Net Zero: An effective strategy to mitigate climate change

24 Feb 2023 CW Team

Every nation, sector and industry, as well as each and every one of us, must collaborate to find ways to reduce the amount of carbon we produce because what we do in coming years to reduce emissions will be crucial to the future. And the real-estate sector is no exception.

In real estate, decarbonisation becomes increasingly significant as the nation moves toward a net-zero carbon economy by 2070. Globally, the built environment is responsible for 75 per cent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with the building sector on its own accounting for 37 per cent. In India, about 22 per cent of total emissions are from the building sector, which is also one of the largest consumers of natural resources.

Although the terms ‘carbon neutrality’ and ‘net-zero carbon’ are two terms used most frequently to define the requirements for taking action to mitigate climate change, there is a significant lack of clarity regarding what these terms mean.

Understanding net zero

“Like any new metric,” says Autif Sayyed, South Asia Lead for Green Buildings, Climate Business Department, International Finance Corporation (IFC)- World Bank Group, “there is a risk of misuse of the zero energy and zero carbon standards. As these standards are new, end consumers are often not aware of what they imply. Unfortunately, there has been some ambiguity on how and what to measure the performance of buildings to classify them as zero energy or zero carbon. The global community is now coming to agreement on these standards. The most common myth is that just by switching to a 100 per cent renewable source of energy, a building can be classified as zero energy. Most global platforms now require that a building should first reduce its need for operational energy through efficient design before resorting to renewables. Another important criterion is third-party validation of the building’s actual performance...

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Infrastructure Urban

13 Mar 2026

Implementation Status of Jal Jeevan Mission

Since August 2019 the Government has implemented Jal Jeevan Mission to provide assured potable water through household tap connections in rural India. At the start of the mission only 32.3 million (mn) rural households, representing 16.7 per cent, were reported to have tap water connections. States and union territories have reported that 125.8 mn additional rural households have since been provided with tap connections. As a result, of about 193.6 mn rural households roughly 158.2 mn, or 81.71 per cent, are reported to have tap water supply at home.\n\nThe State, district and village level st..

Jal Jeevan Mission Reaches Eighty One Per Cent Rural Coverage

The Government reported substantial progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission, launched in August 2019 to provide tap water to every rural household. At launch only 32.3 million (mn) rural households had tap connections and states and Union territories reported provision of 125.8 mn additional households by March 2026. Consequently, out of about 193.6 mn rural households around 158.2 mn, or 81.71 per cent, are reported to have tap water at home. The Finance Minister announced extension of the mission until 2028 in the 2025-26 budget speech. The Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen, launched in October 20..

Empowering Local Governance for Sustainable Rural Water Supply

The Ministry of Jal Shakti has aligned the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) with the 73rd Amendment to strengthen village level planning and community ownership of water supply. Gram Panchayats, village water and sanitation committees and Pani Samitis are to plan, implement, manage and maintain piped water systems, with gram sabha processes formalising handover and oversight. Implementation support agencies including non government organisations, community based organisations and self help groups have been empanelled to train local committees and promote women participation. Under JJM, the department ..