India’s path to net zero by 2070 will depend on ambitious action from states and local governments. The Advanced Scenarios and Carbon Emissions Navigation Tool (ASCENT), developed by WRI India, is designed to support them in this journey. This technical note explains in detail the design and methodology used to develop the ASCENT tool.

Unlike conventional greenhouse gas inventories that only capture present-day emissions, ASCENT projects future trajectories under different scenarios—business-as-usual, existing and planned policies, and high-ambition. Covering all major sources of emissions, including energy, land use, industry, and waste, the tool helps decision-makers compare strategies side by side and identify pathways that deliver the greatest reductions at the lowest cost. Built on internationally recognized methodologies and informed by WRI India’s extensive on-ground experience, ASCENT provides policymakers with an open-access, practical, and forward-looking resource to align climate targets with sustainable growth.