Decarbonisation Business Charter

Value Chain Approach to Decarbonize the Building and Construction sector in India.

India has significant potential to decarbonize the building and construction sector in line with its commitment to reduce the economy's emission intensity. A crucial step towards achieving this is to adopt a holistic approach encompassing the design, construction, and operational phases of a building's life cycle, with a primary focus on transitioning towards net-zero emissions.

The Indian government’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna-Urban initiative is projected to increase the building footprint by 360 million sq. m., and the houses built under it are expected to last for about 40-60 years. This presents India with a unique opportunity to transition to a low-carbon pathway and achieve a net-zero building and construction sector. However, buildings and construction currently account for around 25% of India’s greenhouse gas emissions, and this is expected to rise due to increased energy demand driven by concentrated construction in urban areas, traditional building structures, and growing appliance use, primarily for cooling.

The Decarbonisation Business Charter was envisioned to establish a unified platform that unites key stakeholders and promotes the decarbonization of the building and construction sector while addressing shared challenges and opportunities. World Resources Institute India (WRI India), Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE), Mahindra Lifespace Developers Limited, and EcoCollab collaborated to develop this initiative. The charter serves as a framework to identify and prioritize critical actions towards achieving the goal of reducing carbon emissions in the sector. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) is supporting the planned activities for the year, such as enabling decarbonisation charter in three Indian metro cities, capacity building on sectoral decarbonisation, and implementation through technical support.

Reducing demand for costly virgin materials, adopting circularity, and decarbonizing the building sector are vital. Climate risks and financial impacts emphasize the need for sustainable practices. This Decarbonisation Business Charter provides strategies and actions for stakeholders across the value chain to address these challenges.

Events

Call for Action Event 1: Delhi

Call for Action Event 2: Bengaluru

Capacity Building Workshop 1: Delhi

Webinar Series

India, committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2070, is poised to become the world’s third-largest construction market. Anticipated growth in CO2 emissions from existing and new buildings—from 194 MtCO2 in 2020 to 245 MtCO2 in 2040—underscores the urgency. The construction sector alone contributes 37% of total carbon emissions. Now is the opportune moment to transition to a low-carbon trajectory, aiming for a net-zero building and construction sector.

Brace yourself for our webinar series, Decarb December: A Learning Series on Thought to Action in Decarbonisation, focused on decarbonizing the building sector, offering practical insights from leading experts in the field. Engage and be part of this crucial shift!

An approach towards net zero

12 December 2023 (Tuesday)

Decarb December: ESCO and M&V in Commercial Buildings

13 December 2023 (Wednesday)

Decarb December: Demand Flexibility for Residential Sector

14 December 2023 (Thursday)

Partners