FROM THE CEO’S DESK
Welcome to the first edition of iFOREST Quarterly!
This newsletter marks the beginning of a new way to connect with you—our extended community of supporters, collaborators, and changemakers. Every quarter, we will bring you updates on our work, along with insights from our research and initiatives. As we step into the new financial year, we are excited to share key milestones and developments from the first quarter of 2025.
One of our biggest milestones was organizing the country’s first-ever conclave on faith and climate change at the Mahakumbh Mela in Prayagraj. With the support of the Government of Uttar Pradesh’s Directorate of Environment, we brought together over 40 speakers and 1,000+ participants for a groundbreaking discussion on how religious and spiritual institutions can support climate action. The event, inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, saw participation from environmentalists, religious leaders, civil society organizations, and government officials.
On the institutional front, iFOREST forged three key collaborations this quarter:
- We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Environment Directorate of Uttar Pradesh to work on air pollution and climate action.
- An MoU with NITI Aayog to work on a broad set of objectives including Just Transition and Urban Resilience.
- An MoU with The Government of Assam on energy and climate change initiatives.
At iFOREST, we believe that strategic planning and reflection are essential for institutional growth. That’s why we began the year with our annual planning retreat at Sariska, Rajasthan, where our entire team came together to develop the 2025-26 annual work plan and a roadmap for the next 3–5 years. This retreat was not just about strategizing—it was also about strengthening our collective vision, fostering collaboration, and energizing our team for the challenges and opportunities ahead. As we embark on the 2025–26 financial year, we do so with renewed vigour and commitment. With your continued support and engagement, we are confident in our ability to drive meaningful impact.
Sincerely,
Chandra Bhushan
CEO, iFOREST
VIEWS
OPINIONS, BLOGS AND IN-DEPTH NEWS FEATURES
- Can India’s polluting freight sector be decarbonised? Our director Energy and Urban Transition, Nidhi Bali, offers a road map, in this opinion piece published in The Economic Times.
- We knew what caused air pollution 25 years ago, but governments still won’t act, writes Chandra Bhushan, in this opinion piece published in The Indian Express.
- At COP29, it was a grim reality check that the world prioritises fortifying borders over securing a liveable planet, writes Srestha Banerjee in The Quint.
- Trump’s presidency has been a setback for climate action. The world should count US out and up its climate game, writes Chandra Bhushan for Times of India
- Faith must work together with science and technology to repair humanity’s broken relationship with nature, writes Chandra Bhushan in The Financial Express
- India needs to embrace a balanced renewable energy growth as it beefs up 500GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030, writes Programme Associate Sureet Singh in this blog.
- At the Mahakumbh 2025, iFOREST supported UP government to advocate for the role of faith leaders in shaping climate change discourse. Inderjeet Kaur reported for NDTV live from the ‘Faith of Kumbh and Climate Change’ summit at Prayagraj
- Our research on Jharkhand’s renewable energy potential featured in this article by Manoj Singh in Prabhat Khabar.
- India’s solar story has many gaps. This story by Sayantan Bera, Published in Mint, captures why discoms are reluctant to purchase renewable energy power and iFOREST’s take on it.
- It’s been 10 years since the District Mineral Foundation (DMF) became a legal act. Amitabh Sinha reports on iFOREST’s assessment of achievements, challenges and the road ahead for DMF 2.0 in The Indian Express.
HIGHLIGHTS
iFOREST CONVENES HISTORIC CLIMATE CONCLAVE AT MAHAKUMBH
The Mahakumbh 2025, the world’s largest human gathering, presented us with the unique opportunity to make climate change a talking point with the masses. iFOREST hosted a first-of-its-kind conclave on faith and climate change in partnership with the Directorate of Environment, Government of Uttar Pradesh.
Mobilising 40+ speakers and 1000+ participants at the Mahakumbh Mela at Prayagraj, the climate conclave was inaugurated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and saw participation from environmentalists, religious leaders, civil society and government officials. The event was covered in over 50 media publications. Parties signed a ‘Sankalp Patra’ or climate declaration committing to concrete steps toward climate action, which included UP Government’s unique initiative to ‘green’ religious institutions.
ADVANCING CLEAN ENERGY AMBITIONS IN ODISHA
Odisha advanced its clean energy goals at the Odisha Solar Investor Conclave, co-hosted by iFOREST and GRIDCO, the state nodal agency for renewable energy. It was a positive step toward the state’s target of harnessing 7.5GW solar capacity by 2030 and 10.95 GW of renewable energy in total. Held in Bhubaneswar, the conclave drew 400 participants, 150 commercial and industrial consumers and 100 solar developers. It was inaugurated by former Deputy Chief Minister Shri Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.
In quick succession, Utkarsh Odisha 2025, the state’s flagship Make in Odisha event was organised in January 2025. As a long-standing knowledge partner to the state government’s energy department, iFOREST supported the state to demonstrate its innovative capabilities in harnessing sustainable energy, with investment proposals amounting to Rs.4.33 lakh crore in the renewable energy sector out of a total of Rs.16.73 lakh crore. The conclave attracted 7,500 delegates from over 16 countries, including representatives from Singapore, Malaysia and Australia, further strengthening Odisha’s position as a global investment destination.
Renewable energy is at the forefront of Odisha’s ambitious energy sector investment plans. Of the 10.95 GW of RE capacity planned to be added by 2030, 7.5 GW is proposed to be achieved through solar projects, followed by 2 GW by wind, and remaining by large hydro, small hydro and pumped storage projects. A brief published by iFOREST in January 2025, maps the opportunities and prospects for harnessing this.
TAKING THE AIR POLLUTION CONVERSATION BEYOND DELHI
Putting the spotlight on six cities across the Indo-Gangetic plains, our social media campaign Smog Tales: Know your city and what you breathe, took the conversation on air pollution from the capital city of Delhi to smaller cities, to improve public awareness on the data trend. In the last quarter the campaign covered Patna, Guwahati, Baddi, Bhiwadi, Meerut and Chandigarh making clean air an agenda in India’s smaller rapidly urbanising cities. We roped in local experts, pollution control boards, academicians, researchers, urban local bodies and concerned citizens in a series of action-oriented conversations held between November 2024 and February 2025.
DRIVING THE ELECTRIC FREIGHT TRANSITION IN INDIA
Did you know that road freight accounts for 90% of the transport sector’s carbon emissions? The Pathways for a Just and Inclusive Transition to Electric Freight report preview, organised in March 2025, under the Laneshift programme (a collaboration between C40 Cities and The Climate Pledge), brought together key stakeholders from government, industry, civil society, and academia to discuss the societal and workforce implications of electric freight adoption in India.
EMPOWERING INDIA’S MINING-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES
District Mineral Foundation (DMF) is a unique benefit-sharing mechanism that recognizes the rights of mining-affected communities to benefit from mineral resources, while improving their lives and livelihoods. To mark its 10-year milestone, iFOREST undertook a decadal assessment of the institution’s functioning. On March 27th, we hosted officials, public representatives, and civil society members in a webinar to discuss the achievements, challenges, and way forward for DMFs.
BUILDING NEW PARTNERSHIPS
In February 2025, iFOREST entered into a partnership with the Government of Assam during the Advantage Assam Summit 2.0 in Guwahati. We signed two MoUs with the Department of Forest and Environment, one for knowledge support and capacity building for air pollution and waste management, and the other of strengthening governance, institutional capacities, technical, policy and implementation support in areas of climate response and action planning, climate financing, climate mitigation investments etc.
In March 2025, iFOREST signed two important MoU’s to further the agenda of climate action. The first was with Niti Aayog, on developing knowledge and strategies, designing policies and governance frameworks, and building capacity in the areas of climate change mitigation, adaptation, resilience, just transition and climate finance
The second MoU was signed after a successful ‘Faith of Kumbh and Climate Change’ summit held at the Mahakumbh in February. An MoU was signed with Ministry of Environment, Government of Uttar Pradesh to address environmental challenges in the state such as air pollution, waste management and climate change.
COgreen
From stubble burning to COP29 and the future of UNFCCC, our podcasts have you covered.
Stubble burning in Central India impacts air quality in Chennai and Mumbai. But did you know that the plume of smoke travels across the Arabian Sea all the way to Somalia? Tune into COgreen, an iFOREST podcast on all things environment. In our latest episode published in January, NASA scientist Dr. Hiren Jethva and Dr. Chandra Bhushan unpack what is causing a rise in farm fires and how to monitor air quality better. Listen here. Watch here.
Also, just in case you missed the previous episode on COP29 and the future of UNFCCC, you can watch it here or listen on Spotify.
A PEEK INTO THE NEXT QUARTER
Just Transition for Green Growth
Dhanbad, India’s Coal Capital, will be cutting 77% of its coal production by 2030. Our Just Transition Report Launch in Dhanbad next month explores a roadmap for transitioning the city and its 1.3 lakh coal-dependent livelihoods to a green economy. What Dhanbad is facing today will be the reality of India’s mining belts in the next decade.
Maharashtra Just Transition Conference
Maharashtra is not only India’s largest emitter, leading in overall power use, but also one of the most climate-vulnerable states. It can support India’s net zero target by promoting a just energy transition. Our Maharashtra Just Transition Policy (MJTP) in the works, outlines a plan to shift away from fossil fuels while creating green jobs and growth. India’s first Regional Just Transition Investment Plan will also be launched for key transition hotspots such as Chandrapur, Nagpur, and Yavatmal which account for 100% of the state’s coal mines. These climate-vulnerable districts are expected to face tectonic socio-economic shifts in the next decade.
Release of Integrated Heating and Cooling Action Plan for Bhubaneswar
We are developing an Integrated Heating and Cooling Action Plan for Bhubaneswar, focusing on the vulnerable areas and populations impacted by heat. We are also evaluating the impact of sustainable cooling solutions in urban settings. By building a first-of-its-kind city level framework, iFOREST focuses on solution interventions in urban design, buildings and appliances.
National Conclave On Greening Steam
What would it take to electrify steam boilers? Process steam boilers power large scale textile, dairy and chemical industries, emitting vast carbon footprints. In Q2, iFOREST is organising a national conference and report release on the decarbonisation of industrial boilers across India, with a specific focus on Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow. The report will outline a roadmap to green process steam industries.
Roundtable and Repurposing Thermal Power Plants
The Round table will host government and industry to discuss the findings of techno-economic analysis done for different re-purposing opportunities of the retired thermal power plant units at Harduaganj Thermal Power Plant (TPP), Uttar Pradesh.
WORK WITH US
Join the iFOREST canopy and green your career with us!
- Programme Associate and Programme Associate – Industrial Decabonisation (Steel)
- Programme Associate, Industrial Decarbonization
- Senior Analyst – Green Jobs & Skilling
- Senior Programme Associate –Energy, Industry, Climate and Air Pollution
- Senior Programme Associate, Air Pollution and Waste Management
- Senior Associate, Training and Capacity Development
- Programme Associate, Clean Energy
- Senior Programme Associate, Clean Energy
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