Towards a net-zero built environment in India

Leaders from India’s steel, cement, energy and real estate industries came together recently to launch Build Ahead: an industry-first alliance dedicated to accelerating the use of low-carbon building materials in the construction value chain. Founded by Xynteo, Build Ahead’s long-term goal is to support India in achieving its net-zero targets by 2070, according to an Economic Times Energyworld report. The founding coalition members — which include JLL, Godrej Construction, Lodha, JSW Cement, Stichting SED Fund, and Shell India — realized that there was an urgent need for leadership in steering the construction industry, and India as a whole, to come together to create a net-zero, sustainable future.

The Xynteo website states that as a business-led coalition, Build Ahead is dedicated to collectively achieving a net-zero built environment in India. To accelerate decarbonisation of the whole construction value chain, collective and collaborative action is needed by the sector for the design, construction, and manufacturing of raw materials, as well as for the use and end of use phases of real estate, construction, and infrastructure projects. To achieve the coalition’s mission and objectives, and to develop and implement a shared action plan towards decarbonising the construction value chain, Build Ahead members are committed to the coalition’s charter.

Collaboration among key players in India’s construction industry will enable the use of new technologies and practices needed to both reduce emissions and drive growth. The coalition will focus on four key activities.

1. Creating a platform for forward-leaning organisations to work together across the construction value chain in accelerating the industry towards net zero.

2. Creating opportunities to build and strengthen alliances within and beyond the Indian construction sector for enabling the increased use of low-carbon building materials, including shifting mindsets to accelerate the adoption of these materials.

3. Developing a shared narrative on the Indian cement sector’s continued interest – as well as the Indian construction industry’s growing interest in decarbonisation – by showcasing the impact of collaborative action.

4. Supporting first movers and de-risking investments in demonstrating and scaling innovative decarbonisation technologies and low-carbon building materials.

The Build Ahead Charter outlines a set of guiding principles intended to turn ambitions into actions in the transition to a sustainable construction industry. It commits partners to undertaking positive steps towards a more sustainable construction industry, one that uses lower carbon materials. With a willingness to collaborate, a bias for action and transparency of operations and purpose, the Charter recognises that the world faces an unprecedented climate crisis and that the built environment’s carbon footprint is significant. While progress has been made, there is more to be done. De-risking decarbonisation technology is critical to success and buyers of building materials have a game-changing role. Hence, collective action from producers and buyers is required.

As the Xynteo website points out, from providing homes and places to work and do business, to building safe roads and other key infrastructure such as dams and bridges, a flourishing construction industry is the mark of a healthy, growing economy. The materials that fuel this growth, such as cement, concrete, and steel, are far more ubiquitous than many people realise. Globally, the only substance used more than concrete in total volume is water.

According to the ET report, India is also set to become the world’s fastest-growing major economy this year. As millions of Indians move to cities in search of high-quality jobs, construction will be one of the major drivers of long-term growth. Experts suggest that India’s urban population is expected to hit 525 million by 2025 and 600 million by 2036, a rapid increase from the current 400 million, which will require a huge amount of new housing and infrastructure to be constructed. Furthermore, according to the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy, more than half of the residential and commercial building stock expected in 2030 is yet to be built. India, as the world’s third-largest emitter releases 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2, with 2040 levels expected to be 50% greater than those in 2019. India is also the second largest producer of cement and steel in the world and these industries are responsible for 8% and 12% of national emissions respectively. By 2050, cement production in India is expected to grow by 2 to 2.5 times from current levels, and Indian steel demand is projected to quadruple.

With the Charter’s signing, Build Ahead is leading the charge for a concerted, industry-wide effort toward net-zero growth, and placing India at the forefront of how to approach sectoral decarbonization.