From lighting lives to powering livelihoods: TERI’s LaBL 2.0 targets the next billion | India News
New Delhi: At a defining moment in India’s clean energy transition, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) launched LaBL 2.0 (Lighting a Billion Lives 2.0) at an inspiring ‘Dinner of Hope’ in New Delhi — rethinking decentralized renewable energy as a catalyst for women-led livelihoods. climate action.Held at the iconic Taj Palace, New Delhi, the evening convened policymakers, ministers, industry leaders, multilateral organizations, financial institutions, civil society representatives and grassroots beneficiaries to mark a milestone in scaling inclusive clean energy solutions across India.Building on the transformative success of TERI’s original Lighting a Billion Lives initiative — which demonstrated how decentralized renewable energy (DRE) can empower communities — LaBL 2.0 goes beyond energy access, supporting large-scale productive use of decentralized renewable energy, promoting women-local livelihoods, clean energy and local values. Robust carbon accounting and climate outcome measurement, and scalable, replicable, and finance-ready implementation models.Strengthening alignment between decentralized renewable energy expansion and India’s Net-Zero 2070 pathway, in partnership with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), witnessed the formal release of the TERI-MNRE Joint Policy Paper.Dr. Viva Dhawan, Director General, TERI, shared, “Everyone wants change now; everyone wants to hear the voices of the poor, and TERI understands that we cannot develop as a country if we exclude the rural population. While we are very proud to say that India’s per capita energy consumption is low, we must understand that this is due to two reasons – India’s lack of capacity to provide energy and our lack of development capacity. With this vision, TERI launched a Billion Lives in Lighting.”Dr Jeevan Kumar Jethani, Scientist-F and Senior Director, MNRE, said, “Even after 76 years of independence, it does not reflect well if we cannot provide light. The government is working extensively to provide grid connectivity and expand services through solar power where grid connectivity is not possible. It is our duty to provide energy for rural livelihoods so that people can conduct economic activities by staying in their villages instead of moving to urban areas in search of jobs.“Dr. Amit Kumar Thakur, Head-CSR, TERI, said, “We started with lighting; we are now moving towards livelihood. LaBL has a long canvas. Launched in 2008, we embarked on this journey with a clear vision of providing electricity where the grid cannot reach. Access to energy changes the evening, but livelihoods change the future–that’s where LaBL 2.0 was born.”The launch segment featured the unveiling of the LaBL 2.0 Mission & Vision, the program logo, digital platform, and the premiere of the LaBL 2.0 Vision Film — setting the tone for a transformation that is inclusive, accountable, and financially sustainable.Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Laxmikant Vajpayee’s speech and high-level engagement, the ministerial segment said, “Sustainability starts with local action. Looking at the transformation of Hastinapur, we see a powerful blueprint of how renewable energy can meet our modern needs while respecting our heritage. This is how we build a regionally energy-reliant India.”“Shri Om Prakash Sinha, Member of Parliament, said, “The ultimate benefits of research and development should reach the people. The objective of LaBL 2.0 is the same. The need of the hour is to go green, reduce carbon footprint, and increase productivity- the energy transition should reach the people below.”His Excellency Mr. Madhav Prasad Choulagain, Minister, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal, His Excellency Dr. Dammika Pattabendi, Minister of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka, His Excellency Dr. Muawiyath Mohammed, Minister of State, Tourism and Environment, Maldives; Miss Dechen Tsering, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), and Miss Martina Otto, Head of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition Secretariat, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) were present at this important event.Shri Nitin Desai, Chairman, TERI, shared, “The core principle underlying this approach is the need to reach out to the people at the grassroots level. As emphasized by the leaders Mahatma Gandhi And our prime minister, development must reach ‘Antyodaya’– the last person in Qatar. The key to sustainability lies in their end-to-end performance. This is what TERI works towards Enlighten One Billion Lives aims to reach people on the ground level, aiming to make energy accessible to all.”Dr Dipankar Saharia, Senior Director, TERI, said, “We have shown how a sustainable way of working can make a big impact in our lives, and we have shown this through LaBL. LaBL is aligned with SDG 2030, Viksit Bharat 2047, and Net Zero 2070. LaBL 2.0 symbolizes a renewed commitment to decentralized rural energy to empower rural areas and advance India’s climate and development goals.”LaBL 2.0 announced a portfolio of flagship initiatives designed to accelerate impact at scale, Hastinapur Model City, HUDCO Model Solar Village, TKIL Strategic Partnership in Solar and Innovative Technologies, GCC DRE Carbon Credit Program, and Hindalco – Sustainable Rehabilitation of Sustainable Rehabilitation.These initiatives signal a shift towards integrated DRE models with credible Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) frameworks — unlocking access to climate finance and carbon markets while increasing accountability and effectiveness.In a strong recognition segment, LaBL partners, and beneficiaries were honored on stage — reaffirming that clean energy must be community-led and livelihood-focused. The symbolic “Press the Light for LaBL” moment of commitment invited partners and supporters to stand in solidarity, lighting up the hall in a collective commitment to scale decentralized clean energy solutions.LaBL 2.0 aligns decentralized renewable energy with climate finance, just transition policies and measurable climate outcomes. By bringing together small-scale interventions and linking them to robust carbon accounting frameworks, the program aims to make grassroots clean energy projects investment-ready and globally credible.Through LaBL 2.0, TERI — in partnership with MNREs and a broad coalition of stakeholders — reiterates its commitment to accelerate India’s green transition in ways that strengthen livelihoods, empower women entrepreneurs, increase climate accountability and contribute meaningfully to national and global goals.About LaBL 2.0LaBL 2.0 is TERI’s next-generation decentralized renewable energy program focused on productive-use energy solutions, green livelihoods, scalable implementation models and measuring climate outcomes. It builds on the legacy of the Lighting a Billion Lives initiative while integrating carbon markets, blended finance and systematic MRV frameworks. About the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSDS).The World Sustainable Development Summit is TERI’s flagship annual event, providing a global platform for leaders and stakeholders to deliberate solutions for sustainable development, climate action, and inclusive growth. Over the past 25 years, WSDS has emerged as a key forum that shapes the global sustainability narrative.About TERI The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), based in India, is an independent, multidisciplinary research organization with capabilities in policy research, technology development and implementation. An innovator and agent of change in the space of energy, environment, climate change and sustainability, TERI has been a leader in conversation and action in these fields for nearly five decades. Headquartered in New Delhi, it has centers in six Indian cities and is supported by a multi-disciplinary team of scientists, sociologists, economists, engineers, administrative professionals and state-of-the-art infrastructure.
