Transport is a crucial part of modern society, connecting communities and fostering development. However, the impact of the transport sector on the planet is huge, causing over 20% of global carbon dioxide emissions. It is therefore one of the main drivers of climate change while also having significant direct and indirect negative impacts on human health.

As populations and cities grow, the world’s transport networks will need to expand and modernize to meet demands. Sustainable transport can provide safe, accessible, efficient, and resilient mobility while minimizing carbon dioxide and other emissions. Despite these benefits, sustainable transport infrastructure is not being developed at the scale needed to adapt to ever-increasing climate impacts and to meet net-zero targets by 2050.

All infrastructure investments generate benefits and costs, which is why it is crucial to identify, quantify, and analyze all impacts surrounding a project. Our Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) methodology is rooted in systems thinking and uses tools like spatial, Excel-based, and system dynamic models to provide a more holistic understanding of the value of sustainable transport infrastructure by weighing the environmental, economic, and social co-benefits of a project. These approaches can be key instruments for helping investors, planners, and policy-makers make informed decisions about sustainable transportation investments.

We led this three-session webinar series on valuing sustainable transport with SAVi:

Session 1: Thursday, November 16, 10:00–11:30 CET

Sustainable Transport Investment: a case study in Coimbatore, India

In the first session, we introduce the role that sustainable transport infrastructure can play in producing economic, social, and environmental benefits. We take you, step-by-step, through our SAVi methodology, which uses a combination of system dynamics, spatial modelling, climate data, and financial analysis to assess the environmental, social, and economic performance of infrastructure assets. We then look at this in focus through the lens of a case study of a non-motorized transport network in the city of Coimbatore, India.

Session 2: Tuesday, November 21, 10:00–11:30 CET

Systems Thinking for Sustainable Transport Projects: a case study in Bandung, Indonesia

In the second session, we delve deeper into systems thinking and systems dynamics. We introduce causal loop diagrams and examine how the simulation and interpretation of a variety of scenarios can help assess sustainable transport infrastructure investment options. During this session, we present a case study of a bus rapid transit system in Bandung, Indonesia.

Session 3: Thursday, November 23, 16:00–17:30 CET

Integrated Cost-Benefit Analysis for Transport Projects: a case study in Bogotá, Colombia

In the final session, we explore the added value of integrated valuations and cost-benefit analyses versus more traditional project costing approaches. We also demonstrate how to identify key added benefits and avoided costs for sustainable transport projects and how this enables decision-makers to delve beneath the surface of a transport project, looking at the longer-term benefits throughout its life cycle. This is illustrated by the case study of a mass-rapid transit system in Bogota, Colombia.

This hybrid event discusses strategies to create an internationally competitive electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem in India. The country has the potential to become a hub for EV manufacturing and recycling with the right incentives and government policies by producing battery cells and expanding mineral processing. However, India faces a challenge in sourcing critical minerals to develop locally- made batteries that will power the EV transition, which gives rise to two priorities. On the one hand, recycling existing batteries can secure a certain domestic supply of critical minerals while creating local employment. On the other hand, Indian companies will need to source primary raw minerals abroad in the short- to medium-term. 

To contribute to this discussion, the project partners, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER), and Invest India launch and present the findings of three reports at this event:

1. An assessment of India’s midstream potential
2. A lithium sourcing roadmap for India
3. ICRIER “Sampada” model for assessing the macroeconomic impact of Rajasthan’s Waste Recycling Park on battery waste recycling.

Agenda

Opening

Welcome Remarks

Amrita Goldar, Senior Fellow, ICRIER

Introductory Remarks

Kanchi Gupta, Program Manager, ClimateWorks Foundation

Keynote Session

Sanjiva de Silva, Counsellor, Energy and Resources, Australian High Commission
Gaurav Joshi, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Heavy Industries
Periasamy Kumaran, Officer On Special Duty, Ministry of External Affairs

Session 1: India’s potential in the battery supply chain

Presentation of Report

Tom Moerenhout, Senior Associate, International Institute for Sustainable Development
Abhishek Bansal, Senior Investment Specialist, Invest India
Arishna Saxena, Senior Investment Specialist, Invest India

Panel Discussion

Devashish Aneja, Vice President Partnerships, C4V
Deb Mukherji, Managing Director, Omega Seiki Mobility
Vikram Handa, Managing Director, Epsilon Carbon

Q&A

Session 2: Critical minerals strategy for India

Presentation of Report

Siddharth Goel, Senior Policy Advisor, International Institute for Sustainable Development

Panel Discussion

Moderator: Sonali Nandrajog, Communications Consultant, Climate Trends

Rajesh Chadha, Senior Fellow, Center on Social and Economic Progress
Murtiani Hendriwani, Policy Advisor, Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Metals, Minerals and Sustainable Development
Manish Dua, Principal Consultant, Benchmark Minerals Intelligence
Rishabh Jain, Senior Program Lead, Council on Energy, Environment and Water

Q&A

Session 3: Macroeconomic impacts of a circular economy

Presentation of Report

Amrita Goldar, Senior Fellow, ICRIER

Panel Discussion

V. P Yadav, Scientist ‘F’, Central Pollution Control Board
Vijai Singhal, Director, Greenhub Systems Private Limited
Parveen Kumar, Head Research and Development, Exigo Recycling
Suneel Pandey, Director Environment and Waste Management Division, The Energy and Resources Institute

Q&A

Final Remarks

This webinar explores financing challenges and their potential solutions to advance India's green energy transition. The webinar examines the quantum of financial flows required for this energy transition, analyzing the current financing mechanisms and exploring short- and long-term measures that need to be undertaken by policy-makers to mobilize the necessary capital. It discusses the limitations of funding agencies and the need for diverse financial instruments and structures to supplement the existing banking system. Moreover, the webinar addresses the concept of transition finance, the role of domestic institutional capital, and ways to embed just transition principles into the discourse of development finance. It also covers the need for policy support and fiscal management to attract different sources of capital and foster a supportive policy environment to support a just green transition for India's energy sector. 

This webinar is organized by the Centre for Development & Environment Policy (CDEP) at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C) in collaboration with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) as part of the Building Roadmaps for Industrial Decarbonisation and Green Economy (BRIDGE) initiative. BRIDGE aspires to bring experts together to discuss India’s changing energy landscape. The BRIDGE Initiative Webinar Series on Coal Transition, comprised of four webinars, focuses on the role of coal in a sustainable energy mix. 

Agenda 

Welcome

Setting the Context

Dhruba Purkayastha, India Director & USICEF Director, Climate Policy Initiative 

Panel Discussion

Neha Khanna, Senior Manager, Climate Policy Initiative

Shantanu Srivastava, Sustainable Finance and Climate Risk Lead, South Asia, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis 

Suranjali Tandon, Associate Professor, National Institute for Public Finance and Policy 

Vaibhav Pratap Singh, Independent Consultant

Q&A

Wrap Up

Mritiunjoy Mohanty, Professor, CDEP, IIM Calcutta 

This webinar will explore the essential governance elements needed to achieve a just energy transition in India, with a particular focus on the role of the state. It will delve into a bottom-up approach toward policy-making that prioritizes the well-being of individuals and communities, emphasizing the need to move away from a one-size-fits-all approach. The policy landscape for energy transition will be meticulously assessed, highlighting the criticality of sectoral coordination between state departments and real-time monitoring mechanisms to accurately track progress. The use of industrial policy to achieve economic diversification will be examined emphasizing the state's role in facilitating entrepreneurship and the importance of embracing technological advancements to facilitate decarbonization.

Lessons from international experiences will be shared, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning to mitigate social and economic disruptions during coal transitions. Furthermore, the webinar will provide a bottom-up perspective, amplifying the voices and viewpoints of marginalized communities, and highlighting the transformative role of empowered local governance structures. By synthesizing these diverse perspectives, this webinar aims to foster a comprehensive understanding of the governance, policy, and community dimensions that are indispensable for achieving a just energy transition in India.

This webinar is organized by the Centre for Development and Environment Policy at the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM-C) in collaboration with the International Institute for Sustainable Development, as part of the Building Roadmaps for Industrial Decarbonisation and Green Economy (BRIDGE) initiative. BRIDGE aspires to bring experts together to discuss India’s changing energy landscape. Comprising four webinars, the BRIDGE Initiative Webinar Series on Coal Transition focuses on the role of coal in a sustainable energy mix.

Agenda

Welcome

Setting the Context

Runa Sarkar, Professor, IIM Calcutta

Panel Discussion

Saon Ray, Visiting Professor, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations

Simran Grover, Founder and CEO, Centre for Energy, Environment and People

Vinuta Gopal, Co-Founder and CEO, Asar Social Impact Advisors

Madhura Joshi, Senior Associate, E3G India

Q&A

Wrap Up

Vibhuti Garg, Director, South Asia, Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis