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 – reimagining decentralized renewable energy as a catalyst for green livelihoods, women-led entrepreneurship and measurable climate action.Held at the prestigious Taj Palace in New Delhi, the evening convened policy makers, ministers, industry leaders, multilateral agencies, financial institutions, civil society representatives and grassroots beneficiaries to take an important step in scaling up 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 – LABEL 2.0 moves beyond energy access to enable large-scale productive use of decentralized renewable energy, green livelihoods and women-led enterprises, strong local clean energy value chains, robust carbon accounting and climate outcome measurement, and scalable, replicable, and finance-ready implementation models. Is.The evening saw the official release of the TERI-MNRE Joint Policy Paper in partnership with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), which strengthens the alignment between decentralized renewable energy expansion and India’s net-zero 2070 pathway.Dr Vibha 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 leave out the rural community. While we very proudly say that per capita energy consumption is low in India, we must understand that there are two reasons for this – lack of access and affordability. If India has to grow, we have to provide energy to everyone at affordable prices. With this vision, TERI launches Lighting a Billion Lives.”Dr Jeevan Kumar Jethani, Scientist-F and Senior Director, MNRE, said, “Even after 76 years of independence, if we are not able to provide light, it does not reflect well. The government is doing tremendous work towards providing grid connection and enhancing services through solar energy where grid connection is not possible. It is our duty to provide energy to rural livelihoods so that people can carry on economic activities by staying in their villages, without moving to urban areas in search of jobs.“Dr Amit Kumar Thakur, CSR Head, TERI, said, “We started with lighting homes; now we are moving towards empowering livelihoods. LaBL’s canvas is long. Launched in 2008, we started this journey with a clear vision of providing electricity in places where the grid could not reach. Energy access changes evenings, but livelihoods change the future–this is where LABL 2.0 was born.”The launch segment unveiled the LABL 2.0 mission and vision, program logo, digital platform and the premiere of the LABL 2.0 vision film – laying the foundation for a transformation that is inclusive, accountable and financially sustainable.The ministerial segment saw an address and high-level participation from Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Laxmikant Bajpai, who said, “Sustainability starts with local action. Looking at Hastinapur’s transformation, we see a powerful blueprint for how renewable energy can meet our modern needs while respecting our heritage. It is through these regional successes that we build a truly sustainable and energy-independent India.“Shri Om Prakash Sinha, MP, said, “The ultimate benefits of research and development should reach the masses. This is also the objective of LABL 2.0. The need of the hour is green, low carbon footprint and increased productivity – the energy transition should reach the masses at the grassroots level.”His Excellency Shri Madhav Prasad Choulagain, Minister, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal, His Excellency Dr. Dammika Patabendi, Minister of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Sri Lanka, His Excellency Dr. Muawiyath Mohammed, Minister of State for Tourism and Environment, Maldives; Present on this important occasion were Ms. Dechen Tsering, Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Ms. Martina Otto, Head of the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, Secretariat of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).Shri Nitin Desai, Chairman, TERI shared, “The core principle of this approach is the need to reach out to people at the grassroots level. As emphasized by the leaders Mahatma Gandhi And our Prime Minister, development must reach ‘Antyodaya’–the last person in the line. The key to sustainability lies in the effectiveness of reaching the last mile. Terry works in this direction. “Lighting a Billion Lives aims to bring energy to the grassroots level, making energy accessible to all.”Dr Dipankar Saharia, Senior Director, TERI, said, “We have shown how a sustainable way of doing things can have a big impact on our lives, and we have demonstrated this through LABL. LABL is aligned with SDG 2030, Develop India 2047 and Net Zero 2070. LABL 2.0 symbolizes a new commitment to decentralized rural energy to strengthen rural areas and advance India’s climate and development goals.”LABL 2.0 also announced a portfolio of key initiatives designed to accelerate impact at scale, including Hastinapur Model City, HUDCO Model Solar Village, TKIL Strategic Partnership on Solar and Innovative Technologies, GCC DRE Carbon Credit Program and Hindalco – Sustainable Rehabilitation of Legacy Waste Sites.These initiatives signal a shift towards holistic DRE models integrated with reliable monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) frameworks – unlocking access to climate finance and carbon markets while enhancing accountability and feasibility.In a powerful recognition segment, LABL partners and beneficiaries were honored on stage – reaffirming that clean energy must be community-led and livelihood-centric. The symbolic “Press the Light for LABEL” pledge moment invited partners and supporters to stand in solidarity, lighting the hall in a collective commitment to amplify decentralized clean energy solutions.LABL 2.0 aligns decentralized renewable energy with climate finance, equitable transition principles, and measurable climate outcomes. By aggregating small-scale interventions and linking them to a robust carbon accounting framework, the program aims to make grassroots clean energy projects investment-ready and globally credible.Through LaBL 2.0, TERI – in partnership with MNRE and a broad coalition of stakeholders – reaffirms its commitment to accelerate India’s green transformation in a way that strengthens livelihoods, empowers women entrepreneurs, enhances climate accountability, and contributes meaningfully to national and global sustainability goals.About LaBl 2.0LABL 2.0 is TERI’s next-generation decentralized renewable energy program focused on producer-use energy solutions, green livelihoods, scalable implementation models, and climate outcome measurement. It builds on the legacy of the Lighting a Billion Lives initiative by integrating carbon markets, hybrid finance and a systematic MRV framework. About the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS)The World Sustainable Development Summit is TERI’s flagship annual event, providing a global platform for leaders and stakeholders to deliberate on solutions for sustainable development, climate action and inclusive growth. Over the past 25 years, WSDS has emerged as a major platform shaping global sustainability narratives.about terry 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 energy, environment, climate change and sustainability sectors, Terry has led conversation and action in these areas for nearly five decades. It is headquartered in New Delhi, has centers in six Indian cities and is supported by a multidisciplinary team of scientists, sociologists, economists, engineers, administrative professionals and state-of-the-art infrastructure.
