As the climate crisis is gaining greater global attention, India has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by the year 2070. The pledge inclines towards boosting funds for green projects, as an estimated Rs31 lakh crore (Rs31 trillion) will be spent toward this by 2030. Renewable energy and storage get around Rs19 lakh crore, emphasizing the country’s ambitious commitment to sustainable growth.
India has already seen many cities setting positive examples. Ambitious work like the Gujarat Hybrid Renewable Energy Park in Kutch reflects India’s growing progress. Taking up almost 180,000 acres, the park aims to make 30 GW by using solar and wind energy which will be the largest hybrid renewable facility in the world. The strategy gives a big boost to India’s national goal of having 500 GW of clean energy by 2030. Greener Cities, Safer Futures
Urban sustainability is being looked at more closely again. Through renovations like the Kamla Nehru Ridge project in Delhi, natural methods are being applied to cut back on urban temperatures and lessen flooding, while still being inexpensive and usable in many places. It is now understood that having green areas in cities helps the environment and is also good for the economy in India.
The Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) is also an important step forward. Having 25,000 solar panels will help the system get about 70% of its electricity from solar which should cut down on greenhouse gas emissions by 615 tonnes a year for the next 25 years.
Against the backdrop of the Millenium City (Gurgaon), an urbanising satellite town of Delhi, the transition to sustainability is starting to gain weight. Its fame for high-rise corporate complexes and growing residential tracts, Gurgaon is gripped by acute air pollution, traffic jams, and water management problems. Over the past few years, the city has been making efforts towards cleaner energy by installing solar panels on buildings and encouraging electric vehicles with better charging networks. The Haryana state government, in association with the private sector, has also launched green building schemes and planting drives.
Additionally, smart city projects plan to incorporate AI-powered traffic management, efficient public transportation, and live pollution detection, bringing Gurgaon's development in harmony with India's overall climate objective.
According to Deepak Rai, Founder and Managing Director of BOOTES, “Sustainability is no longer an afterthought—it’s the cornerstone of modern urban development. Every BOOTES project is built with energy efficiency, renewable integration, and smart technology at its core, aligned with India’s Net-Zero vision. Our mission is to reduce environmental impact while enhancing functionality and livability. By embedding sustainability at every stage, we’re creating spaces that aren’t just future-ready—they’re future-positive: adaptive, regenerative, and built to serve generations to come.”
Urban areas throughout India are starting to take a leading role in this shift, with cities such as Bengaluru, Pune, and Ahmedabad investing in smart city infrastructure, electric mobility, and waste-to-energy initiatives. Urban agglomerations are both significant emitters and potential sources of mitigation, with their high energy use and speed of development. Local administrations and urban planners are increasingly incorporating climate resilience into city master plans for a sustainable urban development.
Elante Group's founder, Akash Kohli, says, "The time has come for real estate to not just focus on development, but also take responsibility for the environment. Gurugram's SPR region, Sector 37, and the Dwarka Expressway are no longer just real estate hubs, but are emerging as models of green infrastructure development, where smart technology and sustainable construction go hand in hand. We shape every project with the mindset that it should lay the foundation for a clean, safe, and balanced lifestyle for future generations. With every brick, we are also building a connection with nature".
India is going beyond talk and working on projects to make sustainability happen. Every step a city or town may take to do something towards sustainability matters. This ranges from setting up different orders of renewable energy, to numerous other ways, such as planting trees or simply choosing to commute in witness to cleaner forms.
