Enabling an ecologically positive and people-centric transition to renewable energy in Asia

We have the opportunity to shape a future in which everyone has access to affordable, reliable, environmentally and socially regenerative energy. But will the rapid transition of the energy system deliver on this potential? It’s vital that those who consume, trade and produce energy work together to create this future. Among Forum’s energy programmes is the flagship Responsible Energy Initiative. Forum’s Managing Director – India, Anna Biswas and former Global Strategic Lead – Energy, Kunal Sharma, join a range of our partner changemakers to consider how the groundbreaking coalition is shaping Asia’s renewable energy landscape through its work in India and the Philippines.

Context

We are at a tipping point: renewable energy is rapidly scaling globally. By 2030, an estimated 5,500 gigawatts (GW) of new renewable capacity will be operational, offering the potential to reshape lives, power economies, and strengthen communities in ways we’ve only begun to imagine.

However, with this expansion, potential challenges to long-term success are becoming more evident. Land rights violations, exploitative labour conditions, biodiversity loss, and pollution are casting shadows on the promise of renewable energy—threatening long-term viability and public trust. Renewable energy is scaling at an unprecedented pace, driven by green recovery stimulus packages, plummeting technology costs, innovative financing models and policy support. To harness this potential, it is essential that we act now to support renewable energy to grow in a way that is ecologically safe, rights-respecting, and socially just, creating lasting value for both people and the planet.

Our journey so far and what we are trying to achieve

As renewable energy reshapes economies and communities across Asia, one question looms large: Can the transition fulfil its potential and be both just and regenerative? The Responsible Energy Initiative (REI) was established to make this happen. Launched in India in 2021 and expanded to the Philippines in 2024, REI is a collaboration between industry and civil society led to ensure renewable energy grows in a way that protects labour and human rights, restores ecosystems, includes communities in decisionmaking, and strengthens local economies. REI is led by consortia of organisations. In India: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), World Resources Institute (WRI) India, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), Climate Group, Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), Consensus Building Institute, Landesa, and Forum for the Future. And in the Philippines: BHRRC, FriedrichEbert-Stiftung Philippines, the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, and Oxfam Pilipinas, with CentRE and Forum for the Future co-leading as the secretariat.

The initiative works with the renewable energy (RE) sector to understand environmental and social impact throughout the value chain and to collectively improve how these impacts are addressed to promote norms and practices for the responsible growth of RE. This includes on-the-ground innovation for ecologically sound and socially just production and deployment of utility-scale RE and the development and institutionalisation of responsible policies, business models, and financing approaches. REI’s strategy is simple: work directly with the change actors in the renewable energy sector themselves (REI participants) to share insights, develop best practices, and promote action that leads to long-term change. This approach enables the sector to co-create the pathway to a responsible renewable energy system through individual, organisational and sector wide change.

So what impact is REI having?

Outcome 1: Changing hearts and minds

REI has strengthened the capacity of individual renewable energy sector stakeholders to understand and address the complex social and environmental impacts of large-scale energy projects. In India, REI has partnered with stakeholders from 35 organisations, spanning manufacturers, developers, financiers, and procurers, and engaged more than 100 organisations working in and alongside the sector.

The 2021 Renewable Energy to Responsible Energy: A Call to Action report highlighted the urgent need for more responsible practices and outlined the challenges within India’s renewable energy sector. This thinking has significantly shifted the conversation around renewable energy to focus on responsible practices in India, and REI is bringing together individual leaders to understand how they can use this shift to rethink how renewable energy should be developed—embracing responsibility and sustainability as core principles.

REI Philippines has to date brought together stakeholders from 46 organisations and has been key in promoting collaboration throughout the renewable energy value chain. The Call to Action report launched in January 2024 further emphasised the importance of understanding the social and environmental impacts of renewable energy in the Philippines, an essential step for promoting more sustainable growth. Through these efforts, REI has helped cultivate a shared understanding of the need to address risks in the renewable energy sector. We see this shift in perspective as a critical trigger for sustained change, building a mindset that moves from awareness to action.

Abhay Bhavsar, Head of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG), Fourth Partner Energy

“REI gave us a platform to explore social and environmental issues in the renewable energy value chain deeply. It expanded my understanding of the sustainability factors we need to consider as a values-driven company. REI played a key role in guiding us as we built Fourth Partner Energy’s ESG approach. My thought process on sustainability evolved thanks to my engagement with REI. When I was tasked with leading the ESG department at Fourth Partner Energy, I was starting from scratch. The discussions I had as part of REI helped me frame our ESG vision, which is now the foundation of our strategy.”

Outcome 2: Unlocking organisational action

Creating momentum amongst industry actors is key to embedding responsible renewable energy practices into the mainstream. REI India is modelling ‘the art of the possible’ by working with participants from the industry to develop six interventions to define and champion norms and practices that support the responsible expansion of RE. In REI Philippines, participants have expressed interest in developing high impact interventions that consider ecological impacts, workforce and livelihoods, energy justice, accountability and governance, and circularity.

These initiatives create practical resources for the sector. For example, in India the upcoming playbook for investing in responsible renewable energy provides guidance for investors and fund managers on integrating responsible practices into decision-making. And the guide to responsible energy development will provide renewable energy developers with a tiered approach to enhancing transparency, accountability, and responsibility throughout the project lifecycle. Through co-creation participants are supported to apply these tools within their own organisations, and through this experience promote their adoption throughout the energy sector.

“Being part of REI and accessing resources such as the detailed questionnaire on assessing power providers allowed us to develop a sharper perspective on how to screen providers based on various social and environmental parameters. This clarity has been crucial in helping us identify renewable energy providers that align with our sustainability values. We previously lacked visibility on the practices of power generators from whom we sourced electricity. REI’s resources and collaborative insights enabled us to establish a more rigorous framework for evaluating these providers. This framework is now being explored for application across all our suppliers, along with the introduction of a regular audit process to ensure ongoing compliance with our sustainability goal.”

Radhica Kanniganti, ESG Leader, Wipro

Our approach involves close collaboration with industry and government as critical allies, equipping them with the practical insights, good practise, and support needed to adopt the pioneering practice demonstrated by REI. In India, we are already starting to see a shift in private sector action and state and central government thinking.

"We must pursue renewable energy that is ecologically safe, socially just, and integrates circularity from inception to termination. This approach has driven a shift in reviewing RE policies through a social and ecological lens, producing knowledge-sharing materials, and piloting projects for vulnerable groups like farmers and women. Examples include incorporating circularity into Energy Storage System policies and fostering community involvement in microgrid system development.”

Maris Dela Cruz-Cardenas, Executive Director, the Center for Empowerment, Innovation, and Training on Renewable Energy (CentRE)

Outcome 3: Supporting wider change

At the same time as individual and organisational change, we need to engage with the broader system to create a favourable operating landscape for responsible renewable energy development. This involves building connections, creating practical resources, and equipping leaders with the tools to drive systemic change.

In both India and the Philippines, REI has built a collective understanding of the risks, crafted shared visions and principles for a socially just and inclusive renewable energy system, and identified actionable areas to drive transformative change not just within pockets of the energy sector but across the energy system to create the consensus for change.

Bharath Jairaj, Executive Director, Energy Programme, WRI India

“The change I see, and it’s a welcome one, is how governments at both the State and Central levels in India have started recognising these (environmental and social impact of renewable energy deployment) issues. Their focus may still be on more visible concerns, like waste management and circularity, but this is a promising shift given the enormous responsibility they have to meet ambitious targets.

The private sector is also warming up to this new narrative, though there’s always a risk of greenwashing without proper regulation. That said, there are companies that have stepped up, incorporating REI’s principles into their operations. Overall, there’s a lot more confidence now that we can pursue renewable energy in a more responsible manner.

As organisations committed to India's clean energy future, we have been equally concerned about the environmental and social issues associated with large renewable energy projects. This has to change, and that's why we came together to establish the Responsible Energy Initiative (REI) India—seeking that the energy transition should be done in a responsible manner. The initial work on documenting the negative impacts was necessary to understand and share the true scale of these impacts. Previously, these issues were not explicitly recognised nor publicly acknowledged.

The Call to Action report made it clear that the negative impacts must be avoided, if India is to truly achieve a transition to clean energy. Thankfully, REI India is no longer in the minority, and today, there is broader consensus on the need to address these issues—and reduce the footprint on land, water, and society from large renewable projects. It’s encouraging to see many organisations join REI India and embrace these challenges.”

The annual Responsible Renewable Energy Summit in India serves as a critical platform for advancing REI’s principles and amplifying good practice. The Summit encourages crosssector collaboration and critical dialogues around responsible adoption of renewable energy. It provides a unique platform for people across diverse markets and sectors— including developers, financiers, and civil society—to explore more sustainable ways to produce and deploy renewable energy. Over the last two editions, the event has engaged more than 500 people in the sector, giving them an opportunity to build meaningful relationships that are leading to future collaborations and impactful partnerships with industry leaders, decision-makers, policymakers, and community stakeholders from throughout the RE ecosystem.

Rajat Verma, Founder and CEO of LOHUM Cleantech

“REI India is truly championing responsible, ethical, and sustainable renewable energy. As a strong advocate for clean energy, I’ve witnessed firsthand how REI India is making a tangible impact. What stands out the most to me is their inclusive approach—they bring together innovators, developers, financiers, and community members to identify opportunities and accelerate the renewable energy sector.”

Next for REI: Trace the programme’s impact to understand how it contributes to a just and regenerative energy transition

By championing the principles of responsible RE, we can maximise its potential impact and enhance value for stakeholders. For investors, this means better financial and ESG returns, risk management, and long-term value; developers benefit from stronger community engagement, transparency, and increased project resilience; procurers see improved social and environmental outcomes, stronger developer relations, and the chance to lead the sector; for policymakers, it ensures sustainable development, diversified livelihoods, and accelerated RE deployment.

Going forward, we aim to mainstream responsible practices throughout the renewable energy sector by focusing on:

Continuing to form a community of actors who support each other in shaping a deeper and more just energy transition
Enabling a detailed understanding of how developers can deploy responsible practices and how procurers and investors can support them through a suite of practical playbooks.
Facilitating the scaling of Agri-PV in India by developing and field-testing business models that integrate solar generation with food production on viable land.
Advancing equitable sharing of benefits from renewable energy development by designing and demonstrating people-centred business models for developers and communities.
Increasing circularity by informing policy and designing innovative mechanisms.
Creating a finance mechanism in the Philippines that incentivises small and medium-sized developers to drive ecologically safe and socially just outcomes.
Taking the practical insights from India and Philippines to expand the reach of REI’s principles globally by engaging stakeholders in other Asian countries and beyond.

Find out more or get in touch

Find out more about REI in India and the Philippines. Or email energy@ forumforthefuture.org to get involved.

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