Transitions Newsletter: June 2024

Summary

We began our month with a productive and engaging team retreat in Goa. We discussed updates in our diverse ongoing programmes, set goals for the short and long terms, and shared ideas for exciting new projects. Next, as a part of our People’s Urban Living Lab (PULL) initiative, we conducted a visioning workshop in Panjim that brought together diverse shareholders to imagine possible futures for the city and identify common values and priorities. The intersection of AI, climate change, and sustainability is a core focus area at Transitions Research, and we will soon be hosting an online dialogue as well as facilitating an in-person event, under the aegis of the AI Knowledge Consortium, in Goa on this topic. We are also thrilled to announce the launch of our Monsoon Academy Podcast(MAP) on July 12th where we will be speaking to the workforce driving climate and sustainability transitions in India.

Events

Transitions Research to host a dialogue titled, “Can AI Help Battle Climate Change in Indian Cities?” on July 11th at 5:30 pm (IST).

Cities are responsible for nearly 44% of India’s carbon emissions and are also extremely vulnerable to climate impacts including water stress, extreme heat, and natural disasters. Can AI help in combating this complex issue? While AI is rapidly becoming adopted for climate solutions, it's crucial to socially shape and steer its trajectory in a systematic and well-regulated way keeping in mind the goals of building resilient, socially equitable, and sustainable low-carbon futures.?

Our dialogue, “Can AI Help Battle Climate Change in Indian Cities?” will critically examine the intersection of AI, climate change, and urban development in Indian cities.?

Join us on July 11th at 5:30PM (IST).

Register to attend: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kCZhCzH4Q0yICaFgCtNj_g

Transitions Research to facilitate a convening in Goa with AI Knowledge Consortium on July 18th and 19th.

We will be facilitating a convening in Goa with the New Indian Consumer Initiative (an initiative by Indicc) and the Climate Bonds Initiative, under the aegis of the AI Knowledge Consortium titled “Catalysing AI for Climate and Finance”, that aims to explore the role of AI in designing climate-resilient infrastructure and in the mobilisation of finance; optimising a sustainable agriculture and energy transition in India. This will be done through a Technology Foresight Group (TFG) of diverse stakeholders to imagine the multiple and plausible futures of AI in these domains.

Launching the Monsoon Academy Podcast (MAP) on July 12!

Monsoon and its changing nature is a metaphor for change, optimism, and renewal, which lie at the heart of the exploration of climate action and resilience, sustainability and just transitions at Transitions Research’s Monsoon Academy. The Monsoon Academy will build the groundforce to drive sustainability transitions in India.

Do you want to join the climate groundforce? To help you find out more, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our Monsoon Academy Podcast (MAP) on July 12. Tune into this brand-new platform to hear our host, Shantha Venugopal, speak to the workforce driving climate and sustainability transitions in India. We’ll be speaking to climate-tech entrepreneurs, policymakers, sustainability heads, and storytellers to cover topics like:

• the choices and forces that shaped the? careers of our climate pioneers
• what opportunities and challenges they’ve encountered? in the ever-evolving landscape of green jobs?
• what skills candidates from a range of educational backgrounds can transfer to climate jobs?

This biweekly podcast aims to help you find a climate job that’s a good fit for you – whether you’re a fresh graduate just embarking on your career or you’re looking to switch fields mid-career. MAP your climate career and find the best way you can save the world.?

Stay tuned for the first set of podcast episodes!

Research Updates

People’s Urban Living Lab (PULL) and Goa Energy Development Authority (GEDA) host a Visioning Workshop to Imagine Panaji in 2050

On Saturday, June 8th, Transitions Research, along with the Goa Energy Development Authority (GEDA), conducted a visioning workshop for Panjim’s net-zero future. The purpose of this workshop was to co-create a shared vision for Net Zero Panjim in 2050 that reflects the views of its residents and key stakeholders. Through a series of interactive sessions and activities, participants engaged in creative exercises, discussions, and collaborative activities to explore different aspects of Panjim’s future and identify common values and priorities. Read the insights that we gathered from the workshop here, and stay tuned for a detailed report!

People’s Urban Living Lab(PULL) is now working on addressing rising emissions from waste in Almora, Uttarakhand.

PULL has recently expanded and we are now working in Almora, Uttarakhand to support the local administration on addressing rising emissions associated with poor waste management practices. Associate Fellow, Sushant Figueiredo, recently visited Almora to conduct initial stakeholder meetings and a baseline on the mounting waste challenges in the city.

Publications/Blog posts

New Article on ‘Reducing Food Waste in Indian Households’ discusses food waste and its associated impacts on world hunger, climate change, and resource use

Amita Basu talks about the causes of food waste in India; ‘its grave implications for hunger, socioeconomic equity, and climate change; and what steps households can take to minimise food waste. Read here.?

New Issue in the AI+ blog series, “The Imperative for Dynamic Governance of AI in India”?

The latest entry in our AI+ Blog series is ‘The Imperative for Dynamic Governance of AI in India’ by Manish Tiwari, Director of Institute for Governance, Policies and Politics (IGPP), explores dynamic and sector-specific regulatory frameworks, and calls for increased education for both the public and policymakers, and discusses the need for collaborative efforts to harness AI's advantages while mitigating its negative impacts. Read the blog here.

Nishant Sirohi and Lianne D'Souza’s article ‘Constitutionalising Climate Action: India’s Supreme Court Decision on the Protection Against Climate Change’ for Oxford Human Rights Hub.

Law and Society Fellow Nishant Sirohi and Research Assistant Lianne Dsouza write about the landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of India that explicitly recognizes climate safeguards within the fundamental rights framework of the constitution of India. Read this piece published by the Oxford Human Rights Hub here.

What we’ve been reading/watching/ listening to

“My latest read is “A Catalogue of Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Resilience” developed by the World Bank and the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). This guidance document lists different categories of urban nature-based solutions (NbS) and lays down principles of designing these solutions and integrating their implementation with existing urban infrastructure. It uses visually appealing illustrations and examples, while also providing glimpses into real-life case studies for the reader. I have found it immensely helpful as a resource, and would recommend it to anyone interested in planning nature-based solutions in urban spaces.”, Abhipsha Ghosh, Research Associate, Transitions Research.

“I am reading ‘Litigating Climate Change in the Global South’ by Jolene Lin and Jacqueline Peel. This timely work sheds light on the rapidly evolving landscape of climate litigation in developing nations across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia and the Pacific. Amidst increasing scholarly and policy interest in climate change litigation and its repercussions on international climate governance, the book examines which Global South countries are witnessing these legal battles, the driving factors behind this movement, the diverse coalitions of actors involved, and the initial impacts on global climate mitigation and adaptation goals.”, Lianne Dsouza, Research Assistant, Transitions Research

Call to Action

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