Understanding India: Episode 9

India’s Climate Crossroads: Growth, Energy and Resilience

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In this episode, Avanti Bhati, Partner at Osborne Partners, speaks with Nandan Sharalaya, Programme Lead at Climate Catalyst, whose career spans impact investing, sustainability, non-profits, and consulting across Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Drawing from his diverse experience with organisations such as the India Climate Collaborative and Omidyar Network India, Nandan offers a deep dive into India’s climate challenges and the urgent choices that lie ahead.

Together, they explore the critical questions shaping India’s climate and energy future:

• What are India’s most pressing environmental and climate challenges today?

• How close are we to achieving the 2030 renewable energy targets, including 500 GW capacity and 50% of energy needs from renewables

• Can state governments align effectively with central policy to implement large-scale renewable projects?

• How will increasing river water temperatures and changing water availability impact agriculture, hydropower, and geopolitics with neighbours like China and Pakistan?

• With heatwaves threatening sectors that employ 75% of India’s workforce, how can policymakers balance rural incomes, urban employment, and economic growth?

• Can solar and wind realistically support the uninterrupted energy needs of AI-driven data centres in the near future?

• Most importantly, can India reverse the impacts of climate change, or must we adapt to a new climate reality?

Grounded in evidence and framed by lived policy experience, this episode highlights the tough trade-offs, opportunities, and innovations needed as India navigates the twin imperatives of economic growth and climate resilience.

The views and opinions expressed in this episode are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the positions or opinions of Osborne Partners. Osborne Partners bares no liability or responsibility to any contents, statements, claims or representations made in this episode.
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