Gujarat Minister Highlights Climate-Resilient Growth at 11th GRIHA Regional Conclave

Conclave spotlights Commonwealth Games 2030, inclusive design, and Gujarat's mega infrastructure agenda as levers for climate-resilient growth

Gandhinagar, 11 May 2026: GRIHA Council, India's national green building rating, today convened the 11th GRIHA Regional Conclave at The Leela, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, under the theme ‘Innovate to Act for a Climate Resilient World’. It was the 11th in a series of conclaves that intends to serve as a platform to deliberate innovative and actionable strategies that can transform climate ambitions into tangible outcomes. It brought together delegates from across government, industry, architecture, engineering, academia and urban planning to advance a region-specific agenda for sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure in Gujarat.

The conclave was inaugurated by Shri Pravin Gordhanji Mali, Hon'ble Minister of State, Forests and Environment, Climate Change, Transport, Government of Gujarat, highlighted, “Gujarat has never seen sustainability as a constraint on growth, but it is looked at as the foundation of enduring growth. As a state, we have long understood that governance must be ahead of the challenge, not behind it. As Gujarat advances some of India’s most ambitious infrastructure programmes, we must ensure that every project we build becomes a statement of our climate commitments. This conclave should serve as a catalyst, igniting decisive and urgent action to set things in motion toward the goals set forth.” He further interacted with the audience seeking inputs from the delegates and attendees, which set off many discussions addressing shared challenges and fostering collaborative solutions.

The Keynote Address was delivered by Shri J A Gandhi (I.C), Special Secretary, Roads & Buildings Department, Government of Gujarat. He stated, “As much we focus on new buildings, we give same weightage to maintenance to ensure sustainability. More so, the Government of Gujarat has approved construction of all non-residential buildings at Taluka and District level to be green buildings through R&B department".

The conclave brought into focus the full breadth of Gujarat's sustainability anchors from ensuring that the Commonwealth Games 2030 infrastructure across Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad sets a global benchmark for green and low-carbon development, to embedding inclusive and universally accessible design into everyday buildings and public spaces, to holding a multi-stakeholder dialogue. The dialogue focused on what it will take to mainstream sustainable practices across Gujarat's most ambitious programmes like GIFT City, Dholera SIR, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, major port expansions, and expanding highway networks based on the discussion points by the senior dignitaries during the panel discussions.

During the inaugural session, two Memoranda of Understanding were signed: between GRIHA Council and Carbon Registry India by NCCF, and between GRIHA Council and CREDAI Ahmedabad GIHED. With the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme introduced in India, this collaboration sets the built sector on the right path from the very beginning. When we embed emissions accounting and carbon credit mechanisms into buildings at the outset, we are not retrofitting sustainability into an afterthought. The association with CREDAI Ahmedabad GIHED is equally significant, as it represents Gujarat’s real estate industry and their commitment to green building standards, ensuring that green building practices will find their way not just into landmark government projects, but into the homes, offices and commercial spaces that shape the everyday lives of citizens. Mr Rajesh Vaswani, Chairman, CREDAI Ahmedabad GIHED stated, “The collaboration aims to encourage wider adoption of GREEN-certified developments through awareness initiatives, training programs, and industry engagement. The partnership reflects a shared vision towards climate-resilient urban growth and responsible infrastructure development. Both organizations will jointly work towards positioning Ahmedabad as a leading benchmark for sustainable urban development in India.”

Mr Sanjay Seth, Vice President & CEO, GRIHA Council, summed up the day's deliberations: “Amidst the undeniable reality of climate change, it is now more than ever that we need to respond effectively, adapt proactively, recover swiftly and thrive sustainably. In this pursuit, Gujarat has emerged as one of India's leading growth engines, demonstrating how development, sustainability and climate-responsive planning can co-exist. The state is showcasing a future-ready model of development that aligns economic ambition with climate responsibility. Through this Conclave, we have sought to advance tangible, inclusive solutions that reflect local realities and to inspire the collaboration that building resilient communities demands.”

Mr Tarak Jani, Founder, VivArt Design Studio stated, “GRIHA Council's conclave has brought together professionals who already have many ideas and working knowledge of how sustainability can be implemented in Gujarat. Being a Gujarati, it is their fundamental know-how about the viability of any innovative ideas into mainstream.”

Delivering the closing address and vote of thanks, Ms Shabnam Bassi noted that the Gandhinagar Conclave had demonstrated the depth of intent and expertise available within Gujarat to drive a new era of responsible infrastructure development.

The conclave concluded with the GRIHA Felicitation Ceremony, recognizing GRIHA 4- and 5-star rated projects for their contributions to sustainable building practices in the region. The Gandhinagar edition is one in a series of regionally anchored dialogues being held across India in the lead-up to the 18th GRIHA Summit in New Delhi, scheduled on 3-4 November 2026. A set of three publications on Sustainable Guidelines for Design Implementation, Construction Management and Operation & Maintenance were launched in Gujarati during the event to reach out to a wider stakeholder base.

As Gujarat continues to redefine the scale of Indian ambition – in sports, in industry, in urbanisation – the message from the GRIHA Regional Conclave is clear: growth and sustainability are not opposing forces. The path forward demands both, in equal measure.