NITI Aayog has released reports outlining decarbonisation roadmaps for the cement, aluminium and micro, small and medium enterprise sectors, highlighting the need to balance emission reduction with sustained economic growth and competitiveness.

Speaking at the launch event in New Delhi, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery emphasised the critical role of the MSME sector in India’s development, describing it as a key driver of employment, innovation and inclusive growth. He stressed the importance of strengthening the sector to support long-term economic expansion.

NITI Aayog Chief Executive Officer BVR Subrahmanyam said the aluminium and cement industries are among the most energy-intensive sectors and major contributors to industrial emissions. He noted that decarbonisation across these sectors is essential for meeting India’s climate commitments while maintaining long-term economic competitiveness.

According to Subrahmanyam, the roadmaps provide a strategic vision to help the aluminium, cement and MSME sectors reduce emissions while continuing to grow and remain globally competitive. For MSMEs, the roadmap focuses on improving access to affordable green finance, technology and capacity building to ensure an inclusive and smooth transition.

The report recommends prioritising the use of refuse-derived fuels, increasing clinker substitution, scaling up carbon capture, utilisation and storage, and strengthening the implementation of the carbon credit trading scheme to enable deep decarbonisation in the cement and aluminium sectors.

It also outlines a green transition pathway for MSMEs built around three key levers: deployment of energy-efficient equipment, adoption of alternative fuels, and integration of green electricity into operations.