TERI - The Energy and Resource Institute

Celebrations to mark 25 years of TERI’s presence in New Delhi
commenced in the year 2006–07.It is thus quite an experience that we’ve been given a privileged insight into where this great institution began. This period, since 1982, has been a remarkable
quarter century not only in the life of TERI, but in the history of India as a nation. When TERI began its presence in Delhi, few would have expected that an institute external to the government would be able to move into areas of activity that have such influence on
society. The record, of course, indicates that the activities and achievements of TERI reach far beyond what could have been predictable at that stage. If there has been any success in TERI’s activities,the reason lies entirely within the framework of changes that have taken place in India as a country and Indians as a society. The eagerness to emerge as a society that can make a difference on the global stage has created within Indians an openness of spirit and a hunger for knowledge that has provided
the raison d’etre for an institution like TERI to be at the anguard of change.If there is one single attribute that has propelled TERI forward, it is the ability to focus on the future.
Another important element that has defined TERI’s existence in the last 25 years is its emphasis on young people.Indian society today is dominated by the youth, and there is considerable talent,
knowledge, and the will to succeed among the young. TERI has greatly
benefited by acquiring and nurturing human capital that embodies the youth,and therefore, a vision of India’s tomorrow.This, in a nutshell, is a perspective on TERI’s journey and its performance
since inception.
TERI has had massive impact in shaping climate-change-related policies of the Government of India. At the national level, TERI has provided continuous advice and involvement in the multilateral
negotiations on climate change under the Kyoto Protocol and the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change. A major upshot of policy analysis and advocacy by TERI has been the establishment of an expert committee on climate change under the chairmanship of the principal scientific adviser to the government and another high-level committee chaired by the prime minister,known as the Prime Minister’s Advisory Council on Climate Change.Under the latter Council, TERI has been asked to prepare a roadmap for a sustainable energy path and a plan dealing with climate change policy, which
will be considered by the Council in October 2007.
A major area of progress has been the development and dissemination of technologies ranging from the development and manufacture of customized solar torches and solar lanterns to the installation of various models of biomass gasifiers of different sizes and the
use of several microbial technologies for which markets are being developed worldwide. A major programme titled ‘Lighting a Million Lives’, to promote the use of solar torches and solar lanterns,
is due to be launched too.
TERI has intensified its efforts in bringing about desirable results through the implementation of field activities both at the rural as well as urban levels.Efforts are now being made to expand
technological interventions and to develop local institutions in rural areas for their all round technological upgradation.
This includes establishing IT (information technology) kiosks in selected locations. At another level, over a year ago, TERI initiated a programme of energy efficiency for Delhi through
analysis and advocacy with the chief minister of Delhi. This programme is making substantial headway and can become a forerunner to similar activities in other parts of the country and possibly in other countries as well.