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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Three promising systems-level pathways emerged to replace coal value chains: ⚡ Alternative energy value chains 🏗️ Overburden to M-sand value chains 🌾 Agriculture value chains (7/n)

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

What did we find? 🔹 Countries are at different stages of research, planning, & implementation 🔹 Most repurposing efforts focus on individual coal mines and power plants 🔹 Transport networks & ports are overlooked (with the US as an exception) (6/n)

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

RQ3: What options exist for systems-level repurposing of these coal value chains? (5/n)

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

RQ1: What are the components of the coal value chain in the major coal dependent countries of South Africa, India, and the US? RQ2: For each country, what is the current state of academic knowledge & policy action regarding repurposing key segments of the coal value chain? (4/n)

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Yet there has been no systems-level investigation of coal repurposing in key economies. 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐚𝐩. We focused on SA, India, and the US and conducted a mixed methods study (lit review, field visits, interviews, & a multi-stakeholder workshop) to answer the following RQ's: (3/n)

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

If poorly managed, any coal transition will deeply affect jobs, revenues, across regions. Many view coal asset repurposing (converting closed coal mines, plants, etc. to other uses like solar) as a cornerstone of just transition. (2/n)

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

🛑 New Paper on Coal Value Chain Repurposing 🛑 Globally, there are 7,000+ coal mines, 2,400+ coal-fired power plants (2100 GW), and vast rail, road, and port networks built around coal. Meeting 1.5–2°C climate targets means this system will shrink fast... Link: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

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Reposted by Dr. Sandeep Pai

Vikas Mehta @vikmet.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Saw this fun bit in the post by @volts.wtf www.volts.wtf/p/volts-5-ye... “@David, any guesses which non English-speaking country ranks inside the top 5? The answer is the largest country by population, India, with 3 percent of all subscribers.” Maybe time to do a pod with @sandeeppai.bsky.social!

volts.wtf

Volts 5 year anniversary! + community thread #25

Open to all free & paid subscribers.

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

Global "arc" of just transition Most people don't recognize the “Arc” of Just Transition, not all countries are at the same stage. I believe countries are at different stages of just transition planning and implementation. There is an arc with three phases:

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

📊 Recommendations for CSOs: Identify and support champion parliamentarians. Provide data and research to these parliamentarians to enhance both international and domestic advocacy. Organize NDC-related workshops that directly involve parliamentarians to strengthen engagement. 6/n

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

3️⃣ South Africa: NDC formation is a hybrid approach that combines technical analysis with extensive stakeholder consultations. Parliamentarians can advocate for inclusive, ambitious NDCs through parliamentary committees and constituency engagement. 5/n

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

2️⃣ Kenya: It has a more consultative, bottom-up approach to NDC formulation with strong formal avenues for parliamentarians to influence NDCs. Parliamentarians in Kenya can engage in international platforms, introduce bills, and directly advocate through government task forces. 4/n

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Our reserach finds that: 1️⃣ India: NDC formulation is largely top-down, where parliamentarians can play a vital role in driving advocacy through international collaboration, bills, and debates. But here, parliamentarians will have to rely on self-driven initiatives 3/n

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

Yet, current NDCs remain insufficient to meet the 1.5°C climate goal. In this context, our new reserach explores the role parliamentarians in the Global South—specifically in India, Kenya, and South Africa—can play in shaping these NDCs. 2/n

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

🌍 Thrilled to share our NEW report: Role Parliamentarians Can Play in Shaping Nationally Determined Contributions 🌍 #COP30 in Brazil, every country is expected to update their NDCs. Less than 15% of countries have updated their NDCs as of now. (1/n) www.swaniti.com/research-ana...

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Reposted by Dr. Sandeep Pai

Rohit Chandra @rohitreads.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

About a year and half ago, @sandeeppai.bsky.social , Suravee Nayak, Sree Harica and I started putting together a review article for WIRES Climate Change on India's complicated relationship with its coal industry.

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

But how much can Global South countries achieve through the G20 process in the energy and climate space? But even before answering that, how does G20 really work? How can one influence the G20 process? What role can CSOs, Philanthropy and others play in the process?

pod.101rpt.in

Global South’s G20 Streak: A Turning Point for Climate and Energy Leadership? | ft. Dr. Prabhat Upadhyaya

The India Energy Hour Presented by 101Reporters · Episode

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

✅ New The India Energy Hour Podcast Episode ✅ The consecutive G20 presidencies of Indonesia 🇮🇩, India 🇮🇳, Brazil 🇧🇷, and South Africa 🇿🇦 is a crucial phase for the Global South to shape discussions on energy transition and climate action.

pod.101rpt.in

Global South’s G20 Streak: A Turning Point for Climate and Energy Leadership? | ft. Dr. Prabhat Upadhyaya

The India Energy Hour Presented by 101Reporters · Episode

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

We are delighted to launch a NEW report on challenges, opportunities & immediate prospects for methane mitigation in the coal and oil & gas sectors in India This report is a culmination of 1 year of work spanning literature review, workshops, interviews, meetings etc. RSVP: lnkd.in/esaBhs4G

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Over the past year, we've conducted one of the largest ground-up economic diversification studies in the region — covering everything from household to industrial surveys, interviews etc -- in two districts of Jharkhand. (2/3)

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

🌍 Announcing: Massive Economic Diversification Study in Jharkhand 🌍 As one of India's most coal-dependent state, Jharkhand is taking proactive steps toward a just transition...(1/3)

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

✅ Joint Investments in Mining, Processing, & Manufacturing ✅ Joint Establishment of Centers for Skill Development ✅ Joint Messaging and Advocacy ✅ Joint Investment in Research and Development of New Technologies and Processes ✅ Joint Advocacy for Favourable Trade Policies and Sector Standards

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

How can Global South countries secure their Critical Mineral value chains? They can do this by collaborating strategically to build value chains Check out my latest commentary with colleagues, where we outline 5 areas for collaboration 1/n www.transitionmineralscouncil.org/post/roadmap...

transitionmineralscouncil.org

Critical Minerals

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Arvind Ravikumar @arvindpawan1.bsky.social · 17/12/2024

Key figure in the US DoE #LNG study: Coal-to-gas transition is a small part of how US LNG will be used globally, and much of it simply adds new gas generation. Impact on global emissions with & without unconstrained US LNG is ~0 (but slightly positive). www.energy.gov/sites/defaul...

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

This is so cool. What a great method to collect data on methane emissions…

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

2. The report recommends state and district governments to coordinate deeply for net-zero planning 3. State government should launch a program to raise awareness and promote just transition at the state and district level for effective action 7/n

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Key recommendations of the report include: 1. The report recommended that the state government create a Just Transition Taskforce to assess economic diversification options. 6/n

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

2. Apart from households, businesses also thrive because of proximity to coal mines. 3. Solar sector and non-coal based MSMEs top sectors of choice for diversification in coal districts of Telangana 4. Economic diversification potential also varies at sub-district levels in Telangana 5/n

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

There are barrage of findings and actionable recommendations. Here are few: 1. One-third of households in coal districts in Telangana depend on coal for livelihood with most of the jobs in the coal transport sector. 4/n

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

1️⃣ The scale of coal dependency among communities in the state. 2️⃣ Opportunities for economic diversification to create sustainable jobs and replace coal-based revenues. We did large-scale household & industrial surveys, interviews, and rigorous data analysis... 3/n

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

... it’s about addressing the the profound socio-economic changes needed to ensure workers and communities are not left behind. To unpack this, we conducted the first-ever #justtransition study in Telangana, focusing on... 2/n

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

🎉 Thrilled to Launch: "Just Transition Pathways for a Net-Zero Telangana" 🎉 Telangana State in India is setting an ambitious net zero target for 2047—23 years ahead of India’s national target of 2070 This transition isn’t just about technology and economics... 1/n www.swaniti.com/research-ana...

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Our report, "Just Transition Pathways for a Net Zero Telangana: Case Studies from the Coal Dependent Districts of Peddapalli and Mancherial," explores coal dependency and economic diversification of these districts

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Telangana State in India is setting an ambitious net zero target for the year 2047, positioning itself 23 years ahead of the national target by 2070! Join us tomorrow for the launch of the first ever study on #justtransition in Telangana RSVP: lnkd.in/esvTYfk8

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

My interview at @TheAssay. I discussed: ✅ My professional journey and work at Swaniti ✅ Opportunities across the Critical Minerals Value Chain for the Global South ✅ #Justtransition for fossil communities ✅ Business diversification of SoEs www.theassay.com/videos/panel...

theassay.com

A Just Energy Transition - Opportunities Across the Critical Minerals Value Chain for the Global South

In this interview with Sandeep Pai of Swaniti Initiative, The Assay dives into key initiatives and trends for the energy transition taking place across

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Reposted by Dr. Sandeep Pai

Ben Cahill @bencahill.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Quoted in this Washington Post story. Data centers, AI, and manufacturing mean significant load growth. Gas demand scenarios are changing. That makes it all the more important to cut emissions from U.S. gas production. It's a bad idea to roll back methane regulations! wapo.st/3CHeQHR

wapo.st

AI’s hunger for electric power is threatening U.S. climate goals

The enormous electricity needs of artificial intelligence are driving plans for scores of new fossil fuel plants with decades of expected service life.

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Being one of the key coal-rich states in India, Telangana is now actively planning its energy transition Join us for the report launch on December 12, where we will unpack coal sector dependencies and economic diversification prospects in the state RSVP: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

docs.google.com

Registration Form

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Dr. Sandeep Pai @sandeeppai.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

Indian state of Telangana is setting an ambitious net-zero target by 2047! This is 23 years ahead of the national target. This is BIG! For the last one year, we have been working on a massive ground study on #justtransition in a net zero Telangana Join us for the launch

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