Agenda

• Lighting the Lamp
• Welcome Remarks by Mr Sanjay Seth, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, GRIHA Council and Senior Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Programme, TERI
• Opening Address by Dr Vibha Dhawan, President, GRIHA Council and Director General, TERI
• Special Remarks by Mr Sumit Bidani, Chief Executive Officer, Knauf India
• Special Remarks by Shri. Deepesh Gehlot, Joint Commissioner, Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Ministry of Education, Government of India
• Signing of Memorandum of Understanding between GRIHA Council and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, Ministry of Education, Government of India
• Special Address by Ms Martine Aamdal Bottheim, Minister Counsellor & Deputy Head of Mission, The Royal Norwegian Embassy
• Signing of MOU between GRIHA Council and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan
• Launch of GRIHA Publications
• Inaugural Address by Shri. Abhay Bakre, Mission Director, National Green Hydrogen Mission, Ministry of New & Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India
• GRIHA Felicitation Ceremony
  • Winners of the SHAPE Design Trophy
  • GRIHA 5-star and 4-star Rated Projects
  • GRIHA Water Positive Certified Projects
• GRIHA Updates and Vote of Thanks by Ms Shabnam Bassi, Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Secretary, GRIHA Council and Director, Sustainable Buildings, TERI

Calamities and disasters have become increasingly frequent due to the irreversible environmental impacts caused by human activities. In 2021, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report aptly termed as “Code Red for Humanity”, was a clarion call for urgent action to avert future human-induced catastrophes.

Policies have driven climate action by setting regulations and targets, hence accelerating the transition to a low-carbon development. The Paris Agreement is a key standpoint for climate policies that has driven dialogues and actions to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels; which, in turn, encourages nations to set and meet their own greenhouse gas reduction targets, fostering international cooperation and accountability.

Countries have made conversation-stirring, buzz-creating commitments at global platforms to limit their impact on the environment. However, there are gaps between policies and its full-scale enforcement. This session will examine the impact of existing policies, the challenges faced, and how disaster-struck areas can rebuild resilience, while also exploring strategies to advance climate action in the built environment with policies as a key driver. We are standing on the brink of a climate crisis. A lot has been spoken about ‘To do’s and ‘Not to do’s at various forums and platforms. The time to ‘Act’ is now and here.

• Mr Chinmaya Acharya, Director - Programs, NRDC India
• Mr Chinmaya Acharya, Director - Programs, NRDC India
• Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Adviser and Distinguished Visiting Professor, Centre of Excellence in Disaster Mitigation & Management, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee
• Mr Naim Keruwala, Program Director (CITIIS), National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA)

Climate change is upon us, and its escalating impacts are manifesting in the form of unprecedented heat waves sweeping across the globe. Following record-breaking global temperatures in 2024, India faced severe heat waves, with temperatures exceeding 46 degrees Celsius. Rapid urbanization exacerbates the issue of Urban Heat Island – a phenomenon characterized by fewer green spaces, high population density, limited access to cooling, and dense building concentration, that render urban areas significantly warmer than their rural counterparts. Therefore, it becomes crucial to take urgent mitigative measures to address the cause and effect of warmer temperatures.

The session intends to discuss the need for a comprehensive and transformational strategy to cool our cities through planning and design interventions, incorporating cool roof materials and technologies etc. in the built environment.

• Dr Manju Mohan, Former Professor (HAG) and Head, Centre for Atmospheric Sciences (CAS), Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
• Ms Aarti Nain, Advisor, Urban Cooling and Heat Risk Mitigation, UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
• Mr Chinmaya Acharya, Director of Programs, NRDC India
• Dr Anita Gupta, Head, Climate, Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST) Division, Department of Science and Technology, Government of India
• Ms Neetu Jain, Managing Director, Panache Greentech Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

Nature provides a functional ecosystem where all species of Earth use natural solutions to create resilient habitats. However, the tyranny of modern human development has largely focused on drawing only visual inspiration from nature, neglecting functional insights. This oversight has led to structures that often lack the balance and durability inherent in natural systems, resulting in the collapse of infrastructure.

This session will delve into how integrating natural elements into structural designs can enhance both aesthetic appeal, durability, resilience, and well-being of occupants; whilst improving operational performance. It will provide insights into the principles of biophilic design, understand its benefits for human well-being, and showcase examples of executed resilient structures that have successfully incorporated these principles.

• Dr G Shankar, Founder and Chairman, Habitat Technology Group
• Ar. Suhasini Ayer–Guigan, Principal Architect, Auroville Design Consultants, Center for Scientific Research, Auroville
• Ar. Yatin Pandya, Principal Architect, Footprints E.A.R.T.H.
• Prof. Hina Zia, Head (Department of Planning) & Professor (Department of Architecture), Jamia Millia Islamia

The rapid growth of the global population and urban migration is driving increased energy demand, intensifying the impacts of climate change. This necessitates a swift transition to sustainable energy solutions. As the global transition to sustainable energy accelerates, the need for affordable, reliable, and low-emission energy sources has become more dire.

This session will explore key drivers of this transition, such as improving energy access, advancing renewable energy technologies, and promoting sectoral electrification. A focus on enhancing local planning and integrating community engagement into decision-making processes is essential for shaping a more sustainable and equitable clean energy landscape. By fostering collaboration across sectors, we can accelerate the adoption of clean energy systems that meet both environmental and societal needs, ensuring a more sustainable future.

• Mr Atul Kumar Bali, Executive Director, Powergrid Corporation of India Ltd. and Director, National Smart Grid Mission (NSGM) and Expert Group of Smart Metering, Ministry of Power, Government of India
• Mr Saurabh Kumar, Vice President, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP), India
• Ms Suhela Khan, Country Programme Manager, Women’s Economic Empowerment, UN Women
• Ms Srestha Banerjee, Director, Just Transition @ International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST)

• GRIHA NASA Trophy 2024 Winners
• Partners Appreciation
• GRIHA Exhibition Design Competition Winners

"Mata Bhumi Putroham Prithivyah" - “The Earth is My Mother, and I am Her Son" - serves as a strong reminder of our common responsibility to protect our Mother Earth.

Achieving sustainability is not the responsibility of a single entity but a collaborative effort across various sectors, including governments, corporates, academic institutions, civil society, and communities. Each group of stakeholders has a unique role in driving progress toward a more sustainable future. The dichotomy between adaptation and mitigation, which arguably creates uncertainty at the implementation level, is shaped by the role of the actors involved. In this context, the role played, and impact made by stakeholders from various strata of the society and diverse sectors is critical in accelerating climate action within the built environment.

The session intends to understand the defined role, responsibilities and interests of stakeholders in accelerating climate action. It will address the next steps required to strengthen multi-stakeholder collaboration, for scaling up sustainable initiatives.

• Dr. Sukhgeet Kaur, DDG (Cost) & Adviser (Energy), Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence
• Mr. Anshul Tewari, Founder & CEO, Youth ki Awaz
• Mr Vaibhav Gupta, Associate Director, KPMG India
• Mr Prabhakant Jain, Head - CSR, DS Group
• Mr Shailesh Ranjan, Business Head, Asahi India Glass Ltd. (AIS)

The production, transportation, and processing of construction materials significantly contribute to high embodied energy consumption and a substantial carbon footprint. There has been a notable shift in the construction market towards alternative materials like fly ash, slag, and GGBS, etc. These materials are not derived from non-depletable sources and will eventually face availability challenges. Research and innovation are crucial to address the challenge of depleting sustainable materials. This involves exploring new alternatives such as bio-based and recycled materials, advanced technologies like self-healing concrete, and applying the principles of the circular economy.

The session aims to deliberate on the challenges associated with current alternative materials and delve into ongoing research on new, sustainable options, ensuring a resilient and forward-thinking approach to construction in the face of resource depletion. By analysing successful case studies, it will also have to focus on the latest research findings on material performance and sustainability.

• Dr Sunita Purushottam, Head of Sustainability, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd.
• Mr Anand Santhanam, Executive Director, Saint-Gobain India Private Limited - Glass Business
• Mr S. V. Patil, Head - Ready Mix Concrete & Key accounts, UltraTech Cement Ltd.
• Mr Sumit Bhatia, Director, ARS Steel

Resilience in the context of the built environment goes beyond mere structural durability and integrates social and economic dimensions. It reflects the ability of infrastructures and communities to endure, adapt, and recover from adverse environmental, economic, or social impacts. Marginalized and local communities are disproportionately affected by climate change facing challenges such as health hazards, loss of property, unemployment, migration etc. In these dire circumstances, community-based adaptation strategies rooted in local knowledge, experiences, participation are paramount. It is imperative` to ensure the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives of the local communities in climate policies, solutions and infrastructure development.

The session aims to explore the challenges confronting vulnerable communities while providing actionable strategies to foster equity and resource accessibility, thereby enabling a just and resilient transition for the vulnerable communities. The discussion will also dwell on locally led adaptation.

• Mr. Mohak Gupta, Assistant Program Director - Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency, Development Alternatives
• Ms. Zerin Osho, Director of the India Program, Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD)
• Ms. Nidhi Anand, Head of Programmes, People's Power Collective
• Mr. Jay Rajesh Thakkar, Associate Professor, Faculty of Design and Head of Exhibition, CEPT University

Green economy represents a low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive development. With a focus on access to green finance, technology and investments, it advocates for a macro-economic approach towards sustainable economic growth. It is driven by government, public and private investment such as carbon credit schemes, green bonds, green credit programmes, tax rebates and incentives on green buildings etc. These green investments are enabled and supported through policy reforms and regulatory changes, aiding in building assets (economic growth and infrastructure) that promote reduced carbon emissions through carbon offsetting, enhance energy and resource efficiency, and preserve ecosystem services.

The session seeks to explore such green incentives and financial mechanisms available to diverse stakeholder groups, gain insights into the benefits it offers and its potential impact on the overarching goal of developing a sustainable green economy. The discussion will also highlight the challenges in implementing such frameworks while ensuring transparency and accountability. It will also discuss strategies to raise awareness on these incentives for accelerating the transition to sustainable practices.

• Mr. Saurabh Diddi, Director, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, Government of India
• Ms. Neha Khanna, Senior Manager, Climate Finance, Climate Policy Initiative
• Ms. Rachika Sahay, Equity Partner, Argus Partners
• Mr. Sandeep Sonigra, Managing Director, Orange County Group
• Mr Zohaib Siddique, Senior General Manager - Architecture & Design, Whiteland Corporation
• Mr Archit Batra, Head - New Business Initiatives, FCF India

Existing buildings tend to have a higher operational carbon footprint due to the structures being developed before contemporary energy efficiency standards were implemented. These systems often consume excessive energy, as they were not designed to meet the demands of today’s occupants or climate conditions.

Retrofitting of this exiting stock of buildings becomes imperative and a pivotal strategy for reducing the operational carbon emissions from this ensemble of structures. Common upgradation strategies for effective retrofitting include enhancing insulation, upgrading to energy-efficient windows and HVAC systems, integrating renewable energy, upgrading to low-flow fixtures, etc. By fostering a collaborative dialogue, this session aims to equip attendees with actionable knowledge and tools to transform existing buildings into resilient, energy-efficient spaces that contribute to a sustainable future.

• Mr. Sudheer Perla, Managing Director, Asia, Tabreed and Member, Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE)
• Ar. Shamit Manchanda, Founding Partner & Principal Architect, Manchanda Associates
• Ms. Nandita Bhatt, Executive Director (Planning), Airport Authority of India (AAI)
• Mr. Arun Tripathi, Scientist G, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India
• Ms Samhita M, Founder and Managing Director, Ela Green Buildings & Infrastructure Consultants

Sustainable infrastructure development focuses on creating systems and facilities designed to reduce environmental impact, optimize resource efficiency, integrate technology, and promote social equity. This ensures resilience against climate change by building infrastructure capable of withstanding extreme weather events and adapting to shifting environmental conditions. It also emphasizes community engagement, ensuring that local needs and perspectives are incorporated into planning and decision-making processes.

Given the urgent need to rethink traditional infrastructure considering climate change, population growth, and resource scarcity, it is essential to leverage the transformative potential of smart technologies. These innovations enhance precision, efficiency, and safety while ensuring accessibility and affordability. By fostering dialogue among architects, urban planners, policymakers, and community leaders, this session aims to generate actionable insights and collaborative strategies for creating ecological balance; and fostering economic growth and social well-being, ultimately contributing to the creation of livable, equitable, and thriving communities.

• Mr. Rajendra Ratnoo, IAS, Executive Director, National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM)
• Dr. Nupur Bahadur, Associate Director, Circular Economy and Waste Management, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
• Mr Sharif Qamar, Associate Director, Transport and Urban Governance, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)
• Mr Sanjay Seth, Vice President & CEO, GRIHA Council and Senior Director, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

• Opening Address by Dr Vibha Dhawan, President, GRIHA Council and Director General, TERI
• Special Remarks by Mr Aditya Bhutani, Director and Chief Operating Officer, AIS GlassXperts, Asahi India Glass Ltd.
• Launch of GRIHA Ratings:
• GRIHA Rating for Ports
• GRIHA Infrastructure Rating for Highways
• Valedictory Address by by Smt. Meenakashi Lekhi, Former Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Government of India and Member of Parliament
• GRIHA Felicitation Ceremony:
  • Winners of the GRIHA Exemplary Awards
  • GRIHA 2-star and 3-star Rated Projects
  • GRIHA Exhibition Design Competition Winners
• Closing Remarks by Mr Sanjay Seth, Vice President and CEO, GRIHA Council and Senior Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Programme, TERI