by P. GopalaKrishnan, Managing Director, Southeast Asia and Middle East, Green Business Certification Inc (GBCI)
India's journey toward net zero: A global context
India's journey toward achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2070 has become a defining narrative in the global climate movement. With less than four percent of cumulative historical emissions from 1850 to 2019, despite housing nearly 17 percent of the world's population, India is taking bold steps to balance its developmental goals with its climate commitments. At a time when global benchmarks are becoming more ambitious, India's leadership in green building and sustainable urban development is shaping a new paradigm for emerging economies. The country's commitment, first declared at COP26, is backed by a robust framework of policies and initiatives that are actively redefining the future of its built environment.
From ECBC to ECSBC: A broader vision for buildings
Among the most significant developments is the evolution of the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) into the more comprehensive Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code (ECSBC). This shift reflects a growing recognition that sustainability in buildings must go beyond energy efficiency to encompass site planning, water and waste management, indoor environmental quality, and overall carbon footprint reduction.
The ECBC, first introduced in 2007 and updated in 2017, set the foundation by promoting energy efficiency across commercial construction. However, the need to expand the scope of regulations became clear as urbanization accelerated. With the launch of ECSBC under the amended Energy Conservation Act of 2022, India is moving towards a future where building codes support a holistic approach to sustainability. States such as Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh have led in adopting ECBC and are now preparing for the transition to ECSBC, including measures to simplify compliance and promote awareness among stakeholders.
The role of life cycle assessment in net zero buildings
Parallel to regulatory reforms, the adoption of scientific tools like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is gaining prominence in India's net zero journey. LCA provides a comprehensive methodology for evaluating both embodied carbon, which accounts for emissions from material production and construction, and operational carbon, which relates to energy consumption throughout a building's life. This dual focus ensures that sustainability efforts are not limited to operations but are integrated from the earliest stages of building design and material selection.
A recent example from Chennai, Tamil Nadu, highlights the practical application of LCA in India's commercial sector. A commercial office building spanning nearly 60,000 square meters conducted a detailed LCA using the OneClick LCA tool. The study revealed embodied carbon emissions of 499 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per square meter. Through strategies such as using low-carbon materials, optimizing material efficiency, and incorporating recycled components, the project significantly reduced its embodied carbon. In terms of operational carbon, the project achieved a 26 percent improvement over the baseline standards outlined in ASHRAE 90.1.2010, aided by efficient HVAC systems, advanced lighting controls, and a high-performance building envelope. Onsite renewable energy generation combined with investments in offsite renewable energy procurement allowed the project to offset its remaining emissions, achieving net zero carbon status.
Certifying progress with LEED zero carbon
Certification systems such as LEED Zero Carbon are playing a critical role in validating and recognizing such efforts. To achieve LEED Zero Carbon certification, a project must demonstrate a carbon dioxide equivalent balance of zero over the preceding year. This is calculated by accounting for emissions from delivered energy and occupant transportation, and offset by onsite renewable energy generation, offsite renewable procurement, and carbon offsets. Importantly, the environmental attributes of all renewable energy sources must be retained by the project, ensuring integrity in claims of carbon neutrality.
The LEED Zero Carbon framework empowers developers and building owners to set measurable, impact-driven sustainability goals. It also builds transparency and accountability into the process, encouraging continuous improvement over time. Projects are required to renew their commitments annually over a three-year period, reinforcing the idea that net zero is not a one-time milestone but an ongoing journey.
India's growing leadership in green building
India's growing momentum in sustainable construction is also reflected in its global standing. Ranking third globally for LEED green building certification in 2024, the country achieved 370 LEED-certified projects covering 8.50 million gross square meters—making it the third-largest market for LEED outside the U.S. Notably, India is also the world’s largest market for LEED Zero certifications to date. LEED certifications in India are managed by the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), which works to accelerate the adoption of green buildings across the nation. India's performance not only addresses the growing demand for sustainable urban infrastructure but also represents a significant stride toward achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals for 2030.
As India continues to urbanize, integrating net zero principles into building design and urban planning will be crucial. The synergy between regulatory frameworks like ECSBC, scientific tools like LCA, and certification systems like LEED Zero Carbon demonstrates that India is not merely participating in the global net zero movement but actively defining its future.
The road ahead will require collective action, innovation, and unwavering commitment. With the groundwork firmly in place, India's buildings are poised to not only meet but to lead the net zero transition for the next generation.
