A select, invite-only group of India’s leading sustainability leaders, real estate developers, and green building specialists came together for a Leadership Roundtable organized by Global Network for Zero.
In keeping with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 aim, the event, which took place in Gurugram, provided a forum for discussion on achieving the country’s net-zero target and integrating sustainability into all sectors of the economy.
The discussion stressed the value of working together to remove obstacles to decarbonization in enterprises and structures. Participants in the event shared ideas on how to improve sustainability practices and take use of India’s leadership in net zero construction projects to advance a number of industries.
Key speakers included, Mr. Kumaran Walaja Rajamanickam, Executive Director – Technical at DLF, who outlined his vision for Net Zero infrastructure development within the DLF portfolio. Dr. Sunita Purushottam, Head of Sustainability & CSR at Mahindra Lifespace Developers, delivered an insightful case study, underscoring the pivotal role that residential real estate can play in achieving Net Zero emissions.
With Mahindra Lifespace being the first and only developer in India to deliver Net Zero homes, Dr. Sunita emphasized on the company’s plans in driving green innovations and building only Net Zero buildings 2030 onwards. Lastly, Mr. Ashish Rakheja, Managing Partner at AEON Consultants, elaborated on the practical sustainability strategies from a marquee project in the Maldives, aiming to drive the highest form of sustainability and Net Zero with GNFZ in a marine sensitive region.
Mahesh Ramanujam, President & CEO of GNFZ emphasized on the need to eliminate barriers to achieving net-zero goals. India has made significant strides in sustainability, and is currently the number one country with the maximum number of Net Zero buildings, but it’s important to envision even greater ambitions that extend beyond just our national boundaries, making net zero a global reality. And in order to foster a truly sustainable future, one must collaborate and drive impactful change across various sectors.
With prominent industry leaders such as Mr. Brij Nandan Yadava, COO of Hero Realty; Mr. H.C. Vinayak, VP of EHS & Sustainability at ITC Hotels; Mr. Sameer Sinha, MD of Savvy Group; Ms. Umit Bhatia, Senior Director of Sustainability Strategy at JLL India; and Ms. Rita Roy Choudhury, Managing Partner and Chief Executive of ECube Investment Advisors, a lively panel discussion that followed, examining cross-sector approaches to address decarbonization challenges.
The industry leaders shared their perspectives on advancing sustainability and achieving net zero. Mr. Sameer Sinha, MD of Savvy Group noted, “Sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they can drive business success in ways that benefit both the planet and the bottom line.”
Ms. Umit Bhatia, Senior Director of Sustainability Strategy at JLL India added, “To meet our 2040 net zero targets, businesses need tailored, actionable roadmaps.”
Additionally, the event also celebrated several outstanding projects that achieved key milestones on their path to net zero. GNFZ recognized these companies for their achievements in sustainable development, awarding GNFZ Net Zero milestone certificates as they work toward full decarbonization:
- Mindspace Airoli West – Mumbai
- Gera Commerzone B4 – Pune
- Westin Mumbai Powai Lake by Chalet Hotels
- Duflon Industries – Ahmedabad & Mahad
- Canteen Building, RHINO Facility by Hindustan Unilever – Assam
- Econest: A Sustainable Cottage by Smart Village Movement – Meghalaya
- Administrative Block, Mahindra World City Developers Limited – Chennai
- AEON Integrated Building Design Consultants LLP – Noida
Through GNFZ’s certification system, which recognizes progress throughout the decarbonization journey by offering certificates for milestones like carbon emissions assessment, net zero plan, and carbon offset validation, these projects were acknowledged for making noteworthy progress toward their net zero goals.
All things considered, the platform offered a great chance for cooperation and education, as executives from different sectors exchanged problems and solutions for moving closer to net zero.
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