India Poised to Lead Global Green Transition, Says Jitendra Singh at Sustainable Business Summit

With its vast population, expanding innovation ecosystem and accelerating clean energy push, India is emerging as a निर्णायक force in the global transition to a green economy, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said on Tuesday.

Addressing the 10th Sustainable Business Futures Summit 2026, the Minister underscored that India's development trajectory will significantly influence the success of the world's climate and sustainability goals.

India at the Centre of Global Green Shift

Highlighting India's strategic importance, Dr Singh said the country's 1.4 billion population makes it central to shaping global outcomes in sustainability.

"India stands at a decisive stage in the global transition towards a green future," he said, adding that the country carries both:

• A global responsibility

• A historic opportunity

to lead sustainable development efforts.

Green Infrastructure to Drive Economic Growth

The Minister identified green infrastructure as a cornerstone of India's future economy, noting a global shift toward:

• Recycling and regeneration

• Low-carbon technologies

• Environmentally sustainable systems

India, he said, is aligning its growth model with these priorities, positioning itself as a leader in green technology adoption.

Startup Boom Fueling Green Innovation

Dr Singh highlighted India's rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem as a key enabler of the green transition.

• Over 200,000 startups are currently active

• Nearly 50% are based in Tier-II and Tier-III cities

This decentralised innovation surge is:

• Expanding access to technology

• Driving grassroots entrepreneurship

• Accelerating climate-focused solutions

Clean Energy Expansion Powers New-Age Economy

India is significantly scaling its clean energy ecosystem to support emerging high-demand sectors such as:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Data centres

These sectors require 24/7 reliable power, making clean and dependable energy sources critical.

SHANTI Act Opens Nuclear Energy Sector

In a major policy development, the Minister highlighted the SHANTI Act (Sustainable Harnessing and Accelerating Nuclear Transformation of India) as a game-changing reform.

The Act:

• Opens nuclear energy to wider participation, including private players

• Enhances India's capacity for clean, stable power generation

• Strengthens long-term energy security

Integrated Strategy for Sustainable Growth

India's green transition strategy is built on a multi-dimensional framework, combining:

• Renewable energy (solar, wind)

• Nuclear and hydrogen energy systems

• Advanced energy storage solutions

• Smart and flexible power grids

• Climate modelling and risk analytics

• Sustainable construction technologies

This integrated approach aims to ensure economic growth without compromising environmental sustainability.

Net Zero Target and Lifestyle Change

Dr Singh reiterated India's commitment to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2070, alongside promoting the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative.

LiFE encourages:

• Sustainable consumption patterns

• Individual responsibility in climate action

• Community-driven environmental stewardship

Circular Economy Gains Momentum

The Minister emphasised the growing role of the circular economy, where:

• Waste is transformed into economic value

• Resource efficiency is maximised

Innovations in waste-to-wealth initiatives are already contributing to both:

• Environmental sustainability

• Economic productivity

Future Cities: Resilient, Clean and Smart

India's future infrastructure vision includes:

• Climate-resilient urban systems

• Clean mobility solutions

• Water security frameworks

• Digitally enabled infrastructure

These elements are critical to building sustainable and liveable cities.

Collaboration Key to Green Future

Dr Singh stressed that achieving sustainability goals will require:

• Strong collaboration between government, industry and academia

• Breaking traditional silos

• Coordinated policy and innovation efforts

"The era of working in silos is over," he said, calling for collective action.

India as a Global Sustainability Leader

With strong policy backing, technological innovation and a rapidly growing startup ecosystem, India is positioning itself as a global leader in the green transition.

Experts say the country's ability to balance development with sustainability will not only shape its own future but also have far-reaching implications for the global fight against climate change.