Green finance in the built environment: Mapping India’s opportunity

Build Ahead’s latest working paper explores how India’s green housing finance ecosystem can evolve to unlock sustainable growth in the built environment, and maps current financing instruments, assesses institutional readiness and identifies pathways to scale certified green lending through collaboration among financiers, developers and certification bodies. This marks the first step towards a shared roadmap for mainstreaming green capital in India’s construction and real estate sectors.

Decarbonising the built environment: Cement and concrete technology catalogue

India is entering one of the largest construction cycles in history—amid intensifying climate risks and a fast-approaching net-zero horizon. With embodied carbon already accounting for around 30% of built environment emissions—and set to reach 50% by 2050—there’s an urgent need to decarbonise the materials that shape our cities. Cement and concrete alone contribute roughly 45% of a building’s embodied carbon. …

Accelerating green hydrogen: Unlocking India’s technological prowess

India is at a pivotal moment in the green hydrogen transition. With world-class renewable resources, deep engineering capabilities, and a fast-maturing innovation ecosystem, the country can lead the next wave of clean industrial growth. The question is no longer “if” — it’s “how fast” we can move from promising prototypes to commercial deployment at scale.

Future of mobility: Beyond the blueprint, overcoming barriers to boost usage

As EV adoption surges, the true test of clean mobility is no longer vision—it’s usability. Are chargers installed on time? Do they work reliably? Can drivers pay easily, see real‑time availability, and trust support when something fails? Without a seamless installation and usage experience, networks risk low utilisation, higher costs, and stalled deployment.

Unlocking a greener future through sustainable mining

Mining remains one of India’s most critical sectors—powering energy security, supplying essential raw materials, and generating over 10 million jobs annually, particularly in remote and tribal regions. Yet, at just 1.5% of GDP, India’s mining sector delivers far less value than other mineral-rich geographies like Australia and Canada.

India’s green hydrogen ambitions: Where do we stand?

The Indian government’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched in early 2023, set an ambitious target of 5 million tonnes (MT) of green hydrogen production in India by 2030. However, over two years down the line, significant challenges persist despite plentiful project announcements and private sector financial commitments, leading to slow execution and raising concerns about meeting this goal.

Green hydrogen in India’s petroleum refining and petrochemical sector

As India accelerates its journey toward net zero, the decarbonisation of its petroleum refining and petrochemical sector stands as a critical frontier. Yet, the transition is complex. The sector faces a unique set of challenges: high capital costs, evolving policy frameworks, and the need for robust supply chains and infrastructure.

Unlocking India’s hydrogen potential, from policy ambition to commercial reality

India possesses all the fundamental ingredients for green hydrogen success—we benefit from abundant low-cost renewables, substantial infrastructure advantages, and the technological capability to lead globally. However, industry and government leaders face a sobering reality today: despite years of strategic planning and policy announcements, progress remains slow. 

Strategic enablers for a sustainable built environment

As India’s construction boom reshapes skylines and communities, the built environment stands at a critical inflection point. With the sector responsible for nearly a third of the nation’s emissions—and 60% of the building stock needed by 2050 yet to be built—the choices we make today will define India’s climate legacy for generations. The stakes are high: without bold, systemic action, …