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IIM Sambalpur partners to chart Odisha's economic policy towards net-zero by 2050

IIM Sambalpur partners to chart Odisha's economic policy towards net-zero by 2050

India Today24-06-2025
Odisha has taken a leap towards becoming a leading state in the country -- both in terms of income and climate resilience -- with the launch of a new economic framework co-led by IIM Sambalpur. In collaboration with the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and the University of Maryland, the institute is helping shape a roadmap that ties together job creation, sustainable growth, and environmental protection.advertisementAt the centre of this initiative is Economic Transition Coalition Odisha (ETCO), a platform that brings together academic institutions, government, and industry to plan Odisha's shift towards a low-carbon and inclusive economy.The coalition also published a white paper titled 'A New Economic Transition Framework for Jobs, Growth, and Sustainability in Odisha', offering a long-term vision for transforming the state's development path.
Professor Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director of IIM Sambalpur, said that the role of business schools must go beyond conventional teaching.'Odisha is on the cusp of a historic moment. As a leading partner in ETCO, we're helping identify policy actions and frameworks that will prepare the state for a green and inclusive future,' he said.JOBS, FARMING, AND CLIMATE AT HEART OF NEW TRANSITION STRATEGY The white paper outlines a five-point agenda focused on equitable income, sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, biodiversity protection, and achieving net-zero emissions.advertisementOne of the key proposals of the white paper is to transition the workforce in coal and thermal power sectors by promoting green technologies including green steel, hydrogen-based energy systems, and carbon capture.The plan also explores how Odisha's mineral wealth and long coastline can be harnessed to build a green manufacturing and export hub.To address the growing risks from natural disasters, the coalition also recommends climate-resilient infrastructure. Other measures include protecting biodiversity through eco-corridors and reducing animal-human conflict.On the agricultural front, the focus is on building sustainable food systems that support farmers' incomes, agroforestry, and soil carbon renewal.The initiative fits into India's broader goals of achieving net-zero emissions and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration under the National Education Policy.As Odisha sets its sights on long-term, sustainable development, institutions like IIM Sambalpur are beginning to play a larger role -- not just in business education, but in shaping the future of the state.- EndsMust Watch
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Auto manufacturing emissions in India can drop 87% by 2050 through clean energy and low-carbon steel: Report
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Auto manufacturing emissions in India can drop 87% by 2050 through clean energy and low-carbon steel: Report
Auto manufacturing emissions in India can drop 87% by 2050 through clean energy and low-carbon steel: Report

Time of India

time7 hours ago

  • Time of India

Auto manufacturing emissions in India can drop 87% by 2050 through clean energy and low-carbon steel: Report

India's automobile industry can reduce its manufacturing-related carbon emissions by as much as 87 per cent by 2050 through a shift to green electricity and low-carbon steel, according to a study released by the Council on Energy , Environment and Water (CEEW). The study tracks the emissions profile of the world's third-largest auto industry across the full value chain and highlights the role of cleaner inputs in aligning the sector with India's net-zero targets. Using a custom version of the Global Change Analysis Model, the CEEW study projects that annual vehicle production in India could grow from 25 million in 2020 to 96 million by 2050 under a business-as-usual (BAU) trajectory. In this scenario, annual emissions from manufacturing are expected to double, reaching 64 million tonnes of CO₂, even as emissions intensity per vehicle declines. The study notes that Scope 3 emissions, which include upstream supply chain emissions from materials such as steel and rubber, currently account for more than 83 per cent of the sector's overall emissions. Scope 1 and 2 emissions, which come from direct factory operations and electricity use respectively, contribute the remaining share. Dr Arunabha Ghosh , CEO, CEEW, said, 'India's auto industry stands at a turning point. To lead in a low-carbon global economy, we must decarbonise not just the vehicles we drive but the industrial processes that build them. Automakers must clean up how their vehicles are made, what powers their factories, and how their suppliers produce critical inputs like steel and rubber.' If original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers were to align with net-zero by 2050, emissions from the sector could be reduced to just 9 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, down from the projected 64 MtCO₂ under BAU—a reduction of 87 per cent. This would require a shift to 100 per cent green electricity and increasing the share of hydrogen-based energy in steel production to 56 per cent. Coal's share in steelmaking would have to fall below 10 per cent, while scrap-based steel production would need to rise to 48 per cent. Dr Vaibhav Chaturvedi , Senior Fellow, CEEW, said, 'To align India's automobile sector—central to GDP, jobs, and industrial growth—with a net-zero future, we must go beyond electrifying vehicles. We must decarbonise manufacturing itself. Leading OEMs are already making corporate decisions to stay ahead by decarbonising their operations and supply chains.' The study also examines a high-hybrid scenario, where hybrid vehicles dominate initially before EVs take off. While this reduces component suppliers' energy demand by 7 per cent, overall emissions remain slightly higher than in a direct shift to EVs due to continued use of combustion engines. The study recommends a dual approach to achieve net-zero alignment by 2050: accelerate EV adoption and decarbonise the entire manufacturing chain. Since 65–80 per cent of a vehicle's lifetime emissions stem from its use phase, electrification remains the most effective lever to cut total emissions, provided it is coupled with clean manufacturing practices.

Switch to green power, steel to cut India's auto sector emissions: CEEW
Switch to green power, steel to cut India's auto sector emissions: CEEW

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time11 hours ago

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Switch to green power, steel to cut India's auto sector emissions: CEEW

India's automobile industry—the third-largest in the world—could cut its manufacturing emissions by as much as 87 per cent by 2050 through a shift to green electricity and low-carbon steel, according to a new independent study released on Wednesday by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW). The study comes as several leading automakers—such as Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, TVS Motors, Ford, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota—have, over the past two years, ramped up electric and hybrid vehicle production while simultaneously setting ambitious emission reduction targets. These automakers have also committed to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), aligning with global definitions of net-zero that require full value-chain decarbonisation by 2050. For large Indian auto manufacturers, cleaning up supply chains will not just lower emissions; it will enhance long-term cost competitiveness and position them as preferred international suppliers. While many of these targets focus on direct factory emissions (Scope 1 and 2) and downstream use-phase emissions, upstream supply chain emissions remain largely overlooked, despite contributing the majority of the sector's carbon footprint. The CEEW study tracks emissions across three scopes: direct emissions from vehicle manufacturing (Scope 1), indirect emissions from electricity use (Scope 2), and upstream supply chain emissions (Scope 3). Scope 3 emissions currently make up over 83 per cent of the auto industry's emissions in India, largely due to the use of coal-intensive steel and rubber in vehicle manufacturing. 'India's auto industry stands at a turning point. To lead in a low-carbon global economy, we must decarbonise not just the vehicles we drive but the industrial processes that build them. Automakers must clean up how their vehicles are made, what powers their factories, and how their suppliers produce critical inputs like steel and rubber. This is not new—promisingly, most major manufacturers in India are already thinking about these shifts,' said Arunabha Ghosh, chief executive officer, CEEW. 'Now, the push must be to create demand for green materials at scale, lower costs, and deploy cleaner technologies rapidly. The auto sector can emerge as a force multiplier for economy-wide net-zero transitions—but only through collective foresight, investment and innovation,' he added. The CEEW study uses a custom version of the Global Change Analysis Model to project emissions from India's vehicle manufacturing sector under various pathways. It finds that if current business-as-usual (BAU) trends continue, annual vehicle production could rise nearly four-fold—from 25 million units in 2020 to 96 million by 2050. Emissions, however, would only double, reaching 64 million tonnes of CO₂, suggesting a steady decline in emissions per vehicle. Still, the absolute rise in emissions underscores the need for accelerated action. Steel alone would remain the largest source of supply chain emissions, with suppliers expected to rely heavily on coal in this business-as-usual scenario. The study estimates that sourcing low-carbon steel could reduce emissions by nearly 38 million tonnes by 2050. If both OEMs and their suppliers were to aim for net-zero by 2050, annual emissions could fall from the projected 64 MtCO₂ (BAU) to just 9 MtCO₂—an 87 per cent reduction. This would require OEMs to shift to 100 per cent green electricity—sourced through power purchase agreements (PPAs), renewable energy certificates (RECs), or captive solar—and steel suppliers to use 56 per cent hydrogen-based energy, reducing coal's share to under 10 per cent. In addition, increasing scrap-based steel production to 48 per cent by 2050 would significantly reduce emissions and resource intensity. The CEEW study also highlights that rubber suppliers must transition to green electricity to clean up Scope 2 emissions. 'To align India's automobile sector—central to GDP, jobs, and industrial growth—with a net-zero future, we must go beyond electrifying vehicles. We must decarbonise manufacturing itself. Leading OEMs are already making corporate decisions to stay ahead by decarbonising their operations and supply chains. What's needed now is strong procurement intent, especially through advanced market commitments to secure green steel and other low-carbon materials,' said Vaibhav Chaturvedi, Senior Fellow, CEEW. 'The policy landscape may be evolving, but major markets are still pushing hard on green through corporate and investor action. Indian automakers must treat clean manufacturing as a strategic lever—not just for cost control, but to stay competitive in global supply chains,' Chaturvedi added. The CEEW study also examines a high-hybrid scenario, where hybrids dominate in the near term before EVs take off. While this reduces energy demand among component suppliers by 7 per cent, emissions remain slightly higher than in a BAU shift to EVs due to continued reliance on combustion engines. Ultimately, hybrid vehicles are at best a bridge and will need to be reduced to make way for zero-carbon vehicles. To align the automobile sector with a 2050 net-zero pathway, the CEEW study recommends a two-pronged strategy: accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and decarbonise the full manufacturing value chain. Since 65–80 per cent of a vehicle's lifetime emissions come from its use phase, shifting to EVs remains the most effective way to cut end-use emissions. But deep reductions will only be possible if EVs are manufactured using clean energy and low-carbon materials. This requires coordinated action across OEMs and suppliers—supported by long-term procurement commitments and policy signals that encourage investments.

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