India's Climate Leadership & Sustainable Growth | WSDS 2026 | NDTV-TERI

In this special conversation at WSDS 2026, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI , reflects on India's evolving role as a global climate leader in an increasingly complex geopolitical and economic landscape. Drawing on TERI's five-decade legacy, she highlights how sustainability has moved from the margins to the core of development thinking. Dr. Dhawan underscores the importance of aligning policy, technology, and community action particularly in addressing the needs of rural and vulnerable populations. She discusses India's progress in renewable energy, its growing focus on energy security, and the economic opportunities emerging from the clean energy transition. Emphasizing the role of ESG frameworks, corporate responsibility, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, she calls for a balanced pathway where growth and sustainability go hand in hand. As climate risks intensify, the conversation offers a compelling vision for India's green and inclusive development trajectory.