India's government is following an uncharted approach for a country of its scale: pursuing green technologies in the midst of industrialization. Jharia coalfield (pictured above) in Dhanbad, in the state of Jharkhand, is home to India’s largest coal reserves and simmers from a century of coal mining. Historically, fossil fuels from places like Jharkhand powered the country's industrialization. But today, amid climate concerns, many experts are calling for India to ditch coal quickly and embrace the green-energy model so prevalent in Rajasthan, a state on the other side of the country. TIME's Justin Worland spent 10 days in India, visiting coal communities, touring renewable-energy sites, and talking with leaders to understand India’s approach to the energy transition—and how the country became key to the global climate change fight. Read his story at the link in bio. Photographs by @sarkerprotick for TIME.