Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Thursday highlighted the real estate sector’s role as a key nation-building force while addressing the Confederation of Real Estate Developer Associations of India National Conclave 2025 in New Delhi. The event was attended by Union Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah as the Chief Guest. Yadav said that as India works towards the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047, urban planning and construction must focus on inclusive, resilient and sustainable growth, with environmental considerations embedded at the earliest stages of development. The Minister stressed that development and environmental protection are complementary objectives that must advance together. Highlighting the sector’s influence on energy consumption, water use, waste generation, air quality and urban heat, he said real estate will play a central role in achieving India’s climate commitments, including the Net Zero target by 2070. Sustainability, he added, is no longer optional but the foundation of future-ready development. With climate change increasingly affecting cities, he called for climate-resilient planning, including flood-resilient layouts, heat-adaptive building materials, expanded green cover and sustainable mobility solutions. Yadav outlined reforms undertaken by the Ministry to modernise environmental governance, such as strengthening environmental clearance mechanisms, expanding digital and technology-driven systems, adopting a risk-based regulatory approach, advancing Mission LiFE and the Green Credit Programme, and reinforcing air and water quality frameworks in urban areas. He assured industry stakeholders that the government seeks to reward efficient compliance while acting firmly against violations, noting that ease of doing business cannot come at the cost of environmental safeguards, nor should environmental protection result in avoidable delays. Encouraging the sector to take the lead, the Minister urged developers to adopt energy-efficient designs, renewable energy, water-positive developments, circular construction practices and green buildings, which he said would create long-term value for cities and citizens. Acknowledging CREDAI’s engagement, Yadav reiterated that industry bodies are partners in national development and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainable urbanisation, regulatory reform and collaborative governance to ensure Indian cities grow in harmony with nature.