Academic institutions pledged for facilitating research on Just Transition
Ranchi, 02 April, 2022: CEED India Development in association with Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) organised a state level academic conference in Ranchi with the key objective to enable a deep dive and localised research on diverse themes of Just Energy Transition in Jharkhand through actively engaging notable academic institutions & universities of the state. The conference witnessed active participation of leading academicians from Ranchi University, Birla Institute of Technology (Mesra, Ranchi), Vinoba Bhave University (Hazaribagh) Xavier Institute of Social Service,(Ranchi), Nilambar Pitambar University (Palamu), National Institute of Advanced Manufacturing Technology (Ranchi), Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University (Ranchi) who shared diverse research themes in a multidisciplinary approach. This collaborative research process is aimed towards adding to the body of knowledge on just transition and also contribute to informed public policy discussion benefitting diverse stakeholders for a future ready economy in the state.
Elaborating the broader context of the conference, Mr Ramapati Kumar, CEO of CEED said, “The whole world is shifting narrative around challenges and opportunities around just transition in local perspectives, though there has been very limited research contextualised in key states like Jharkhand. Considering an immense scope of inter-disciplinary research and development activities unfolding, a collaborative engagement with institutions will be helpful for bringing out much needed studies & insights on pressing issues.” “As a part of this process, CEED has started a ‘Just Transition Resource Centre’ that is engaged in research, enabling policy, knowledge sharing, and capacitation of stakeholders at the sub-national level”, he further added.
The idea of ‘Just Transition’ was officially included in the framework of the Paris Agreement (2015) and Katovice summit (2018) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). In COP-26 meeting held in Glasgow (2021), India has pledged commitment to cut its emissions to net zero by 2070. Net zero, or becoming carbon neutral is indeed a bigger goal, where energy transition will play a key role. In fact, Just Transition in India cannot be materialised until it is facilitated at the sub national level, particularly in states like Jharkhand.
Addressing the conference, Prof SK Samdarshi (Director, Centre for Excellence in Green Energy & Efficient Technology at CUJ) told that, “The current development paradigm based on fossil fuel is poised to be changed in favour of cleaner & renewable sources, where energy transition in state like Jharkhand will immensely contribute in bringing socio-economic transformations. As there is immense scope of research ideas on cleaner solutions, it can facilitate a new way of thinking, skill set and approaches and will facilitate a forward looking economy putting sustainability and a low carbon future at the center-stage.”
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Ramesh Sharan (former VC, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribag) said that, “Academic communities have a larger role to play as the knowledge dissemination is key to wider public deliberation and policy related discussion. As an overarching idea, Just Energy Transition has enormous appeal to a variety of academics, social scientists, anthropologists, sociologists, public policy experts, environmentalists, and energy researchers, etc. Academic institutions will get exposure to new themes and areas that are relevant, contemporary and resonate with the ideals of inclusive development.”
In the open session of the conference, participant institutions also deliberated on the current status and the way forward for the interdisciplinary research and it witnessed gracious presence of Dr Tanushree Bhattacharya (Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra), Prof Bijay Singh & Dr Nitish Priyadarshi (Dept. of Geology, Ranchi University), Dr Kishore Gupta and Dr Arun Mishra (Dept of Zoology & Computer Sciences at Vinoba Bhave University), Dr Nivedita (Dept of Zoology, Ranchi University), Dr Bhaskar Singh & Dr Sachin Kumar (Dept of Energy & Environmental Sciences, CUJ), Dr Birendra Kumar (Dept of Sociology, Nilambar Pitambar University) and Dr Soni Kumari (Dept of Environmental Sciences, DSPMU) and various masters & phd students form respective universities and institutions.
The Conference presented several key research themes in a solution driven approach such as restructuring and diversification of the economy, identifications of emerging sectors, ecosystem restoration in mine dominated regions, digitalisation and technology as enabler for transition, assessment of multidimensional impact of gender in just transition process, identifying alternative livelihood opportunities for weaker sections and sustainable climate resilient measures for the affected regions, etc. The conference also saw participation of representatives of key research think-tanks e.g. World Resource Institute, Power for All, Ckinetics, MLinda Foundation, Swaniti initiatives, SwicthON Foundation etc, who also shared their insights and pledged support to facilitate the collaborative research and studies process further.
For more Information, please contact:
Arvind Kumar, CEED, Email; arvind@ceedindia.org; Ph: 9934370543
Satyam Abhishek, CEED, Email: satyam@ceedindia.org; Ph :8789420190