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Navroz K Dubash

Articles by Navroz K Dubash

India can play a key role in climate cooperation

India took on a key position on the world stage by assuming the presidency of G20. This year, India will aim to provide leadership to a group of countries that comprises 85% of the world’s GDP and 60% of its population. Doing so will require determination, vision and courage. Today, Navroz K Dubash writes that India must use its presidency to push for greater cooperation to combat complex climate issues

As a vulnerable nation, and on the back of solidarity among developing countries to win an agreement on a loss-and-damage financing mechanism, India could urge that attention to the climate crisis is not diluted. (Shutterstock)

opinion

Published on Feb 12, 2023 07:48 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

Look beyond COP for climate action

COP27 will be marked for the loss and damage fund and stalled steps on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But the time has arrived to focus on what nations are doing at home, not global meets

Vulnerable countries — particularly small island nations facing sea level rise — have long argued that when both mitigation (avoiding emissions) and adaptation (minimising impacts) fail, as they seem to have, they need support to face climate-induced losses and damages. (AFP)

opinion

Updated on Nov 22, 2022 07:43 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

Two pivotal pillars that will dominate COP27

For the annual climate meet to facilitate action across the developed and developing world and enhance equity, North-South tensions on loss and damage as well as finance need redressal

At a time of global churn, and the potential for greater North-South jostling, the political messages that emerge from Sharm el-Sheikh may shape future COPs, and the climate agenda for some time to come. (Shutterstock)

opinion

Published on Nov 01, 2022 08:24 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

Choosing a climate action path wisely

For a climate-sensitive development plan, India must walk a line between the ‘development-first climate-later’ view and the ‘untrammelled opportunity’ view

India must strive to remake our economy to take advantage of an increas-ingly low-carbon focused global economy. And doing so could bring other development benefits, such as less congested cities and cleaner air (Amal KS/Hindustan Times)

analysis

Updated on Sep 04, 2022 09:12 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

Climate crisis: No universal solutions

The latest IPCC report says the world is not on track for achieving the mitigation goals. The response to that should be to redouble efforts and limit harm to the extent possible

opinion

Updated on Apr 05, 2022 07:34 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

A green deal in the Union Budget 2022?

There is a positive shift in the language of the budget, underlining the seriousness of the climate crisis. However, the contents seem to fall short of the packaging

The Budget signals a strong bet on EVs. This push occurs in the context of a commitment to back public transport in urban areas — although there is no enhanced support for this — and a vision of urban transformation. (Hindustan Times)

opinion

Published on Feb 03, 2022 08:25 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

Understanding India’s climate pledges

There is a risk to India that the global community will continue to weigh net-zero targets more heavily than short-term domestic measures

The net-zero targets have become a form of diplomatic tick-box, a minimum price of climate credibility (AP)

opinion

Updated on Nov 12, 2021 12:50 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

States are the beating heart of climate action

The Centre can play an important supporting role by providing credible analysis on low-carbon policy choices to the states when required.

opinion

Published on Aug 02, 2021 06:05 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash, Aditya Valiathan Pillai, and Parth Bhatia

Design a climate-ready governance system

India needs new dedicated organisations, policy frameworks, and financing mechanisms. Begin with a low-carbon development commission

opinion

Updated on Jun 24, 2021 06:30 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash, Aditya Valiathan Pillai and Parth Bhatia

Proposing a new climate agenda for India

The Indian road to leadership should be based on near-term actions, institutional strengthening, and a combination of mid- and long-term targets

Limiting emissions from industry is a longer-term prospect because technologies are nascent, and will require international collaboration for new technology and approaches. Notably, attention to sectoral transitions likely sends a clearer and more direct signal to the private sector on the need to shift investment patterns than does a broad and diffuse economy-wide net-zero target. (REUTERS)

opinion

Updated on Mar 24, 2021 11:37 AM IST

ByNavroz K. Dubash

Net-zero emission targets are a hollow pledge

India needs a path that shows how a focus on opportunities for low-carbon development is more likely, in practice, to deliver emissions reductions than abstract future 2050 pledges

Given India’s vulnerability to the climate crisis, it is strongly in our interests to support enhanced climate action. And to be credible, we also have to do our part, and not only sit back and wait for wealthier countries to act (AP)

opinion

Updated on Mar 24, 2021 12:08 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

Give young environmentalists a voice

India has always argued that climate is linked to development choices, livelihoods and equity. Don’t ask activists to narrow down their concerns

Local pollution, climate damage and new economic opportunities tied to climate and environment are all important to our national interests. India needs more, not less, engagement around environmental issues (Biplov Bhuyan/HT PHOTO)

opinion

Updated on Feb 22, 2021 06:35 AM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

CAQM: Stronger body, but some gaps remain

CAQM’s creation is not a trivial change, and almost certainly represents a step-up from Epca. A new commission, with full-time members and dedicated staff, is likely to help address the problem of intermittent focus on air quality.

Morning walkers at India Gate despite rising air pollution in New Delhi on Thursday.(Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

india news

Updated on Oct 30, 2020 05:40 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNavroz K Dubash, Shibani Ghosh and Santosh Harish

Imagining a different, better future

If sustained, behavioural changes, induced by Covid-19, can alter the way we live and work

Work from home can address urban congestion and pollution; reduce fuel imports; and give personal flexibility(Raj K Raj/HT PHOTO)

columns

Published on Mar 26, 2020 06:10 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

Designing a blueprint for clean air

Strengthen the legislative mandate, and suitably enhance the institutional capacity to discharge it

Air pollution is an urgent problem. But urgency should not translate to haste or a search for ineffective silver bullets(ANI)

analysis

Updated on Dec 23, 2019 03:00 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash and Shibani Ghosh

Climate change is real. There is a way for India to deal with it, smartly

Identify synergies and trade-offs between development and climate. And then choose well

Headlines this week warned that much of Mumbai and its suburbs could be under water due to climate change-related sea-level rise by 2050.(Arvind Yadav/HT PHOTO)

analysis

Updated on Nov 02, 2019 08:58 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

Existentialism with equity: The climate dilemma

Should the threat mean all countries do everything possible? Should it mean that those responsible do more?

Climate as an existential threat to life and ecosystems, ramps up the pressure for poorer countries to take on equivalent obligations to richer countries(REUTERS)

columns

Updated on Sep 24, 2019 08:48 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

How to avoid the middle income trap

India’s Achilles' heel is likely to be the inefficient use of natural resources and growing pollution levels

India’s air pollution crisis is severe and requires attention beyond current scattershot efforts(Kunal Patil/HT Photo)

columns

Updated on Jun 18, 2019 07:57 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

Our clean air plan is a missed chance

It sets a target without a realistic roadmap, proposes a city-based approach that downplays regional effects, and adopts a something-for-everyone laundry list approach rather than prioritising action.

We may have no option but to send our children out to play, but we should also be simultaneously working hard on long-term solutions(Mohd Zakir/HT PHOTO)

columns

Updated on Apr 04, 2019 10:41 AM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

Green industrial policy is a timely idea for India to explore

We need jobs, we need greening, and we cannot achieve both without addressing distributive questions. Nor can we postpone any of these objectives for later. But the conditions for success are stringent, and include a far more capable State.

For a country growing at 6-8%, up-front directional shifts can have a big impact. India has an opportunity to choose more environmentally sustainable pathways in areas such as rail, housing, and energy demand. Without active steering, India could lock itself into an energy inefficient and environmentally poor growth path(REUTERS)

columns

Updated on Mar 04, 2019 07:17 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

India needs environmental governance

India must jettison the idea of an environment-development trade-off to meet growth objectives

Garbage is seen on the polluted banks of the river Yamuna near the historic Taj Mahal, Agra. Three in five monitored rivers across the country are polluted(REUTERS)

columns

Updated on Feb 05, 2019 10:07 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash

Air pollution: India waking up, but there’s a long way to go

After our initial, reactive steps, we must now take the fight forward by building public engagement and political pressure, says the Centre for Policy Research.

India’s air quality presents a major public health crisis. The health risks are pervasive and deep, affect healthy and vulnerable people, and are particularly harmful for our children.(Amal KS/HT Photo)

india news

Updated on Dec 22, 2018 10:34 AM IST

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | ByNavroz K Dubash, Shibani Ghosh and Santosh Harish

Delhi has a complex air pollution problem

At least 4 sectors — industry, transport, biomass and waste burning, and dust — are substantial contributors to pollution in Delhi-NCR, according to analysis led by the Centre for Policy Research.

Air pollution is a multi-headed problem. Solutions need to be tailored to specific characterstics of pollution sources.(HT File)

india news

Updated on Dec 22, 2018 11:26 PM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash and Sarath Guttikunda

Understanding the curse of air pollution

Many parts of India, especially in the Indo-Gangetic belt record poor air quality levels across the year. In 2018 (so far), PM2.5 levels were ‘poor,’ ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ 56% of the time in Delhi (RK Puram), 49% in Patna and 32% in Kanpur.

Heaps of garbage seen burning in an open field in Bajgehra near Dwarka Expressway, in Gurugram on December 7.(Yogendra Kumar/HT PHOTO)

india news

Updated on Dec 19, 2018 11:13 AM IST

BySantosh Harish and Navroz K Dubash

Reform in electricity sector is all about getting the politics right

Electricity is invariably political in India. Far from depoliticising the sector, reform will require deeper, but careful engagement with politics.

The electricity sector risks acting as a drag on the economy as its poor finances reverberate through the banking sector in the form of non-performing assets.(HT File Photo)

india news

Updated on Sep 17, 2018 07:51 AM IST

ByNavroz K Dubash, Sunila Kale and Ranjit Bharvirkar

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Navroz K Dubash

COP27 will be marked for the loss and damage fund and stalled steps on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But the time has arrived to focus on what nations are doing at home, not global meets

For the annual climate meet to facilitate action across the developed and developing world and enhance equity, North-South tensions on loss and damage as well as finance need redressal

For a climate-sensitive development plan, India must walk a line between the ‘development-first climate-later’ view and the ‘untrammelled opportunity’ view

The latest IPCC report says the world is not on track for achieving the mitigation goals. The response to that should be to redouble efforts and limit harm to the extent possible

There is a positive shift in the language of the budget, underlining the seriousness of the climate crisis. However, the contents seem to fall short of the packaging

There is a risk to India that the global community will continue to weigh net-zero targets more heavily than short-term domestic measures

The Centre can play an important supporting role by providing credible analysis on low-carbon policy choices to the states when required.

India needs new dedicated organisations, policy frameworks, and financing mechanisms. Begin with a low-carbon development commission

The Indian road to leadership should be based on near-term actions, institutional strengthening, and a combination of mid- and long-term targets

India needs a path that shows how a focus on opportunities for low-carbon development is more likely, in practice, to deliver emissions reductions than abstract future 2050 pledges

India has always argued that climate is linked to development choices, livelihoods and equity. Don’t ask activists to narrow down their concerns

CAQM’s creation is not a trivial change, and almost certainly represents a step-up from Epca. A new commission, with full-time members and dedicated staff, is likely to help address the problem of intermittent focus on air quality.

If sustained, behavioural changes, induced by Covid-19, can alter the way we live and work

Strengthen the legislative mandate, and suitably enhance the institutional capacity to discharge it

Identify synergies and trade-offs between development and climate. And then choose well

Should the threat mean all countries do everything possible? Should it mean that those responsible do more?

India’s Achilles' heel is likely to be the inefficient use of natural resources and growing pollution levels

It sets a target without a realistic roadmap, proposes a city-based approach that downplays regional effects, and adopts a something-for-everyone laundry list approach rather than prioritising action.

We need jobs, we need greening, and we cannot achieve both without addressing distributive questions. Nor can we postpone any of these objectives for later. But the conditions for success are stringent, and include a far more capable State.

India must jettison the idea of an environment-development trade-off to meet growth objectives

After our initial, reactive steps, we must now take the fight forward by building public engagement and political pressure, says the Centre for Policy Research.

At least 4 sectors — industry, transport, biomass and waste burning, and dust — are substantial contributors to pollution in Delhi-NCR, according to analysis led by the Centre for Policy Research.

Many parts of India, especially in the Indo-Gangetic belt record poor air quality levels across the year. In 2018 (so far), PM2.5 levels were ‘poor,’ ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ 56% of the time in Delhi (RK Puram), 49% in Patna and 32% in Kanpur.

Electricity is invariably political in India. Far from de­politicising the sector, reform will require deeper, but careful engagement with politics.

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Electricity is invariably political in India. Far from depoliticising the sector, reform will require deeper, but careful engagement with politics.