Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, India - EPIC-India

23/04/2026

We are excited to announce our new partnership with the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA). Today, Dr. Leni Chaudhuri, Executive Director, University of Chicago Trust, India, and Dr. Debolina Kundu, Director, NIUA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to advance evidence-based solutions for sustainable and resilient urban systems across India.

As India’s cities grow rapidly and face complex environmental and infrastructure challenges, this collaboration brings together rigorous research and on-ground policy expertise to design solutions that work in practice.
By combining Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC India)'s research strengths with NIUA’s leadership in urban development, this partnership aims to support cities in building a cleaner, more resilient future.

Know more about this partnership: https://epic.uchicago.in/epic-india-and-niua-sign-mou-to-build-evidence-based-solutions-for-indian-cities/

30/03/2026

06/02/2026

Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC India) is thrilled to announce its upcoming Dialogue, the 7th in the series.
At a moment when Delhi’s air quality continues to be shaped by rising vehicle ownership and freight movement, the question of transport emissions demands urgent and informed discussion.
In partnership with the ICCT India, this edition of the Dialogue brings together research, policy, and on-ground experience to unpack what these findings mean for Delhi’s air pollution challenge. Joining the conversation are Amit Bhatt, India Managing Director, International Council on Clean Transportation, and Kaushik Deb, Executive Director, Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC India). Together, they will reflect on real-world vehicle emissions, assess where current interventions are falling short, and explore how stronger tailpipe regulations can translate into measurable air quality and public health gains. Know More: https://lnkd.in/gTDxpHpS
RSVP now to join the conversation and help shape the future of cleaner transport in Delhi: https://lnkd.in/g_nq8F9H

21/01/2026

How can bicycling reduce emissions and in the Global South?
A new study in Nature Cities outlines how bicycling could help countries in the Global South reduce emissions and improve —if policies are designed for local realities rather than imported from wealthier countries.
Drawing on insights from Delhi and Chennai, India, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and Accra, Ghana, the research finds bicycles are mostly used by low-income men, and once one can afford an automobile they no longer use a bicycle.
Those who cycle need to navigate roads built for automobiles—with few separated and open bicycle lanes—and receive maintenance from informal street-side stalls.
To meaningfully increase bicycling, the study concluded that governments should start by making bicycling safer and more workable for those who already rely on them so they won’t feel compelled to buy an automobile as soon as they can afford one.
Learn more: https://bit.ly/4rh2Rov

20/01/2026

19/12/2025

It was an honour to have the Hon'ble Minister Pravin Gordhanji Mali at our event, co-hosted by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board. It was a privilege to have you share your perspective on how market-based approaches can be useful for pollution regulation, as demonstrated by the .

02/12/2025

As India advances toward cleaner, smarter mobility, strengthening the institutions and systems that govern vehicular emissions will be critical.
We are pleased to announce Dr. Virinder Sharma, Member (Technical), Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), as one of our esteemed speakers at Driving Change: Shaping India’s Next Decade of Vehicular Emissions Reforms.
Join us on December 9 at the India International Centre, New Delhi, as leaders across policy, regulation, research, and industry come together for a high-level dialogue.
Register now: https://lnkd.in/geJfB8KW

11/11/2025

What happens when facilities handling millions of tonnes of urban waste no longer require an environmental clearance?
In her latest piece for The Times of India, Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC India)'s Swarna Dutt unpacks the implications of the MoEFCC’s draft notification proposing to exempt Common Municipal Solid Waste Management Facilities (CMSWMFs) from mandatory environmental clearances.
What's at stake?
– Oversight of landfills and waste-processing sites
– Public health in densely populated neighbourhoods
– Accountability in a sector already stretched thin
With India’s waste volume projected to reach 125 million tonnes by 2031, the question is not whether infrastructure should expand, but whether it should expand without safeguards.
Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gVB2GpZC

07/11/2025

Who gains most from acting fast on climate change?
In his research, Anshuman Tiwari finds that cutting methane emissions quickly can save more lives and improve global equity compared to slower CO₂-focused pathways, even when both achieve the same temperature goal by 2100.
Why? Early cooling delivers immediate health benefits, especially for poorer regions that are less equipped to adapt to rising temperatures. The findings show that faster action on methane not only reduces warming sooner but also narrows global inequality in mortality outcomes.
Join the conversation at the upcoming with Anshuman Tiwari and Shreekant Gupta, to explore how these results could reshape climate and development policy.

Register now: https://lnkd.in/gsbSQhnr

04/11/2025

When Delhi Chokes, the Economy Gasps Too.
In their recent op-ed for The New Indian Express, Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, India - EPIC-India's Kaushik Deb and Ashirbad S Raha unpack the true cost of Delhi’s air pollution crisis– one that extends far beyond public health.
Every winter, as the city slows under a blanket of smog, the economic engine does too. Productivity falls, hospital visits spike, and learning hours are lost, all adding up to an estimated ₹9,000 crore in annual losses for the capital.
Drawing on Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) research and insights from fieldwork with over 3,000 Delhi households, the piece explores how air pollution represents a classic market failure where the demand for clean air doesn’t translate into a supply response.

Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/g-C6ADVa