This article was originally published in the November issue of The Neptune Glitz magazine, a monthly magazine on architecture and interior design. Read the original version (PDF).
The concept of sustainable development is not new to India, and in recent years, the nation has continued to take on a greater leadership role in the global sustainability movement. At the last COP 21 conference, India made a bold commitment to reduce its emissions by 33 to 35 percent by 2030, compared to 2005 levels.
To achieve this, India has set high targets on renewable energy, efficiency and carbon reduction, committing to increasing its nonfossil-based power capacity from 30 to 40 percent and reducing carbon by almost three billion tons by 2030. In addition, the national government has promised to provide reliable power to all and is becoming a leader in the production and manufacturing of renewable energy technology.
India has also shown tremendous leadership in the smart cities movement with efforts such as the 100 Smart Cities Project. An integral part of this effort is sustainable development and green building. Over the last several years, green building in the country has already seen a dramatic increase as India has become an engine of green growth.
However, there is still work to be done if we are going to create a sustainable future for everyone in India – a future anyone can participate in regardless of their social or economic means. This means a future in which the built environment continues to prioritize affordable and environmentally conscious housing and commercial buildings as an integrated strategy to spur economic growth and development. The cost of development cannot come at the cost of social welfare. This is why we need to focus our resources on bringing in more builders and developers who are committed to sustainable development and make green building more practical, accessible and affordable for a larger audience than ever before.