ECONOMY & POLICY

"Reducing Carbon Footprint: Strategies for Environmental Sustainability"

Somewhere in 2006, Swedish pension funds concerned with global warming and environmental degradation were looking to diversify their portfolio to include investments in environment-friendly projects that would not carry additional risk. They could not find any such instruments. This led t...

Somewhere in 2006, Swedish pension funds concerned with global warming and environmental degradation were looking to diversify their portfolio to include investments in environment-friendly projects that would not carry additional risk. They could not find any such instruments. This led them to explore the possibility of creating an instrument like a regular investment product in terms of yield, security, risk and maturity, while addressing concerns related to the environment. After many discussions with stakeholders, the draft of an instrument was prepared. With this, investors approached the World Bank within a month of deliberations, the Bank accepted the concept and worked out the details and the first ‘green bond’ was born in 2008. This bond created the blueprint for today’s green bond in terms of the criteria to be followed to be classified as one. While drafting the product, financial and environmental teams interacted, understanding and addressing their respective concerns, to ensure that the bond meets the objective with which it was designed. This included criteria like opinion from recognised climate research institutions, transparency and impact reporting. This bond established that it is possible to raise funds at competitive rates for environmentally sustainable projects and that there is a large pool of investors willing to invest in such bonds. What are green bonds? Green bonds are fixed-income instruments funding projects related to the climate and environment. However, deciding what should count within that definition can be difficult. The Climate Bonds Initiative (CBI), International Capital Market Association (ICMA), European Union and Chinese government have developed guidelines to define green bonds. Broadly, green bonds finance projects aimed at energy efficiency, pollution prevention, sustainable agriculture, fishery and forestry, the protection of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, clean transportation, clean water and sustainable water management.

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Resources

Skyview by Empyrean is Making Benchmarks in the Indian Ropeway Industry

FIL Industries Private Limited, the parent company of Empyrean Skyview Projects that pioneered ropeway mobility solutions in India with Jammu’s Skyview Gondola, is currently developing the Dehradun-Mussoorie ropeway and is on track to complete Phase I by September 2026. The ropeway is set to be India’s longest passenger aerial monocable covering 5.8 km between the foothills of Dehradun in Purkulgam and MDDA taxi stand in the hills of Mussoorie in just under 20 minutes. The firm pioneered green mobility solutions in India with the development of the flagship Skyview Gondola in Jam..

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Technology

Creativity is for Humans, Productivity is for Robots!

On most construction sites, the rhythm of progress is measured by the clang of steel, the hum of machinery and the sweat of thousands. But increasingly, new sounds are entering the mix: the quiet efficiency of algorithms, the hum of drones overhead, and the precision of robotic arms at work. Behind the concrete and cables, an invisible force is taking hold: data. It is turning blueprints into living simulations, managing fleets of machines, and helping engineers make decisions before a single brick is laid. This is not the construction of tomorrow; it is the architecture of today – built on ..

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Infrastructure Urban

Bhartiya Urban Unveils ‘Bhartiya Converge’ GCC Enablement Platform

Bhartiya Urban has launched Bhartiya Converge, its latest business venture designed to become India’s premier platform for enabling Global Capability Centres (GCCs). The initiative offers an integrated ecosystem aimed at helping global clients gain a competitive edge in today’s rapidly evolving business environment. Focused on enhancing turnaround time and operational efficiencies, the company seeks to deliver better business outcomes powered by top-tier talent. Bhartiya Converge presents a customised and integrated suite of microservices that addresses the nuanced and evolving operational..

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