Global Network for Zero (GNFZ), a premier independent net zero certification body for buildings, businesses, communities and more, recently hosted a Leadership Roundtable, gathering a select, invite-only group of India’s top sustainability leaders, real estate developers, and green building consultants. Held in Gurugram, the event served as a platform for dialogue on advancing India’s national net zero goal and embedding sustainability across industries, in alignment with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 mission.
The roundtable emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts to address the barriers in driving decarbonization in buildings and businesses. As part of the event, participants exchanged ideas on enhancing sustainability practices and leveraging India's leadership in net zero building initiatives to drive progress across various sectors.
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.
A dynamic panel discussion followed exploring cross-sector strategies to tackle challenges in decarbonization, with notable industry leaders including, 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.
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
These projects were recognized for making significant strides toward their net zero goals through GNFZ’s certification system, which acknowledges progress throughout the decarbonization journey by offering certificates for milestones such as emissions assessment, net zero plan, and carbon offset validation.
Overall, the platform provided an excellent opportunity for collaboration and learning, as leaders from various industries shared challenges and solutions for advancing toward net zero. GNFZ remains dedicated to supporting projects across India with tailored solutions that help buildings and businesses to reduce and eliminate their emissions across all scopes in a simple, affordable and accelerated pathway.
About GNFZ
GNFZ (Global Net Zero Foundation) is committed to accelerating the realization of a net zero world by providing comprehensive solutions that help businesses and buildings achieve their carbon reduction targets.
GNFZ offers independent, third-party certification and uses the GHG Protocol as its universal framework to address and eliminate Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. What sets GNFZ apart from other certification bodies is its rating system and flexibility in allowing customers to choose their own decarbonization standards, and incremental emissions reduction benchmarks that showcase progress throughout the certification journey. Additionally, GNFZ’s cloud-based platform connects customers with industry experts and partners, ensuring best-in-class strategies are applied, making the path to net zero more affordable, accessible, and scalable than traditional approaches.
For more information about GNFZ, its certification system, and upcoming events, visit [https://www.globalnetworkforzero.com/]
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