Gender equality In Indian workplaces remains uneven – Times of India

India’s Climate Challenge: Balancing Development and Sustainability in Line with Sustainable Development Goals

Overview of Climate Vulnerability and Impact

India faces severe consequences from climate change, with approximately 5.4 million people internally displaced due to floods, droughts, and erratic weather patterns. Ranked sixth globally in climate vulnerability, India confronts the critical challenge of aligning its development trajectory with sustainability principles, directly impacting several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 1 (No Poverty).

Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Profile

1. India contributes 7.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, making it the sixth largest emitter worldwide.
2. Main emission sources:
   • Electricity and heat production
   • Transport sector (12.9% of emissions)
3. Renewable energy accounts for 47.4% of installed capacity, supporting SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).
4. Despite renewable growth, coal production increased by 58% between FY 2013-14 and FY 2022-23, still responsible for over 70% of CO2 emissions.

National Climate Commitments: The Panchamrit Strategy

At COP26, India announced the Panchamrit strategy, setting ambitious climate targets aligned with SDG 13:

• Installation of 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030
• 50% of total energy consumption from renewable sources
• Reduction of carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes
• Reduction of carbon intensity by 45%
• Achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2070

Regulatory Frameworks Supporting Sustainable Development

To realize these goals, India is implementing regulatory mechanisms that promote sustainable investments and emissions reductions, reinforcing SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):

• Carbon market framework establishment
• Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emission Intensity Target Rules for high-emission sectors
• Climate Finance Taxonomy guiding investments into sustainable projects across nine national missions

Mandatory Environmental Disclosures and Corporate Responsibility

Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting is becoming mandatory for the top 1,000 listed companies through frameworks such as Business Responsibility & Sustainability Reporting (BRSR). Compliance with international standards including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) is increasing, advancing SDG 12 and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Corporate Leadership in Climate Action

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) exemplifies corporate commitment to climate goals:

• Targeting carbon neutrality by 2040
• Substantial reductions in Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions
• 100% renewable energy usage by 2030
• Expansion of electric vehicle fleet supporting SDG 11 and SDG 13
• Afforestation through Project Hariyali, planting over 1 million trees, contributing to SDG 15 (Life on Land)

Innovative Start-ups Driving Sustainable Solutions

Start-ups like Takachar are addressing environmental challenges by:

• Developing portable technology to convert agricultural waste into bioproducts
• Providing alternatives to harmful stubble burning
• Creating new revenue streams for rural communities, supporting SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 13

Challenges and Barriers to ESG Implementation

Despite progress, significant hurdles remain:

• Cost concerns cited by over 50% of SMEs, despite 92% prioritizing ESG
• Fragmented regulations and limited resources
• Insufficient awareness and capacity

Addressing these challenges requires coordinated efforts among businesses, regulators, and civil society, aligning with SDG 17.

The Times of India Social Impact Summit 2025

To further promote sustainable development and recognize contributions in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and ESG, The Times of India is organizing a two-day Social Impact Summit on July 11-12, 2025, in Mumbai. The event, presented by Malabar Gold & Diamonds with Ernst & Young as knowledge partner, will convene business leaders, NGOs, and policymakers to discuss climate resilience and low-carbon growth strategies.

Madhav Pai, CEO of WRI India, emphasizes that this decade is critical for India to direct infrastructure investments toward climate resilience, reinforcing the urgency of achieving SDG 9 and SDG 13.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • India’s focus on increasing renewable energy capacity and sourcing 50% of energy from renewables.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Development of new technologies like Takachar’s portable technology converting agricultural waste into bioproducts.
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Addressing internal displacement caused by climate change impacts such as floods and droughts.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Implementation of environmental disclosures and sustainability reporting frameworks for companies.
5. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • India’s Panchamrit strategy goals, carbon market framework, and corporate climate actions.
6. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Afforestation efforts such as Mahindra & Mahindra’s Project Hariyali planting over 1 million trees.

2. Specific Targets Under the Identified SDGs

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030 (India’s goal of 50% energy from renewables by 2030).
   • Target 7.3: Double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency (implied through carbon intensity reduction).
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean technologies (start-ups like Takachar).
3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.5: Reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected by disasters, including floods and droughts (addressing internal displacement).
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.6: Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle (mandatory BRSR and compliance with GRI, TCFD, SASB).
5. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning (Panchamrit strategy, carbon market framework).
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation and adaptation (ESG awareness among SMEs).
6. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • Target 15.2: Promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests (Project Hariyali afforestation).

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

1. Renewable Energy Capacity
   • Installed capacity of renewable energy (47.4% as stated).
   • Target of 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030.
2. Carbon Emissions
   • Total carbon emissions and reduction targets (reduce carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes, cut carbon intensity by 45%).
   • Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions reductions by corporations like Mahindra & Mahindra.
3. Afforestation
   • Number of trees planted (over 1 million trees by Project Hariyali).
4. Displacement Due to Climate Events
   • Number of people internally displaced by floods, droughts, or erratic weather (5.4 million people).
5. Corporate Sustainability Reporting
   • Compliance rates with BRSR, GRI, TCFD, SASB frameworks.
   • Percentage of companies adopting ESG priorities (92% of SMEs surveyed).
6. Energy Sector Emissions
   • Percentage of emissions from electricity, heat production, and transport sectors (e.g., transport sector contributes 12.9%).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com