“Despite these challenges, India’s commitment to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2070, announced at COP26, is an ambitious move,” writes Aniruddha Agnihotri.

As the world’s fifth-largest economy, India is faced with the challenge of balancing industrial growth and sustainable development. Rapid urbanization and industrialization bring with it environmental complications, including air and water pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss. India’s air quality, particularly in cities like New Delhi and Mumbai, is steadily on the decline with the World Health Organization’s Ambient Air Quality Database showing a downtrend from 2023 to 2024. Water security is another critical issue, exacerbated by over-extraction and pollution. Coastal cities like Mumbai and Kolkata face increased risks from sea-level rise, while Bengaluru and Chennai grapple with severe water shortages. Deforestation has surged in the country between 2015 and 2020, resulting in a grave threat to our rich biodiversity.

Climate change impacts are widespread. Despite these challenges, India’s commitment to achieving Net-Zero emissions by 2070, announced at COP26, is an ambitious move. The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) outlines strategies across eight missions, focusing on solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, and water conservation. The government has introduced robust policies to arrest the impact on the environment. While the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) aims to reduce pollution levels by 20-30 per cent by 2024, Atal Bhujal Yojana aims to improve groundwater management. The Green India Mission aims to counteract this by increasing forest cover and restoring degraded ecosystems.

However, the success of these initiatives depends heavily on organized implementation and monitoring, which requires coordinated efforts from all stakeholders including policymakers, corporates, and civil society. Corporations have a huge responsibility of leading by example in helping India achieve its sustainable development goals. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) takes this momentous responsibility earnestly. As a leading global IT services company, TCS has prioritized reducing its carbon footprint through various initiatives under its Environmental Sustainability Policy. In 2021, TCS committed to reduce its absolute emissions by 70 per cent across Scope 1 and 2 by 2025, based on a 2016 baseline. As of March 31, 2024, TCS has already reduced its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 80 per cent and aims to be Net Zero by 2030.

TCS has been able to reduce its carbon footprint with three key strategies: energy efficiency measures, investments in green infrastructure, and an increased reliance on renewable energy sources. Today, renewable energy accounts for 74 per cent of total energy used at TCS premises. With initiatives like sewage treatment and reuse, rainwater harvesting, and employee awareness programs, TCS strongly advocates for water conservation on campuses. New campuses are designed to maximize water efficiency and recycling capabilities.

Efforts to minimize waste generation and maximize recycling are also a priority. In FY24, TCS treated 95 per cent of food waste in its owned campuses and achieved zero waste-to-landfill certification for one campus, diverting over 99 per cent of waste from landfills. TCS is also committed to urban biodiversity conservation, with action plans in place across 18 campuses housing over 600 flora and 200 fauna species.
India’s sustainable development journey is multifaceted. By embracing innovative policies and corporate responsibility, India is making significant progress towards a greener future.