NITI Aayog Forms Committee to Develop India's 'Just Transition' Framework

The NITI Aayog has formed a committee to outline India’s ‘just transition’ framework, according to a senior official on Tuesday. 

Anshu Bharadwaj, program director for green transition and climate at the government think tank, said NITI Aayog is helping the government develop guidelines for India’s energy transition, which was highlighted in the FY25 budget. These guidelines are expected to be released early next year.

What is ‘Just Transition’?

"Just transition" describes the shift from occupations related to fossil fuels to those in the renewable energy industry. In many developing countries, including India, this change focuses on moving away from coal-related jobs.

This comes after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman promised to provide a national policy document that outlines India's energy transition routes in a way that balances the needs of employment, economic growth, and environmental sustainability during her July budget statement.

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Cost of ‘Just Transition’

The organization iFOREST, which does research and campaigning on "just transition," stated in a report on Tuesday that the cost of "just transition" in India over the next 30 years—which entails closing down current coal mines and power facilities by 2050—is estimated to be more than a trillion dollars.

The report also mentioned that "just transition" costs involve more than just leaving coal as a source of energy. It also includes rehabilitating and repurposing 343,504 hectares of coal-mining land and converting existing thermal power units into renewable energy units. Additionally, it involves an alternative source of income for 5.9 million workers who rely on coal for their livelihoods.

India’s Aim Towards Net Zero Carbon Emission

India has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2070 and to lower its GDP's emission intensity by sourcing 50% of its electricity from non-fossil fuels by 2030. Additionally, by 2030, it hopes to increase its capacity for renewable energy to 500 gigawatts (GW), and by 2035, it may reach 1 terawatt (TW).

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