Strengthening India’s Low-Carbon Buildings Ecosystem through Capacity Building

Chandigarh, Haryana, 22–23 July 2026 – The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry – Indian Green Building Council (CII-IGBC), successfully concluded a two-day technical training programme under the Asia Low Carbon Buildings Transition (ALCBT) Project. 

The training brought together over 40 professionals from across the building sector, including building owners, developers, Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), energy auditors, architects, engineers, manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders. It aimed to strengthen technical capacities and accelerate the adoption of low-carbon, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient building practices across India. 

Mr. Sukhchain Singh, Project Officer, New & Renewable Energy Department, Government of Haryana (HAREDA), emphasized the importance of data-driven decision-making in reducing emissions from the buildings sector in his keynote address.  

“The Building Emission Assessment Tool (BEAT) is an important tool for measuring emissions from buildings. What makes BEAT unique is its ability to capture geographical variations in building performance, enabling policymakers and practitioners to better understand where emission reduction opportunities exist and design targeted interventions,” Mr. Singh highlighted. 

Mr. Jagjit Singh Majha, Chairman, IGBC Chandigarh Chapter, highlighted that the transition to low-carbon buildings must be complemented by changes in everyday behaviour and sustainable lifestyles. 

“Sustainability should not remain a concept, it should become a way of life. By adopting practical and sustainable measures in our daily lives and professional work, each of us can contribute meaningfully to building a greener and more resilient future,” shared Mr. Jagjit Singh Majha, encouraging participants to translate their learnings into action. 

Mr. Ashok Bonam, ALCBT Regional Coordinator at GGGI, presented an overview of the project, highlighting its regional vision, progress across participating countries, and key achievements in India. He showcased flagship initiatives such as the building registry, BEAT, Green Finance Network, and the project’s capacity-building programmes, encouraging participants to leverage these resources to advance low-carbon buildings across India. 

“The transition to low-carbon buildings is not just about technology, rather empowering people, strengthening institutions, and fostering collaboration. Through the ALCBT Project, GGGI is proud to support India in building the knowledge, partnerships, and enabling ecosystem needed to accelerate this transition and create lasting impact,“ Mr. Bonam emphasized. 

Over the two days, participants engaged in technical sessions covering climate-responsive building design, energy efficiency, sustainable cooling technologies, building energy codes and regulations, embodied and operational carbon, low-carbon building materials, water conservation, and strategies for planning and designing high-performance buildings. The programme combined expert-led presentations with interactive discussions, enabling participants to gain practical knowledge applicable throughout the building lifecycle. 

The programme marked the 16th professional training delivered through the project’s partnership with CII-IGBC. As of July 2026, CII-IGBC has trained more than 900 professionals across 16 states in India. More than 70% of participants expressed their willingness to apply the knowledge and skills gained through the programme in their professional work. 

ALCBT project’s broader capacity-building initiative in India, implemented through partnerships with training institutions and industry organizations, has delivered more than 54 trainings and reached over 2,800 participants across India.  

Ms. Rushalee Gupta, Senior Assistant, Communications and Knowledge Management, GGGI India, presented the broader impact of the ALCBT capacity-building initiative in the country. “Participant feedback demonstrated the effectiveness of the programmes: 80% reported being satisfied with the training, and 90% self-reported an increase in their knowledge following participation. Most participants also identified clear opportunities to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills in their professional roles,” Ms. Gupta shared. 

Through continued partnerships with government agencies, industry associations, and technical experts, the ALCBT Project is strengthening India’s capacity to accelerate the transition towards low-carbon, climate-resilient, and energy-efficient buildings. By equipping professionals across the building value chain with practical knowledge and technical skills, the initiative is helping create the expertise needed to support India’s sustainable urban development and climate ambitions. 

About ALCBT

The Asia Low Carbon Buildings Transition (ALCBT) Project is a five-year initiative (2023-2028) that seeks to reduce GHG emissions by catalyzing nationwide transitions towards low-carbon buildings in five Asian countries: Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The project is funded by the Government of Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), and is implemented by a consortium led by GGGI, in partnership with the ASEAN Center for Energy (ACE), Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), and HEAT GmbH.

In India, the project operates under the guidance of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). Capacity building efforts in the country will benefit over 2,000 individuals, including government officials, architects, engineers, building developers and owners, ESCOs, financial institutions, material manufactures, and technology providers, to promote low carbon building design and sustainable practices. Learn more about project activities in India here. 

For more information, visit:  https://alcbt.gggi.org

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