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The Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies – Centre for Environment and Development at ATREE addresses critical issues at the interface of environment and development, particularly related to forests, water and sanitation, and climate change.
a) Influence the forest policy discourse in South Asia through research and action that incorporates forest ecology, human well-being, the changing socio-economic contexts, the historically situated and locally nuanced forest rights arrangements and the trade-offs and synergies between local and global stakeholders.
b) Generate policy insights into domestic, agricultural and industrial use of water, the underlying causes of inequity of access to water and sanitation. Study the unsustainable extraction of groundwater, water pollution and the vulnerability of water resources. Carry out capacity building to help identify social, technological and governance solutions to India’s water and sanitation problems across rural, urban and peri-urban areas.
c) Carry out research on the links between developmental goals, local environmental goals and the mitigation of Greenhouse Gas emissions, including the trade-offs and synergies between biodiversity, local livelihoods and renewable energy/carbon sequestration policies.
The programme engages in interdisciplinary research, action and policy outreach for community livelihood enhancement, as well as promoting cultural well-being, ensuring forest sustainability and strengthening of democratic and equitable forest governance.
This programme seeks to understand the trajectories and drivers of change in the water sector and define practical and inclusive policy strategies to achieve adequate access to water quantity and quality, ensuring equitable and sustainable use of water resources.
This programme seeks to better understand, map and respond to the impacts associated with the production of agricultural commodities in India.
