India should adopt a national standard definition of sustainable buildings, aligned with global norms

As India participates in the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Brazil, the spotlight will be on updating the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0) and converting them into implementation blueprints. The focus will also be on negotiating to secure US$1.3 trillion per year in climate finance by 2035 for developing countries—crucial for advancing India’s goal of achieving net zero by 2070. While India is in the process of developing its climate finance taxonomy, formulating an exclusive sustainable buildings taxonomy—that sets clear standards on activities, materials, or practices—will be critical in channelling the finance flow into the buildings sector.

With India’s rapidly urbanising population, the country’s buildings sector is at a critical juncture. Most of the buildings that will exist by 2050 are yet to be built. There is also tremendous energy-saving potential in retrofitting the existing buildings. As per a Bureau of Energy Efficiency report, the buildings sector accounted for 32 per cent of India’s total electricity consumption in 2024, revealing an opportunity at hand to intervene and reduce the energy demand and emissions intensity while building resilience.

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