Ashoka Centre for a People-centric Energy Transition (ACPET) is a transdisciplinary centre with a vision to see the global south, particularly India, transitioning to a sustainable, secure, equitable energy pathway leading to the wellbeing of all in a timely manner.
The path of energy transition is set to change the country and the rest of the world. India’s commitment to becoming a net-zero economy by the year 2070 is going to be a notable journey. ACPET will fill a critical knowledge gap in this pathway for India and the global south. The knowledge around the subject of transition whether it is in terms of the range of energy transition technologies, their financing, shaping of the old and new energy markets, or policy frameworks is still being formed. ACPET hopes to build frameworks, pedagogies and solutions that are context-responsive, people-centric and advance the three pillars (economic, social and political) of sustainable development. The focus will be on not just building theoretical frameworks but also testing them on the ground, taking feedback and ultimately offering processes and solutions that are sensitive and adaptable. The centre is one of the 28 "Centres of Excellence" in the International Foundation for Research and Education (IFRE), Ashoka University.
India has committed to becoming a net-zero economy by 2070. Being the largest contributor to the emissions of greenhouse gases, the energy sector would have to transition from its current fossil dependence to a carbon-free energy system in a short period of 50 years.
This would entail transforming both large and small consumers, directly or indirectly contributing to GHG emissions, by targeting sectors with relatively low-hanging abatement opportunities as well as those that are hard-to-abate. Throughout this process, it is critically important to stay on track with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). While some of the aligned SDGs focus on building the adaptive capacity of the most vulnerable to ensure energy transition and incorporate the impacts of climate change, one has to keep in mind that the 17 goals are integrated and indivisible. The fine balancing act entails a combination of innovative business and growth models suitable to India’s needs, careful management of the environmental resources, and a deliberate effort to integrate employment creation to sustainably and successfully transition to a net-zero economy. In this process, all stakeholders in the transition chain, across scale and geography, need to be informed, actively engaged, and equipped with the right solutions that would lead to a net-zero, sustainable society.
In India, the centre addresses this critical knowledge gap by looking at the design of systemic transition strategies and programmes, via the lens of the nationally defined climate and sustainability goals. The idea is to assess and understand the current strategies at play and help ascertain and exemplify the ones that keep the human dimensions of such pathways in clear focus.
The centre will forge this pathway through its actions and by building partnerships within and beyond the sector.
Delineate and identify the interlinkages between various levers of change at both levels: at the sectoral level (the sector in which transitions are sought)and at the level of scale (the scale of the transitions)
Design scenarios that inform debate and policy choices around such transitions, develop business models at a certain scale for application, and enable short-term adoption, and conduct analyses on future trends and needs for the country
Explore the enabling frameworks that drive the most suitable transition actions
Focused on delivering actionable strategies towards a just and sustainable energy transition
A systems thinking institute that offers a holistic perspective to the complex times we live in
Strong relationships with Government, industry and civil society
Based on a liberal arts university that has interdisciplinarity in its DNA
Drawing upon state-of-the-art methods and tools that account for technical, economic, social as well as policy factors
Access to a student body that is passionate about sustainability and inclusion
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