IIT-Kanpur has taken a step towards achieving the goal of a just energy transition, which aims to make the process of shifting to a better energy system a fair and just one.
The Just Transition Research Centre (JTRC) at IIT-K has entered into an agreement with the Energy Security and Climate Change (ESCC) programme at the Center for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS), US, to work on just energy transition globally, including in India.
IIT-K and CSIS will co-organise a series of workshops and bilateral meetings between senior officials and other key stakeholders from coal-dependent states/provinces in India, US, and South Africa. Among Indian states, they will engage with Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Telangana, enabling them to access resources and connect with senior officials working on just transition in other countries. IIT-K and CSIS will host workshops and engage extensively with the coal industry, including with unions.
As India transitions to renewable energy, over 20 million jobs, revenues for over 50 districts and six states, and local welfare schemes might be affected. The process of enabling a just transition is complex and requires a guiding roadmap through social dialogues between stakeholders. Founder of JTRC Prof Pradip Swarnakar said, “Energy transition is already happening. We have to design appropriate policy alternatives that should cover present and future demands.”
