. The partnership focuses on clean energy transitions, climate resilience, and air pollution management, while enabling pilot projects, knowledge exchange, and implementation-driven research.

PODCASTS AND VIDEOS

COgreen Episode 10: Green Transition for an Energy Independent India

In a recent episode of the COgreen Podcast, Mandvi Singh, Programme Director of Clean Energy at iFOREST, sat down with Dr. Chandra Bhushan, CEO and President of iFOREST, to discuss India's long-term energy security in the wake of the West Asia crisis. The conversation explored India's deep import dependencies, from crude oil to urea, and what a truly Atmanirbhar energy future demands across electricity, EVs, and green agriculture. Watch Here. .

Podcast on Air Pollution in India: Health Impacts and Policy Challenges on Aaj Tak Radio

In March, iFOREST CEO Chandra Bhushan featured on Padhaku Nitin, a podcast by Aaj Tak Radio, to discuss India’s worsening air pollution crisis. The conversation examined gaps in policy and scientific approaches while highlighting the urgent need for more effective and long-term solutions beyond conventional narratives. Watch here.

Podcast on Lallantop: Decoding the Energy Crisis After the US–Iran Conflict

In a recent conversation, Shruti Agarwal spoke with Dr Chandra Bhushan, CEO and President of iFOREST, to decode India's growing energy crisis in the aftermath of the US–Iran conflict. The discussion examined India's heavy dependence on imported crude, LPG, and LNG, and explored practical and long-term solutions — from decentralised energy models and gobar gas to LNG diversification and the accelerating push towards renewable energy. Watch Here. .

COgreen Episode 9: Guwahati’s Climate and Air Pollution Challenges

In January, COgreen Episode 9 featured a conversation on Guwahati’s emerging climate and air pollution challenges. Recorded during the launch of the Guwahati Clean Air Plan, Joi Barua sat down with Dr. Pratima Singh, Director, Air pollution and Waste management to discuss the city’s changing environment and the role of citizen behavior in shaping cleaner air outcomes.

COgreen Episode 9, Part 2: Clean Air and Citizen Responsibility in Guwahati

Part 2 of Episode 9, focused on Guwahati’s evolving climate and air pollution challenges. Recorded during the launch of the Guwahati Clean Air Plan, Joi Barua sat down with Kaushik Hazarika, Programme Lead, iFOREST to discuss the city’s changing environment and the role of citizen responsibility in ensuring clean air

International Clean Energy Day: India’s Shift Towards an Electron Economy

In January, iFOREST marked International Clean Energy Day with a video highlighting India’s renewable energy progress and future direction. Reflecting on the addition of nearly 40 GW in 2025, the video emphasised the need to shift from a combustion-based to an electron-based economy, with Eastern India playing a key role in scaling solutions such as floating solar, agri-PV, and rooftop power.

A PEEK INTO THE NEXT QUARTER

Unmitigated Fuel Use Report Launch

iFOREST will release its study on unmitigated fuel at an international webinar. The report in the in-depth study in two districts of India to understand how large-scale burning of fuels without pollution control equipment is contributing to air pollution.

Assam Climate Roadmap

The Assam Climate Roadmap outlines a pathway to 2055 for achieving climate-resilient and low-carbon development, integrating mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction through coordinated sectoral strategies across energy, industry, transport, agriculture, and natural ecosystems, while supporting green growth and job creation.

Maharashtra Green Boiler Report

The report assesses industrial boiler capacity, fuel use, and sector-wise steam demand across Maharashtra. It identifies associated emissions and highlights opportunities for decarbonisation in industrial process heat

BRSR Disclosure Report: ESG Performance of Cement Sector

The report evaluates ESG disclosures of the cement sector over two financial years using BRSR frameworks. It also develops a sector-specific supplement to strengthen reporting standards and transparency

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