Ahmedabad University sets up climate institute

NEW DELHI: Ahmedabad University has launched The Climate Institute to address environmental challenges. The institute will offer programmes at the undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate levels, and the curriculum is currently being developed in collaboration with the university’s schools and national and international partners.

The institute will also offer executive programmes for mid-career professionals in government and industry, with certifications in sustainability for corporate professionals and specialized programmes in climate and energy for government employees.

The Institute will operate through three main verticals: energy and climate change, cities and settlements, and air and water. Building on the expertise of the Global Centre for Environment and Energy (GCEE), the energy and climate change vertical emphasizes climate change mitigation, energy transitions, and policy innovation. The cities and settlements vertical draws on the university's participation in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), investigating urbanization trends and their impacts on climate change, particularly in the Global South.

Meanwhile, the Air and Water vertical builds on the work of the university’s air and climate research lab, focusing on the integration of ground and space-based measurements to inform policy design. This includes studying the effects of Short-Lived Climate Forcers (SLCFs) on air quality and health, as well as establishing a water quality lab to support interdisciplinary research in water management.

Partnerships with universities

The Climate Institute will act as a hub for global research collaboration, establishing partnerships with universities across The United States (US), Europe, and Asia. Key collaborations include the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute at Ahmedabad University, a partnership with the International Growth Centre at the London School of Economics for a cities conference in December, and a joint effort with Warwick University focusing on energy, environmental economics, and policy.

Besides, the institute aims to foster climate-tech startups in collaboration with Social Alpha. It will also engage closely with central and state governments and contribute to international reports from the IPCC and the United Nations.

The institute was founded by Balaji Srinivasan as the founding executive director, with professor Minal Pathak serving as the academic director. The initial key research areas are guided by professor Pathak for the Cities and Settlements vertical, professor Anant Sudarshan for Energy and Climate Change, and professor Aditya Vaishya for Air and Water.