The report, based on an in-depth study of the Angul district of Odisha, outlines a strategic pathway for transitioning to a green economy in an inclusive and just manner. Angul is India’s third largest and Odisha’s largest coal-producing district, and production is expected to increase till 2030.
The study on just transition for Angul was undertaken to evaluate how Odisha’s largest coal mining and industrial district can strategically plan for a just energy transition and simultaneously build a green economy in the coming decades.
Angul is the epicenter of Odisha’s coal mining and industrial economy which is expected to grow significantly over the next 10 years. However, the state is also highly vulnerable to climate change impacts.
As the energy transition in India accelerates, how do decisionmakers ensure that the transition is a just and equitable transition? Neha Sharma (CIF and JTI), Ajay Mathur (International Solar Alliance), Srestha Banerjee (iForest), and Mike Ward (CIF) look at the underlying drivers of India’s energy transitions, and key considerations for creating a just transition, including the need for fairness and equity, geographic disparities, lack of social mobility, labor policy, and energy access.
This high-level panel discussion will bring together European and international regional leaders to share concrete experiences about their coal transitions. Successes, challenges and lessons learned will be shared, paying particular attention to the structural changes that regions will inevitably face when they implement their coal-to-clean transitions.
