Category: Blog

Without urgent reskilling, the energy transition risks leaving local workers behind

Walk into any ITI classroom in Angul or Jharsuguda and you will see young men and women training for an economy that no longer exists. Many still aspire to permanent jobs in government departments, thermal plants or large factories. Those jobs are quietly shrinking. The new ones are emerging elsewhere—in solar parks, battery plants, EV workshops, waste-processing units and green hydrogen hubs.

This is the silent churn in Odisha’s labour market. The state is already attracting large investments in renewable energy, electric mobility, green manufacturing and the circular economy. These projects will create thousands of jobs in the coming years. The real question is simple: will these jobs go to local youth?

To answer that, we must be clear about what green jobs actually mean for Odisha. These are not just office jobs in climate organisations. They include the technician installing solar plants, the fitter maintaining energy-efficient machinery, the mechanic repairing EVs, the worker handling batteries safely, and the small entrepreneur running a waste-reuse unit. These are frontline livelihoods—jobs that reduce pollution, save resources and build resilience, while anchoring local economies.

Our recent study shows that Odisha’s near-term green job pipeline is already sizeable. Between 2023 and 2025, ongoing and planned green projects are expected to generate close to one lakh jobs across manufacturing, construction, installation, operations and related services. Renewable energy alone, backed by the state’s solar targets, can create tens of thousands of stable jobs—if local workers are ready.

Looking ahead, green sectors can generate up to 10 lakh jobs by 2030 across 28 value chains, from renewable power and storage to green hydrogen, EVs, batteries, bioenergy and circular economy activities. With a solar target of 7.5 GW by 2030, this is not a marginal shift. It is a structural transformation of Odisha’s economy.

At the same time, the state remains anchored in coal, metals and other carbon-intensive industries. Lakhs of families depend on coal mining, thermal power and allied sectors. As cleaner energy expands, automation deepens and environmental pressures grow, many workers will face uncertainty. Districts such as Talcher, Ib Valley, Jharsuguda, Angul and Sundargarh sit at the edge of two futures: one of planned reskilling and new industries, and another of slow job loss, migration and economic decline.

This is the double challenge Odisha faces—protecting workers and communities tied to the fossil-fuel economy, while preparing its youth for emerging green and low-carbon jobs. This is what a just transition really means.

Odisha does have a wide skilling network: government and private ITIs, polytechnics and hundreds of training centres. Schemes like Sudakshya have increased women’s participation in technical education, and placement-linked programmes have improved outcomes in some trades. But green skilling remains peripheral.

Our survey of 571 students, 30 institutions, 33 employers and 110 workers in the solar and EV sectors reveals a worrying gap. Only 7% of students are enrolled in dedicated green courses. Nearly half are unaware such courses exist. Employers consistently report that recruits lack hands-on exposure, safety training and familiarity with modern tools.

The timing of this gap is particularly dangerous. Between 2023 and 2025 alone, Odisha’s green investment pipeline is expected to generate nearly 98,000 new jobs. Yet under PMKVY 4.0, only 1,778 candidates were trained in green roles across seven districts in 2024–25. This is not a small mismatch. It is a structural breakdown between jobs and skills.

In simple terms, the jobs are arriving faster than workers are being prepared.

Other weaknesses compound the problem. Trainers often lack exposure to new technologies. Labs and workshops are outdated. Coordination across departments—industry, energy, MSMEs, labour and education—is weak. Women’s participation is rising overall, but remains low in fast-growing green sectors such as renewable energy, EVs and green manufacturing.

The consequences are visible. When green industries cannot find job-ready local workers, they hire from outside. Local youth migrate for low-paid work. Industrial districts attract investment but not employment. Growth happens, but it passes people by.

Then there is the invisible workforce—transport workers, loaders, service mechanics, MSME suppliers and informal technicians who support every solar park or EV plant. Most lack certification, social security or access to retraining. If they fall out of the old economy without a bridge into the new one, Odisha will not see a green transition. It will face a social shock.

So what must Odisha do—now and at scale?

First, every large green project must be legally linked to local training. Developers should partner with nearby ITIs, co-train workers before commissioning, and certify skills jointly with the state.

Second, the state must urgently build a supervisory and safety workforce. Short, targeted upskilling can convert existing electricians and mechanics into higher-responsibility roles.

Third, wage insecurity must be addressed. Temporary wage-linked skilling incentives tied to certified green jobs can stabilise the workforce pipeline.

Fourth, awareness must start early. Statewide green career-orientation drives across schools, ITIs and polytechnics can reshape aspirations.

Finally, Odisha needs a live Green Jobs–Skills Dashboard to track investments, training and placements in real time.

Odisha stands at a decisive moment. Green capital is arriving. If the state moves with speed and intent, this transition can deliver local jobs, revived coal districts and dignified work close to home.

If it hesitates, the factories will still come.
Only the workers will not.

The choice is ours.

(Suhail Mir is Programme Lead – Clean Energy at iFOREST)

India’s energy economy is undergoing a transformative shift, balancing its coal-heavy legacy with a growing push toward  renewables. The country’s energy transition reflects both ambition and complexity. In Dhanbad, the “Coal Capital of India,”  mines still fuel industries and livelihoods, even as their environmental costs mount. Nearby, the Damodar Valley  alongside Bokaro, Ramgarh, and Hazaribagh stands as a symbol of early industrial energy development, now evolving to embrace cleaner, sustainable pathways for India’s future growth.

The district contributes over a quarter of Jharkhand’s coal capacity, or 69.5 million tonnes per year. In 2023–24, its 48 operational mines produced 41 million tonnes, almost all from opencast pits. But this dominance is nearing its end. By 2030, two-thirds of mines will shut. Within 25 years, every single mine will face exhaustion or unprofitability. Already, 39 stand abandoned and 10 are closed. Without planning, Dhanbad could soon be left with a landscape of derelict mines and shattered livelihoods.

The stakes are immense. Industry, including mining, manufacturing, electricity and gas, makes up 59 percent of Dhanbad’s economy. A coal-fired power plant, washeries, coke ovens, and countless transport and informal coal activities depend on this resource. Nearly 1.4 lakh workers rely directly on the ecosystem, most informally employed and vulnerable. When half the mines close in just five years, tens of thousands of families risk sudden income loss.

Coal revenues, which currently fund development, are also at risk. Dhanbad has built up ₹3,851 crore in District Mineral Foundation (DMF) funds, used for water supply, healthcare, and education. But as mining declines, inflows will shrink, leaving communities exposed to both economic and social shocks.

Yet within this looming crisis lies opportunity. As mines shut, land will be freed up for redevelopment. Over 27,000 hectares of barren land and at least 6,000 hectares of mining land will become available in the next five years, rising to nearly 10,000 hectares by 2050. Repurposed, these lands can host renewable energy parks, green industries, and agro-forestry enterprises that generate sustainable jobs.

The potential is striking. The Dhanbad Bokaro Ramgarh (DBR) region holds 13.5 GW of solar potential, three times Jharkhand’s 2027 target. This includes ground-mounted, rooftop, and floating solar, with coal belts such as Jharia, Nirsa, Mandu and Chas particularly suited for repurposing. Large reservoirs such as Tenughat, Maithon, and Panchet can support floating solar as well as green hydrogen projects. Combined with existing steel and chemical industries, the DBR belt could pioneer low-carbon steel, green fertilizers, and clean fuels, positioning Jharkhand at the forefront of India’s green industrial revolution.

But transition is not only about industry. It is fundamentally about people. Dhanbad’s workforce is ageing, contractualisation is rising, and 70 percent of workers are informal. Reskilling and social protection must be urgent priorities. Institutions like IIT-ISM and local ITIs can lead training and apprenticeship programs, supported by CSR and private industry. Social infrastructure must also improve. Today, 72 percent of households still cook with coal, burning 40 to 50 kilograms a month. This exposes women and children to serious respiratory diseases. Expanding LPG, PNG, biogas, and electric cooking will transform both health outcomes and gender equity.

A just transition will also require new thinking on institutions and governance. Fragmented efforts will not suffice. Dhanbad’s future is linked to its neighbours. Together, Dhanbad, Bokaro, and Ramgarh hold over 80,000 hectares of barren land and 16,000 hectares of mine land that will be freed up over the next 25 years. With strong connectivity via highways, railways, and upcoming expressways, the DBR belt is well placed to emerge as Jharkhand’s green industrial corridor.

To make this possible, Jharkhand needs a bold state-led approach: a Just Transition Policy to guide economic diversification, skilling, and land repurposing; an integrated DBR Green Growth Plan; and a strong governance mechanism, such as a regional Damodar Valley Transition Authority to coordinate projects across districts. DMF rules should also be revised to allow greater investment in transition priorities such as reskilling, renewable energy, and clean cooking.

The lessons from Dhanbad will resonate far beyond Jharkhand. As India marches toward its net-zero target by 2070, renewable energy will dominate the power mix. But the social and economic costs of phasing down coal must be carefully managed. Dhanbad was built on coal. It can now help build India’s clean energy future if action is swift, inclusive, and forward-looking.

The window is narrow, but the rewards are generational: a stronger economy, cleaner air, healthier communities, and a blueprint for just transition in every coal region of India.

Devrupa Paul is a Programme Lead – Just Transition and Climate at iFOREST.

On a sweltering afternoon in a dense neighbourhood, a family sits huddled under the monotonous whirl of a worn-out ceiling fan, its blades failing to push away the stifling heat. Just a few blocks away, in a gated community, cool air flows steadily and quietly from highly efficient air-conditioners, keeping the heat firmly outside. 

This is the story of cooling in India. This picture with stark contrast, reflects who gets access to innovation — and who gets left behind. Wealth and awareness allow some to build homes that blend aesthetics with thermal efficiency. They can afford designers who know how to angle windows for cross-ventilation, choose insulation wisely, and layer materials to reflect heat while using energy efficiently. On the other hand, dense informal settlements continue to struggle under corrugated tin or asbestos roofs that trap heat, with roof surfaces often touching 60°C and indoor temperatures going upto 45°C during summer afternoons. Such homes with little insulation and poor ventilation can become unbearable heat traps in Indian cities. 

The rising urban heat in Indian cities is no longer surprising. Summers extend longer, monsoons bring thick humidity, and nights remain stubbornly warm. Yet, millions still lack real solutions. Less than 10% of Indian households own air conditioners, leaving over one billion people susceptible to increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves. They rely on patchwork coping mechanisms like fans and air coolers. In contrast, those with means enjoy homes designed around comfort and efficiency as a standard. 

Thermal efficiency of our built environment 

Currently, building regulations like the Energy Conservation & Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC) and the guidelines under Eco-Niwas Samhita (ENS) exclude most small-plot or informal housing simply because they technically fall below the compliance threshold, compounding the challenge faced by tenants of small homes and packed settlements. Instead, they’re offered band-aid solutions like periodic applications of reflective roof paint with a mere four-year lifespan, or the promise of midday cooling shelters they might only access during extreme days and only if the shelter is within proximity or along their route. These aren’t safety nets; they are reminders of how little priority is placed on ‘thermal comfort for all’. 

Architects and engineers trained in building energy performance also tend to serve the affluent segments. There is little mainstream advocacy or financial incentive for integrating passive cooling into affordable housing projects. Homes in poorer neighborhoods often suffer from their heat retention characteristics, like dark, flat roofs that bake all afternoon, narrow roads trapping hot air, and dense layouts that cut out breeze entirely. 

ECSBC and ENS, though progressive on paper, struggle with enforcement. Municipal authorities lack the technical capacity or political will to ensure compliance, especially in government-sponsored affordable housing units. As a result, thermal efficiency remains aspirational and not systemic. The real victims are the economically weaker sections, amid rising temperatures. 

Temporary solutions not only underscore this imbalance but also highlight the poor aspirations we have set to achieve thermal equity. Providing low-income communities with a coat of reflective paint on their roofs or a few hours of air-conditioning in a city-run cooling shelter might give them some respite. However, these gestures alone don’t solve long-term problems. 

There is a need to expand aspirations and integrate thermal comfort and passive cooling into affordable housing projects. Achieving thermal equity requires widening the scope of building codes like ECSBC and ENS to include smaller plots.  

Notably, the ENS acknowledges that states and local bodies must adapt compliance criteria to local conditions, whether it is based on a minimum connected load or plot area. We require clear, contextual, achievable standards that elevate thermal comfort for all, and not just for large-scale or high-income developments. In 2024, the minimum plot area threshold for ENS compliance was raised from 500 m2 to 3,000 m2, pushing a growing number of housing developments outside the regulatory bracket. 

What needs attention on the policy front? 

• States and local bodies must set compliance criteria suited to local growth patterns. They should assess real estate trends before fixing thresholds for connected load or plot area, ensuring that most buildings fall under the regulatory ambit.  

• As per iFOREST’s  IHCAP report, an analysis of Bhubaneswar city’s building approval data of 2023, none of the newly approved residential projects were qualified for compliance under the ENS 2024 criterion of 3000> the ENS 2024 criterion of ≥ 3,000 m². When the ≥ 500 m² threshold was applied, only 1.4% of the city’s new housing stock qualified for compliance, leaving out almost all 

• For informal settlements, new and achievable standards must be developed, focusing on passive cooling strategies and minimum thermal comfort benchmarks. These should be simple, incremental, and adaptable to local building practices. 

• Building thermal performance shall be mandated for government housing programmes like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), where the focus has largely been on unit delivery and cost efficiency. Integrating retrofit programmes, subsidised passive upgrades, and technical assistance into such schemes would ensure that thermal comfort becomes a core consideration in affordable housing and slum redevelopment.  

• Importantly, the PMAY framework already embodies one of the building blocks needed – the Technology Innovation Grant (TIG). Currently designed to support new construction technologies, TIG must also extend explicitly to innovations that improve the thermal efficiency of buildings for low-income groups. 

Energy efficiency of our space cooling systems

While energy-efficient cooling appliances have begun entering the market, their benefits tend to trickle upward. High-efficiency fans, inverter split ACs, and variable refrigerant flow (VRF) systems remain financially inaccessible for most. On the policy end, the story isn’t better. The BEE (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) star-rating program supports efficient appliances; however, many can’t afford the premium. 

Financially, parity demands that efficient technology be affordable. Municipalities and state agencies can enable bulk procurement through agencies like EESL or facilitate access to energy-efficient appliances via collective procurement and financing schemes. Low-interest loans tied to energy savings or pay-as-you-save models can further improve affordability, making efficient cooling accessible even to those living on the margins. If efficiency is only meant for those who can afford better, it becomes a luxury. 

The government can also play a catalytic role in promoting centralised cooling systems. It can identify high-density zones suitable for district cooling, integrate such systems into city master plans, and streamline approvals for pilot projects. Policy support—such as viability gap funding, concessional power tariffs, and public-private partnerships—can help attract private investment. Developing model contracts and technical guidelines at the national level would further reduce risks and enable cities to adopt centralised cooling with confidence. 

It is crucial to prioritise thermally efficient buildings before focusing on energy-efficient appliances. Reducing the demand for cooling by enhancing thermal comfort in homes and offices will make the subsequent use of energy-efficient appliances more effective and manageable. Although this approach may be more challenging initially, it addresses the root cause by lowering space cooling requirements, leading to a sustainable and impactful reform in energy usage. 

Cooling framework that builds in equity  

In September, iFOREST released India’s first city-level Integrated Heat and Cooling Action Plan (IHCAP) tailored for Bhubaneswar to address rising heat stress and cooling demand in an integrated manner. 

Developed in collaboration with the Singapore-ETH Centre (SEC), the IHCAP provides a comprehensive roadmap to tackle the growing challenge of increasing temperatures and humidity, the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, and rapidly rising demand for cooling.  

It offers five pillars that hold equity at the heart of it: 

• Cool the City: Expand urban greening in all wards to meet WHO’s benchmark of 9 m² per person; implement citywide cool roof programmes; restore water bodies; promote green roads, pavements, and undertake traffic decongestion. 

• Cool Buildings: Revise and implement Odisha Energy Conservation Building Codes for all commercial and institutional buildings over 500 m²; adopt Eco-Niwas Samhita 2024 for residential plots above 225 m². 

• Sustainable Cooling for All: Roll out white roof programmes in slums; provide incentives for super-efficient fans and 5-star ACs; pilot district cooling systems in commercial and institutional zones. 

• Enhance Heat Resilience: Strengthen electricity, water, and health infrastructure; establish cooling shelters and shaded, ventilated bus stops. 

• Adapt to Heat: Revise heat thresholds to include humidity and night-time conditions; introduce spatial heat-risk mapping; pilot parametric insurance for vulnerable workers. 

Conclusion 

Recognising cooling as an essential service is urgent. In a warming world, thermal comfort is no longer optional. It intersects with health, education, and productivity. Children studying in overheated homes, patients recovering in stifling wards, and workers struggling through humid shifts are all casualties of heat that could have been mitigated by design, policy, and care. 

Imagine a future where every corner of our city, regardless of postal code, has homes that breathe, that reflect, that stay cool without guzzling energy. Thermal comfort must not be a reward of wealth but the foundation of our built environment. This isn’t idealism, it’s equity.

Technology does not trickle down by chance. It must trickle down by choice. And it must be the collective choice of policymakers, planners, markets, and citizens to decide whether access to cooling and thermal comfort is a marker of progress or a yardstick of privilege.

Shree Nidhi Gowthaman is a Senior Research Associate at iFOREST.

The trucking industry is the backbone of India’s economy, transporting over 70% of the country’s freight. But as India pushes toward cleaner mobility, the sector is at a turning point. While electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, passenger cars, and light commercial vehicles are making inroads, electrifying medium and heavy-duty vehicles (MHDVs) presents a different challenge. These trucks cover long distances, carry heavy loads, and require a well-developed charging and servicing ecosystem—infrastructure that is still in its early stages.

Beyond infrastructure and technology, another critical question looms: How will the shift to electric freight vehicles (EFVs) impact the workforce? A transition of this scale doesn’t just affect vehicles; it affects people—drivers, mechanics, fleet operators, and thousands of workers in manufacturing and logistics.

To gain deeper insight into the workforce impact, iFOREST conducted research with over 400 stakeholders across India, including truck drivers, fleet operators, repair and maintenance workers, automotive component manufacturers (ACMs), and electric truck OEMs. Our work in the medium and heavy-duty freight segment extends our ongoing efforts toward a Just Transition in the automobile sector. Here, we highlight key challenges in ensuring that workers—especially those in informal roles—are not left behind in the shift to greener technology.

The freight industry in India remains highly informal across its entire value chain. Our analysis indicates that in the manufacturing sector, 30% of smaller and medium-sized ACMs, which constitute the majority of enterprises, will need to adapt to changing demand as engine assemblies, transmissions, exhaust systems, and radiator systems become less relevant. Additionally, the survey reveals that informal repair and maintenance technicians, who rely on generational knowledge, have a significant opportunity to transition into high-value EV servicing roles, provided they receive adequate skilling support. Similarly, in the end-of-life stage, battery recycling and sustainable disposal practices will open new avenues of employment for scrapping and recycling workers.

Ensuring a just and inclusive transition is essential to protect thousands of workers from getting impacted. A Just Transition is not just about moving to cleaner technology but about ensuring that workers dependent on traditional industries are not abandoned in the process.

The skilling gap: Who gets left behind?

This transition will erase some jobs (engine and transmission technicians), transform others through reskilling, and create entirely new roles (EV charging operators and high-voltage specialists). But with the sector’s deep informality, the question remains: Who will take responsibility for reskilling a workforce that doesn’t even exist on formal records? Without intervention, thousands risk losing their livelihoods simply due to a lack of relevant skills.

Our study shows that the traditional ICE medium and heavy-duty vehicle (MHDV) sector currently supports around 529 distinct job roles across manufacturing, service and repair, dealership, transport logistics and warehouse management, and end-of-life management. As diesel trucks are phased out, 64 roles will evolve or merge into new positions, and 93 will require structured reskilling. For instance, diesel mechanics can become EV powertrain specialists, and fuel station attendants can transition into charging station operators. The transition won’t just replace jobs; it will also create 71 entirely new roles, from battery recycling specialists to high-voltage system technicians—expanding the total job pool to 536. The biggest shake-up will hit manufacturing, where engine assembly jobs disappear in favor of EV powertrain and battery integration. Repair and logistics workers must adapt to software-driven diagnostics and digital fleet management, while end-of-life management will demand expertise in battery recycling and hazardous waste handling.

The problem isn’t just that old jobs are disappearing—it’s that new jobs require a higher skill level.

A closer examination of the National Skills Qualification Framework (NSQF) levels shows that emerging job roles require higher NSQF levels, whereas many obsolete jobs fall within lower NSQF levels. Workers who relied on hands-on experience now need formal education and certifications—resources they often lack.  Another major roadblock is that most skilling programs require basic education, excluding many informal workers despite their industry expertise. They cannot enroll in training courses that would help them move into new jobs. Without targeted interventions, these workers risk being left behind, widening inequalities in the evolving job market.

Leaving no one behind

During my research, a Noida-based truck driver working for IX Energy Pvt Ltd., a technology company building electric transport solutions, said, “I drove a diesel truck for 10 years, trained by my ustaad. When my boss bought an electric truck, I had no choice but to learn. After just a week of in-house training, I was driving comfortably. Since my job now requires advanced operations like digital literacy diagnosing issues is easier than before. My pay went up from ₹ 20,000 to ₹ 32,000 plus benefits”.

Skilling is not just about preserving jobs—it’s key to ensuring electrification meets its sustainability goals. Meenu Sarawgi, Executive Vice President & Chief at ASDC, pointed out, “Even for diesel trucks, skilling courses are almost non-existent—people assume learning on the job is enough. Poor training harms vehicle efficiency. As electrification brings new opportunities, we must do it right from the start. Training workers in EV technology is the only way to achieve the efficiency these vehicles promise.”

A Just Transition is not a choice; it is a necessity. If structured skilling programs are not implemented, the very people who have kept India’s freight sector running for decades risk being left behind. The responsibility lies with OEMs, policymakers, and industry leaders to ensure this transition prioritizes people, not just technology. If done right, electrification can open new doors while protecting livelihoods—but without action, it could deepen inequalities rather than bridge them.

The road ahead is electric, but it must also be just.

This study was undertaken in collaboration with C40 Cities and The Climate Pledge as part of the Laneshift programme.

Samreen Dhingra is a senior research associate at iFOREST