Brief

Building Bridges to a Just Transition: Connecting India's challenges and solutions with international experience

This brief provides an initial assessment of priorities and opportunities for research and information sharing on Just Transition in India, based on a review of international literature and expert interviews. Specifically, the brief identifies: global just transition elements most relevant for India; research topics needing further investigation to help support just transition in India; and India's experiences that might be useful for other emerging economies.

By Sandeep Pai on June 30, 2021
  • There are ~4 million direct & indirect jobs in #coal mining in #India. Further, coal is a significant identity issue—many workers consider themselves "coal warriors." Careful long-term planning for jobs & communities is essential for a #JustTransition.

  • In #India, state-owned enterprises focused on coal & coal power contribute ~3% of federal gov revenue, while states such as Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh & Odisha receive over 5% of revenue from coal. Part of a #JustTransition is planning for a fiscal transition.

  • In FY20 in #India, coal mining & power companies spent over INR 1k crore (USD 144 million) on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in over 90 districts. Long-term planning for #JustTransition must account for such contributions in coal-bearing areas.

Among the key research needs, it highlights:

  • Examination of other countries’ just transition plans for coal.
  • Mapping of stakeholders and their needs, particularly unionized and non-unionized workers and their communities, including to better understand the implications for just transitions of coal in personal and community identity.
  • Opportunities to diversify coal state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and coal-dependent regional economies based on international experience and research into local needs and attributes.
  • Options to reform coal sector pension funds, based on international experience, to ensure all current and future pensions are fully funded.
  • Potential for coal mining and coal power plant sites to become sources of employment and ongoing regional income; how funds could be raised for rehabilitation and development of sites.

Brief details

Topic
Climate Change Mitigation
Energy
Just Transition
Region
India
Focus area
Climate
Economies
Resources
Publisher
IISD
Copyright
IISD, 2021