Transforming the built environment is critical to achieving India’s ambitious net-zero climate targets announced by the Hon’ble Prime Minister at COP26. Gateway to India’s Dymaxion is a publication indicative of India’s cultural prowess represented in its buildings and its embrace of a commitment towards a sustainable future. Together, this document encapsulates the spirit of innovative, collaborative, efficient, futuristic, and sustainable growth that India aspires to in its built environments. With India’s building stock set to double in the next two decades, the sector has significant responsibility and opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Recognising the sector’s pivotal role, Lodha and RMI India Foundation established the Net-Zero Urban Accelerator in July 2022. This initiative is not merely a response to the climate challenge, it’s a vision to redefine urban development and lead India’s transition towards net-zero by 2070.

About the Lodha Net Zero Urban Accelerator

The Accelerator focuses on enhancing resilience, health, affordability and access to energy services for all by developing actionable initiatives under five focus areas: Embodied Carbon, Passive and Active Thermal Comfort Solutions, Equipment Efficiency, Clean Energy and Clean Mobility. The flagship Palava City project by Lodha serves as a unique living laboratory for the Accelerator that can host as well as promote experiments and innovations by thermal comfort to build integrative sustainable solutions at the city scale. It will also be a resource hub and a go-to platform for industry and policymakers charting India’s decarbonisation journey.

Why Built Environment?

Buildings and infrastructure leave an imprint on the planet that could last for decades, which is why smart and sustainable buildings are key to ensure a better life for us, and for generations to come. However, the unlikelihood of restricting global warming to 1.5°C is a stark reminder of the immense challenge we face. The IPCC report indicates that, to stay within the 1.5°C limit, global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions need to be reduced by at least 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, and by at least 60% by 2035. This decade is crucial for achieving these targets. Read more in the report.