Page 2 - Green Infrastructure

Over 50% firms committed to achieving net-zero emission target: PwC survey

About 50 per cent of the Indian businesses surveyed expressed their commitment to achieving the net-zero target, reflecting their desire to address climate change issues and transit to a low-carbon economy, said a PwC report on Tuesday. Of these, about 48 per cent committed to achieving net-zero emission target by 2030, said PwC India's Tax transparency in ESG survey conducted between April-July 2023. The report is based on a market survey of nearly 250 tax heads, sustainability/ESG leaders, CFOs and CXOs of Indian businesses, spanning industries such as financial services, technology, media, and telecom (TMT), retail and consumer, engineering and construction, among others. In recent years, the global business landscape has witnessed a significant transformation in sustainable and responsible practices, said a PwC release, adding "as a core pillar of corporate strategy, companies are investing in sustainability and striving to communicate their intentions, commitments and ...

Govt to invest Rs 60,000 cr in river cruise tourism, green vessels

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday said the government would invest Rs 60,000 crore by 2047 in river cruise tourism and development of green vessels. "We are going to invest Rs 45,000 crore in river cruise, which will take the passenger capacity from 2 lakh to 15 lakh by 2047," he said on the sidelines of the first Inland Waterways Development Council meeting here. Sonowal also said the government aims at investing another Rs 15,000 crore in green transport over the next 10 years to develop 1,000 vessels and ferries. "In total, there will be a Rs 60,000-crore investment by 2047, and it will be through the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The projects will help generate thousands of jobs," the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways said. The council meeting, represented by officials of around 20 states and Union territories, also saw the unveiling of Harit Nauka' guidelines for green transition of inland vessels and the River Cruise Tourism Roadmap 2047. The ...

NHAI, National Remote Sensing Centre to develop green cover index

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has signed an agreement with the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) to develop a "Green Cover Index" for the extensive network of National Highways in India, an official statement said on Wednesday. According to the statement, since the initiation of the Green Highways Policy in 2015, the prioritization of greening Highway Corridors has been a focal point for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and NHAI and presently, the monitoring of plantations relies on site visits by field personnel. "Using the capabilities of emerging technologies to enhance in-situ data collection and supplement plantation management and monitoring, including performance audits conducted by NHAI, the NRSC will undertake a comprehensive pan-India estimation of green cover, referred to as the "Green Cover Index" for National Highways using high-resolution satellite imagery," the statement said. It will also facilitate targeted interventions in .

Valuations capture upsides in Thermax stock; double-digit growth likely

The company's careful selection of projects and areas to enter has helped it to maintain a strong balance sheet with no net debt

COP28 climate summit: PM Narendra Modi pushes for 'green credit' plans

Proposes to host UN climate summit in 2028 in India, condemns historic polluters

LIVE: EC revises date of counting for Mizoram assembly elections to 4 Dec

Catch the latest news updates from across the globe

Defence shipyard GRSE to develop electric tugs 'E-VOLT 50' with partners

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd, a leading defence shipyard, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Shift Clean Energy (Shift), Seatech Solutions International (Seatech), and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) to develop electric tugs named E-VOLT 50. This project seeks to mitigate carbon emissions, enhance operational efficiency, and establish new benchmarks for performance and environmental sustainability within the tugboat industry in a step towards India's aspiration to become the 'global hub for green shipbuilding' by 2030. GRSE will construct the tugboat based on the design by Seatech, while Shift will provide energy storage solutions. ABS will oversee the construction and design process, ensuring adherence to all applicable regulatory standards, thereby certifying safety, reliability, and compliance, the company informed the bourses. "The 'E-VOLT 50' represents a bold step towards a cleaner and greener future for maritime sector. By harnessi

Real estate sector bats for green spaces, investors willing to pay premium

DECARBONISING REALTY: The sector creates spaces that breathe life; corporates and investors willing to pay a premium to comply with global sustainability norms

Green buildings can reduce emissions by 35%, maintenance costs by 20%

KPMG in India and Colliers' 'Sustainable real estate: An opportunity to leverage' report finds developers moving towards sustainable real estate despite costs increasing by 5-15%

Kejriwal residence construction: NGT gives panel 4 weeks to file report

The National Green Tribunal has expressed disappointment over a panel not submitting its report on alleged violation of environmental norms in constructing some structures at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence. Noting that the panel which was constituted in May this year to ascertain the factual position had failed to comply with the NGT's direction, the tribunal granted it four more weeks for filing the report, and warned that the failure to do so will lead to issuance of summons to the state's chief secretary to appear before it. A joint committee comprising the chief secretary, principal secretary (Environment & Forest) of the Delhi government, a nominee of the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC), and the district magistrate of north Delhi was constituted to go into the matter pursuant to the tribunal's order dated May 9, The NGT was dealing with a petition which has alleged that permanent and semi-permanent constructions were raised and more than 20 trees

Emerging markets need $1.5 trn to boost greener construction, says IFC

IFC typically provides commercial financing priced at market rates

Carbon emission reducing practices under GCP will earn carbon credits: Govt

Any activity generating green credits under the government's Green Credit Programme (GCP) will also receive carbon credits under the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme if it leads to the reduction or removal of carbon emissions, according to a notification. The government on Thursday notified rules for the GCP, which aims to incentivise environmentally conscious practices and promote a sustainable lifestyle through a market-based mechanism. Green credits generated through such actions can be traded on a domestic market platform. According to rules, environment-friendly actions include tree plantation, water management, sustainable agriculture, waste management, air pollution reduction, mangrove conservation and restoration, ecomark label development, and sustainable building and infrastructure. The rules also specify that green credits generated or procured by industries, companies and other entities to fulfil any legal obligation cannot be traded. "The Green Credit programme is independ

NAP for Green Shipping promotes eco-friendly practices, says Jagannathan

The National Action Plan for Green Shipping promotes eco-friendly practices and incentives for low-emission ships, positioning India's maritime sector for a prosperous and environmentally responsible future, Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan said on Wednesday. Speaking at the 13th edition of the South Asia's largest maritime exhibition and conference -- INMEX SMM India 2023 -- here, Jagannathan also said that the sector's vision encompasses quadrupling port capacity, clean energy fuel hubs, and cruise tourism growth, among others. The three-day conference, which is being hosted in the city in collaboration with German exhibition organiser Hamburg Messe und Congress, will cover several issues concerning the industry, including green shipping and digitalisation, among others. "The National Action Plan for Green Shipping promotes eco-friendly practices and incentives for low emission ships, positioning India's maritime sector for a prosperous and environmentally responsibl

Green-certified office space jump 36% across top 6 cities since 2019: Study

Green-certified office space stock have increased 36 per cent to 342 million square feet across six major cities in the last three and half years, according to a CBRE-CII report. Real estate consultant CBRE and industry body CII on Wednesday released its report titled, 'Indian Real Estate: Taking Giant Strides - 2023 Mid-Year Outlook' at CII Realty conference here. According to the report, green-certified office stock stood at 251 million square feet in 2019. Enhanced focus on global and domestic Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) regulations are driving occupiers' flight-to-quality wave towards modern, premium and sustainable spaces in the medium to long-term, the report said. Anshuman Magazine, Chairman & CEO - India, South-East Asia, Middle East & Africa, CBRE, said, "As the economy gains momentum and the real estate sector thrives, there is a growing emphasis on ESG and its compliance. We anticipate accelerated demand in modern, tech-enabled, and green-compliant ...

Sterlite Power buys Beawar Transmission to develop project in Rajasthan

Sterlite Power on Friday said it has acquired Beawar Transmission Ltd for developing an electricity transmission project in Rajasthan. Beawar Transmission is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of REC Power Development and Consultancy Ltd. The SPV was awarded to Sterlite Power through tariff-based competitive bidding in August, a company statement said. "Sterlite Power announces the acquisition of Beawar Transmission Ltd from REC Power Development and Consultancy Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of REC Ltd," it said. The company did not share the financial details of the acquisition. Through the Beawar Transmission Ltd, the company will build the Green Energy Corridor project on Build, Own, Operate, Transfer (BOOT) basis, for a period of 35 years, as per the statement. This is Sterlite Power's 19th power transmission project in India acquired through tariff-based competitive bidding, the company said, adding that it now has Rs 12,000 crore worth of projects under management. "Sterlite

43% of India's exports to EU to be hit by green regulations: Report

Textiles, chemicals, certain consumer electronics products among trade categories that could be affected

From ports to mines, Gautam Adani wants all his businesses to go green

Adani has put 2030 as the deadline for Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, India's largest integrated ports and logistics company, to become net carbon-neutral

G20 makes case for facilitating pvt capital to fund green carbon tech

It also underlined the need for creating an enabling framework for startups to come up with new technologies to reduce carbon emissions

India tops globally in LEED Zero certifications of green building projects

India ranks first globally in LEED Zero certified green building projects surpassing the US and China, according to USGBC and GBCI. LEED Zero recognises projects that have reached net zero or net positive status in the categories of carbon, energy, water, or waste. In India, realty firm DLF and FMCG player ITC are leading in the LEED Zero green certification initiative. The LEED Zero projects, including office spaces, hospitality facilities, retail malls, industrial manufacturing projects, and data centres, serve a mix of sectors. US Green Building Council (USGBC) and Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI) on Thursday said in a statement that India has emerged as a top country with LEED Zero green building projects. India has become a global leader in LEED Zero certifications, outperforming both the US and China, it added. India has 73 LEED Zero certified projects, comprising 45 per cent of the more than 150 total LEED Zero certifications. Haryana and Tamil Nadu are leading the

To boost production, govt may provide Rs 50/kg support for green hydrogen

The government plans to provide Rs 50 per kg of hydrogen in the first year and the support will be brought down to Rs 30 per kg of production in the third year