Track 11: Low Emissions Development Strategies (LEDS)

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Call for Papers

Track Overview

India has articulated a long-term vision for low-emission development that seeks to balance economic growth, climate resilience, and sustainability. As outlined in its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS), the country’s pathway emphasises a combination of energy transition, climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable consumption patterns, and enhanced carbon sinks, while ensuring inclusive development.

At the same time, the scale and complexity of the climate challenge demand a shift from high-level commitments to actionable, evidence-based implementation across sectors and regions. This requires deeper engagement with the interconnections between energy, industry, mobility, and socio-economic systems, along with stronger mechanisms to translate policy into measurable outcomes. In this context, emerging technologies and digital systems are playing an increasingly important role. Advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and simulation-based modelling are enabling more granular and dynamic assessments of transition pathways, while innovations on the ground are reshaping the feasibility and scalability of low-emission strategies.

The LEDS Track at IMRC 2026 aims to serve as a platform for advancing such engagement by bringing together scholars, policymakers, practitioners, and industry stakeholders. It seeks to explore how India’s transition can be operationalised through robust analytical frameworks, institutional innovation, and cross-sectoral coordination. We invite contributions that examine policy frameworks, financial mechanisms, technological innovations, and socio-economic dimensions of net-zero transitions.

Broad Themes

We invite submissions on the following broad themes:

• Energy Transition & Decarbonisation Pathways:
  • Renewable energy adoption, energy efficiency, and grid decarbonisation
  • Electrification and low-carbon transitions in industry and infrastructure systems
    
• Urban & Regional Low-Emission Development:
  • Urban and regional planning for low-emission pathways, including sustainable mobility and green infrastructure
  • Climate-resilient cities, affordable housing, and data-driven urban systems
    
• AFOLU & Sustainable Food Systems:
  • Climate-resilient agriculture, reforestation, and ecosystem restoration
  • Food systems transformation and community-based stewardship for emission reduction
    
• Policy, Governance & Climate Finance:
  • India’s LT-LEDS implementation, institutional frameworks, and multi-level governance
  • Public and private financing mechanisms and international policy linkages
    
• Inclusive Growth & Just Transitions:
  • Equity, livelihoods, and distributional impacts of climate policies
  • Just transitions, behavioural change, and the intersection of development and decarbonisation
    
• Emerging Technologies, Data & Modelling:
  • Role of digital innovation in climate transitions, including AI, machine learning, and simulation-based modelling
  • Decision-support tools and climate data platforms

Submission Guidelines

We invite extended abstracts of maximum 1000 words related to any of the broad themes above or other aspects of LT-LEDS research, in line with IMRC’s aims and research priorities. Both academic research papers and practitioner-oriented contributions are welcome. All submissions will be evaluated by the IMRC Scientific Quality team. A limited number of high-quality submissions with potential for publication in top-tier field journals will be accepted, alongside a limited number of contributions with a clear and strong policy focus or those that create a novel discourse in the field.

Structure

The recommended sections for the Extended Abstract are as follows:

1. Problem Statement
2. Methodology
3. Key findings
4. Implications for Research
5. Implications for Practice

Authors are not required to follow a fixed section-by-section format, but submissions should be coherent, well-structured, and provide sufficient detail for reviewers to assess scholarly or policy merit. 

Format

• Font: Times New Roman, 12pt, single-spaced
• Word limit: maximum 1000 words, including references (APA style)
• Submissions must be anonymised – authors must not include their names, email addresses, or institutional affiliations anywhere in the document, including headers, footers, and acknowledgements, no institutional logos or graphics
• Documents must be clean, with no tracked changes or comments
• No changes to the title, authorship, or content will be permitted after the submission deadline

Submissions that do not comply with these guidelines will not be considered for review.

Key Dates

• Abstract Submission Deadline: [TBD]
• Notification of Acceptance: [TBD]
• Registration Deadline: [TBD]
• Conference Dates: xx–xx December 2026

Join us in shaping the next chapter of climate-resilient, low-emission development.