In a recent address at the Confederation of Real Estate Developer Associations of India (CREDAI) National Conclave 2025 in New Delhi, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav emphasized the critical need for sustainable and climate-resilient urban development as India progresses towards becoming a Viksit Bharat by 2047. He urged the real estate sector to embrace energy-efficient designs, circular construction practices, and green buildings, highlighting the sector's significant role in shaping India's economic growth, urban landscape, and overall quality of life.
Yadav cautioned that the ease of doing business should not come at the expense of environmental safeguards, nor should environmental protection lead to unnecessary delays. He stressed that development and environmental protection are not competing objectives but rather complementary processes that must advance together. Environmental considerations, he asserted, should be integrated into projects from the initial planning stages rather than addressed later through regulatory compliance.
The Minister pointed out the real estate sector's substantial influence on energy consumption, water usage, waste generation, air quality, and urban heat, noting that construction and housing are central to India's climate commitments, including its net-zero emissions target by 2070. He observed that sustainability has evolved from being a voluntary add-on to a fundamental requirement for future urban growth.
Yadav called for climate-resilient urban design, including flood-resilient layouts, heat-adaptive building materials, increased green cover, and improved public and sustainable transport systems, especially in light of recent climate-related stresses on cities. He also outlined reforms undertaken by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to modernize environmental governance. These include strengthening environmental clearance mechanisms, promoting 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.
Assuring industry stakeholders, Yadav stated the government's commitment to rewarding efficiency and compliance while taking firm action against violations. He encouraged the real estate sector to take the lead in adopting renewable energy, water-positive developments, and circular construction practices, emphasizing that such measures add long-term value for cities and citizens. He reiterated the government's commitment to sustainable urbanization, regulatory reform, and collaborative governance to ensure that India's cities are inclusive, resilient, and in harmony with nature. Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah was present as the Chief Guest at the event.
