Handicraft Sector of Uttar Pradesh : Climate Sustainability and Decent Work

The handicraft industry in Uttar Pradesh (UP), India, represents a vibrant hub of cultural legacy and economic activity, employing over two million artisans and contributing expressively to the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The sector covers a various range of crafts, including Lucknow Chikan embroidery, Moradabad brassware, Bhadohi carpets, Banarasi sarees, zari-zardozi, pottery (Khujra), leatherwork (Kanpur), woodcarving (Saharanpur), glasswork (Firozabad), and stone carving (Agra). This paper examines the industry's role in climate change mitigation and its association with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8. It uses secondary data from the 6th Economic Census (2013), United Nations SDG indicators, and UP-specific economic reports to examine caste and gender dimensions of employment within the sector. The 6th Economic Census reveals UP's leading position, accounting for 16.55% of India's 1.87 million handicraft and handloom establishments 310,000 units. Climate mitigation strategies consequent from the Uttar Pradesh Centre for Climate Change and Environment (UPCCCE) and the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative emphasize sustainable tracking such as the use of natural dyes for Banarasi sarees, adoption of low carbon manufacturing in brassware and glasswork, and solar-powered systems in woodcarving and stone-carving clusters. These processes help reduce the sector's estimated 5 to 10% share of UP's industrial emissions. Overall, this study underscores the pivotal role of Uttar Pradesh's handicraft sector in advancing India's Net Zero 2070 goal. By integrating sustainability, modernism, and inclusivity, the sector offers a accessible model for climate resilient and neutral economic growth.