Indian Railways Partners With CII For Achieving Net Zero Carbon Emissions By 2030

In a move to accelerate the journey towards sustainable and environmentally responsible practices, the Confederation of Indian Industry - Green Business Centre (CII-GBC) and Indian Railways have announced the renewal of their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the third consecutive term.

This renewed partnership aims to drive Indian Railways' commitment to enable India’s target to achieve net zero carbon emissions through the facilitation of comprehensive green initiatives.

The MoU was signed and exchanged between the Railways Principal Executive Director Shailendra Singh and Seema Arora CII Deputy Director General in the presence of Railway Board Chairman Jaya Varma Sinha.

Building upon the success of their previous collaborations by facilitating the greening of railway stations and building establishments, energy efficiency measures in manufacturing, railway workshops, and production units (PUs), and GreenCo certification of loco sheds, this MoU will work towards developing a net zero framework for Indian railway stations, PUs and workshops, supporting Indian Railways to achieve net zero carbon emissions by the year 2030.

Sinha expressed optimism about the renewed collaboration, stating "Indian Railways has consistently demonstrated its commitment to sustainable practices. This renewed MoU with CII-GBC marks a significant step towards our collective goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions”.

She emphasised that Green is the most desirable option, incorporated as fundamental in the ‘Planning, design, development and operations’ of Indian Railways.

The Deputy Director General of CII appreciated Indian Railways' efforts in implementing green measures, reducing energy and water consumption, and promoting sustainable practices across the built environment.

She accentuated the importance of this partnership in driving sustainable development, stating, "Our renewed partnership with Indian Railways signifies a strategic shift towards the net zero framework. This alignment with global sustainability goals underscores our dedication to creating a greener, cleaner, and more sustainable future for generations to come. We look forward to implementing cutting-edge solutions that will pave the way for a more environmentally responsible railway network.”

The collaboration between CII-GBC and Indian Railways is expected to set new standards in sustainability within the transportation sector, showcasing a model for other industries to follow. As both entities work together to achieve net zero carbon emissions, the partnership is poised to contribute significantly to India's broader sustainability goals and global climate commitments.