JSW's CSO Reveals How India Can Accelerate Its Green Industrial Transition

JSW Group's Chief Sustainability Officer is pushing for government mandates on low-carbon products to speed up India's industrial green shift. He suggests starting with public procurement since the government is one of the country's largest consumers. The approach would mirror successful renewable energy mandates that boosted green power generation. Such policies would create market certainty and help industries overcome financial and technological hurdles in their sustainability journey.

Key Points: JSW CSO Urges Government Mandate for Low Carbon Products

  • Government should mandate low-carbon products starting with public procurement
  • Public procurement policies could create market certainty for green products
  • Industries face three key challenges: finance, demand, and technology
  • Renewable energy mandates provide successful precedent for similar policies
  • Heavy industry and construction sectors need accelerated low-carbon transition
  • Mandates would stimulate demand and make green projects financially viable
3 min read

Govt should mandate low carbon products, says JSW Group's CSO

JSW Group's Chief Sustainability Officer calls for government mandates on low-carbon products to drive India's industrial green transition through public procurement policies.

"Somebody has to be a leader. You need to find ways how you can close those and make those financially viable - Prabodha Acharya, JSW Group"

New Delhi, November 4

The government should "mandate low carbon products" to accelerate India's industrial transition towards sustainability and should start with public procurement, according to Prabodha Acharya, Chief Sustainability Officer, JSW Group.

"This is about identifying and encouraging the projects which can make a difference in the industrial transition to low-carbon products," Acharya told ANI on the sidelines of the Industrial Transition Accelerator event in New Delhi.

Mandating low-carbon products involves governments creating policies that require or incentivise the use of goods and materials with lower greenhouse gas emissions, such as setting quotas for near-zero-emission materials, incorporating them into public procurement, and establishing product standards.

These mandates aim to stimulate demand, create market certainty for green products, and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy in sectors like heavy industry and construction.

He further stated that the only support industry required from the government in the direction of decarbonisation is to mandate the product for its uses.

"Look, in any country like India Government is one of the biggest consumers. Whether it is steel cement or anything you take. So mandating a low-carbon product will make that rule available so that the project happens," he said.

Giving example of mandate of some percentage of renewable energy into the total energy helped the generation and consumption of green energy in the country, he said " Similarly, it can be low carbon steel products, green steel, and low carbon cement, green cement, and putting a percentage of minimum consumption into the total consumption and it can start with public consumption."

Acharya concluded that such mandates would "make the rule available so that the project happens.

Acharya said the ITA focuses on "identifying and encouraging projects which can make a difference in the industrial transition to low carbon products" and aims to make the shift "faster in a commercially viable manner."

He noted that industries face key hurdles in making this transition.

"If you look generally, the industry faces three challenges -- finance at a cheaper cost, there has to be demand for low carbon products in general, and there has to be technology available to make those transitions happen," he said.

Despite the obstacles, Acharya said companies must show leadership.

"Somebody has to be a leader. You need to find ways how you can close those and make those financially viable and go ahead and implement these projects," he added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
While I support green initiatives, we need to be careful about costs. Low-carbon steel and cement will be more expensive initially. Will this lead to higher infrastructure costs that ultimately burden taxpayers? Need more clarity on pricing.
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Arjun K
Excellent point about starting with public procurement. Government is indeed the largest consumer in India. This strategy worked for solar energy adoption - same can happen for green steel and cement. Jao India! 🌱
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Sarah B
As someone working in construction, I welcome this move. The industry needs clear signals and stable policies to invest in green technologies. Market certainty is crucial for long-term planning and investment.
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Vikram M
Good initiative but implementation is key. We've seen many policies fail due to poor execution. Hope they create proper monitoring mechanisms and ensure compliance. Also, MSMEs will need support to adapt to these changes.
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Kavya N
Finally! Someone talking sense. Our cities are choking with pollution, and industries need to lead the change. Government mandates can create the necessary push. Let's make India a leader in sustainable manufacturing! 💪

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