This January, I had the privilege of leading a cohort of 40 MBA students from Harvard Business School through the second edition of the Immersive Field Course “Development While Decarbonizing: India’s Path to Net Zero.” Designed to explore the real-world complexities of climate transition in a high-growth economy, the course took us across Mumbai and Bangalore, where we engaged directly with government officials, corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and community organizations working on the front lines of decarbonization.
Throughout the course, we explored the question at the heart of India’s climate journey: how can a country simultaneously fuel rapid economic development and aggressively reduce emissions? This dilemma came into focus at Tata Power’s Trombay coal plant, where legacy infrastructure continues to meet the energy needs of a growing population, even as the company invests significantly in renewable energy. At JSW Steel and Ohmium, we studied what it takes to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors, from green steel to hydrogen. Our visits also highlighted the importance of community-based and inclusive approaches: SELCO’s decentralized solar systems and Hindustan Unilever’s sanitation and plastic recovery programs revealed how distributed solutions and public-private partnerships can deliver both environmental and social impact.
Taken together, these experiences illustrated that India’s energy transition is not just a story of megawatts and emissions targets—it is also a story of innovation, resilience, and inclusion. The students’ field observations brought to life the complexities of this transition, revealing the many paths by which sustainability and development can align.
The course reaffirmed that decarbonization in developing economies cannot be one-size-fits-all. It must be contextual, inclusive, and aligned with local development priorities. The insights shared throughout the trip made clear that India’s path to net zero will offer important lessons not just for emerging markets, but for the global climate community.
I’m grateful to each of the organizations that welcomed us during the course: Tata Power, JSW Steel, Hindustan Unilever, Ohmium, Ather Scooter, Exponent Energy, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, StringBio, Varaha, Mitti, and SELCO. Each visit offered a distinct and valuable perspective on the challenges and opportunities of decarbonization in India, and we thank them for their time, openness, and commitment to driving change.
Finally, my thanks to the students for their active participation, thoughtful questions, and meaningful engagement throughout the course—and to those who took the time to write reflections that captured and shared the depth of our experience. Their work made the impact of this course visible well beyond the classroom.