CCG in India
Overview
CCG has been working with India since November 2022, as CCG’s sixth partner country. CCG has recently finalised the coordinating institutions, which are split into two, one based in the North of India, and one in the South.
At COP26 in Glasgow, India announced the Panchamrit (Hindustan Times and Rödl & Partner), or five-point agenda, which provided key targets to be achieved by 2030, and its net zero target of 2070. Therefore, CCG is ensuring its engagement is aligned with this high-level policy steer and some of the other India-UK initiatives in green energy and transport. These include the India-UK Energy for Growth Partnership, the UK-India Green Finance Taskforce, and the Electric Mobility Partnership.
Upcoming Projects
We will add news on the latest projects here as it becomes available.
India CCG Network Activities
In February/March 2023, members of the CCG consortium visited India to strengthen and build collaborations with India partners, scope the research priorities where CCG might be able to engage and support, and conduct two green hydrogen workshops (one in Chandigarh and one in Chennai). Overall, the team met with members from academia, state governments, the private sector, international organisations, and think tanks.
South India CCG Network
The South India CCG Network Inception Workshop took place in Chennai, January to February 2024 and even received national media attention. It was organised jointly with Anna University Chennai Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management.
Lara Allen, chief executive officer of Centre for Global Equality, and Elizabeth Tennyson, country programme manager, were joined by Oliver Ballhatchet MBE Deputy High Commissioner and Vice-Chancellor of Anna University Dr R Velraj for the signing of the collaboration agreement.
The South India CCG Team
Dr Kurian Joseph, Professor of Environmental Engineering and Director of the Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management
KURIAN JOSEPH is an Environmental Engineer and currently Professor at Centre for Environmental Studies, and Director, Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management at Anna University, Chennai, India. Main areas of his expertise include Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, Sustainable Development, Municipal Solid Waste Management, Cleaner Production, Industrial and Hazardous Waste Treatment, Environmental Economics and Environmental Management Systems.
Dr Divya Subash Kumar, Project Scientist, Centre for Climate Change and Disaster Management
Divya Subash Kumar is a climate change researcher with a Doctorate in Climate Change and Health. She has made significant contributions to understanding the impacts of climate change on human health, particularly in Chennai, India. Her expertise spans across research, and project management, supported by an educational background.
Dr Kumar’s collaborative approach have been instrumental in coordinating various workshops and capacity-building programs aimed at addressing climate change challenges.
UK-based (Centre for Global Equality and University of Cambridge)
Dr Beth Tennyson elizabeth.tennyson@centreforglobalequality.org
Dr Kirsty Mackinlay kirsty.mackinlay@centreforglobalequality.org
Dr Lara Allen lara.allen@centreforglobalequality.org [profile]
The North India CCG Network
Announcing the India CCG Network – Chandigarh
The CCG Country Partnerships team, led by the Centre for Global Equality, has recently partnered with Panjab University (PU) to be the coordination institution of the northern region of India. PU conducts research and delivers programmes that are well-aligned with CCG’s research expertise and strives to further support evidence-based decision making in India.
The India CCG Network – Chandigarh will be managed by Prof Ramanjit Johal and Prof Suman Mor. This team will support all ongoing and future northern India-based CCG activities and contribute to the future strategy and direction of CCG engagement in the country. As CCG continues to establish its presence in India, the network will prioritise its support in areas such as energy, transport, and finance.
We will launch this partnership by co-hosting an India CCG Network – Chandigarh Inception workshop in Chandigarh in December 2024. The partnership aligns with the strategic vision of Punjab University and will expand the global platform for collaborative research on climate change and a just energy transition. The Country Partnerships team is excited to be working with such an esteemed institution and team, and looks forward to the next few years building up our collaboration and impact.
The North India CCG Team
Prof Ramanjit Kaur Johal is Professor at the Department of Public Administration, Panjab University. She did her Masters’ and PhD in Public Administration with this Department following a BA (Hons) Economics from Lady Shriram College for Women, Delhi University.
With almost 35 years of higher education experience, Prof Johal’s areas of teaching and research interest include Public Policy and Administration including substantive aspects like environment and agriculture policy, health, urban development, social policy, civil society participation and administration of NGOs.
Prof Johal has served as Dean for International Students and Director of the Research Promotion Cell, Panjab University. A Shastri Indo-Canadian Researcher (2003-06) working on “Livestock and environment sustainability” and Fulbright-Nehru Programme Awardee (2012 and 16), she has also been a consultant to the Commonwealth Youth Asia Centre and UNDP on youth participation in governance and SDGs.
She recently completed a GCRF, UK project (TIGR2ESS) at Panjab University, led by the University of Cambridge. It was on wellbeing in rural and peri-urban areas in Punjab, through improved nutrition, skill development and entrepreneurship with a special focus on youth and women. She serves on the Boards of various research organisations and NGOs as well as on government committees.
Dr Suman Mor is a Professor in the Department of Environment Studies at Panjab University, Chandigarh, and a leading expert in environmental and public health. She earned her Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and has over 25 years of experience in research, education, and community outreach. Her work has earned her the prestigious National Award for Science and Technology Communication from the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, in recognition of her contributions to raising environmental and health awareness.
Dr Mor is distinguished as one of the top 2% of scientists globally, according to rankings by Stanford University and Scopus for the years 2020-2023. She serves as the Nodal Faculty for Chandigarh under the National Clean Air Programme, appointed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), and member of Shudh Vayu Sampark where she leads initiatives to improve air quality and promote sustainable practices. Throughout her career, Dr. Mor has authored over 100 peer-reviewed research articles, achieving an h-index of 50 with over 8,800 citations, reflecting her significant impact on the field. She has successfully led numerous research projects funded by esteemed national agencies including MoEFCC, UGC, DST, PGIMER, ICMR, and CPCB, as well as international organizations.
A dedicated science communicator, Dr Mor has developed ‘Information, Education, and Communication’ materials that empower the public with scientific knowledge, encouraging active participation in environmental protection and disease prevention. Her educational comics, such as “Kids, Vaayu and Corona” and “Kids, Vaayu and Climate Change,” have been widely acclaimed for making complex environmental issues accessible to children and adults alike. As part of her ongoing commitment to community outreach, Dr Mor and her team address key issues such as air quality, climate change, waste management, sanitation, and safe drinking water. She and her team are working on issues related to environment and health with emphasis on air quality, waste management, sanitation, safe drinking water and water conservation as a community outreach programme.
Research
All the research for India can be found on the CCG Research Index here.