Building a Sustainable Future: Savvy Greens' Vision for India's Net Zero Journey

As the globe grapples with climate change concerns, the notion of 'Net Zero' has arisen as a vital approach towards attaining a sustainable future. Net Zero simply indicates that the quantity of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted by human activities is balanced by the amount of GHGs removed from the atmosphere. This balance can be reached by lowering emissions while boosting carbon removal or sequestration.

India, being one of the world's top GHG polluters, plays a vital role in the Net Zero transition. The good news is that India has already made major measures to reduce its carbon footprint and has set lofty goals for the future. In this blog, Savvy Greens will investigate the notion of Net Zero and advocate for India's attempts to achieve it.

What is Net Zero?

The Net Zero idea entails lowering human-caused carbon emissions to as near zero as feasible and balancing any leftover emissions by carbon removal or sequestration. This necessitates a mix of lowering emissions and boosting carbon removal from the atmosphere. Emissions may be reduced by a variety of approaches, including increased energy efficiency, converting to renewable energy sources, and deploying low-carbon technology. A range of strategies, such as afforestation, reforestation, and soil carbon sequestration, can be used to remove or sequester carbon.

Why is Net Zero important?

The Net Zero transition is crucial for combating climate change and averting the worst consequences of global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels will need to attain worldwide Net Zero emissions by 2050. Failure to do so will have disastrous consequences, including rising sea levels, increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and food and water crises.

India's efforts towards Net Zero

The Net Zero transition is crucial for combating climate change and averting the worst consequences of global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels will need to attain worldwide Net Zero emissions by 2050. Failure to do so will have disastrous consequences, including rising sea levels, increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and food and water crises. As a sustainability organisation, Savvy Greens has been actively lobbying for the country's Net Zero transition. The group thinks that India has a unique chance to lead the road towards Net Zero while also tackling poverty and injustice.

Savvy Greens argue for a comprehensive strategy for reaching Net Zero that considers the social, economic, and environmental components of sustainability. The group thinks that achieving Net Zero involves more than just technology improvements, but also societal reform and transformation.

Savvy Greens promotes green building construction methods as an essential component of India's Net Zero transformation. Buildings make for a substantial amount of India's GHG emissions, accounting for around 8% of the country's GDP. Green construction methods, such as energy-efficient design, the use of renewable energy, and the use of sustainable materials, on the other hand, may greatly minimise the environmental effect of buildings. The need of upgrading existing buildings to make them more energy-efficient and ecologically friendly is also emphasised by Savvy Greens. Green building strategies may reduce emissions while also lowering operating costs, improving indoor air quality, and improving occupant health and well-being. The organisation pushes for regulations and incentives that encourage the use of green building techniques and help India establish a sustainable construction sector.

The role of cities in reaching Net Zero is another significant area of concern for Savvy Greens. India is rapidly urbanising, with cities housing around 34% of the population. This tendency is anticipated to continue, with forecasts indicating that cities would house roughly 40% of the world's population by 2030. Cities contribute significantly to India's GHG emissions, with transportation, building energy usage, and waste management being important factors. Savvy Greens promotes the use of sustainable urban planning, as well as green design and building approaches. We are certain that by building livable, resilient, and low-carbon cities, India can improve the quality of life for its residents, cut emissions, and contribute to global climate change efforts.

To conclude, reaching Net Zero is a key necessity for India and the globe, and it necessitates a comprehensive and multi-faceted strategy. Savvy Greens thinks that by utilising its strengths in renewable energy, circular economy, green building construction, and innovation, India has a unique chance to lead the way in this transformation.The organisation promotes a collaborative and inclusive strategy in which all stakeholders, including government, corporations, civil society, and communities, collaborate to achieve a sustainable future. India can confront the difficulties of climate change while also creating new possibilities for economic growth, social fairness, and environmental stewardship by adopting Net Zero and investing in sustainable development.

Ruchi Gandhi

Principal Analyst - Savvy Greens