India’s Green Industrial Push Takes Centre Stage at ICEM 2025

HD Kumaraswamy Calls for Industry-Government Synergy to Drive Net-Zero Goals

Bengaluru Express
Bengaluru, June 27: Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Steel, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, today called upon industry leaders to embed sustainability into the core of corporate strategy, as he addressed the 26th International Conference on Environment Management and Climate Change (ICEM) and presented the Golden Peacock Awards in Bengaluru.

Speaking as Chief Guest at the event organised by the Institute of Directors, the Minister said that India is making determined progress towards its climate commitments despite contributing just 4% to historical cumulative global greenhouse gas emissions.

“India’s per capita emissions are only 1.89 tonnes, less than half the global average. Yet, under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi avaru, we have boldly committed to achieve 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 and net-zero by 2070,” the Minister said.

He emphasized the critical role of the steel and transport sectors, which together account for nearly 24% of India’s energy-related CO₂ emissions. “We are expanding steel capacity to 300 million tonnes and advancing clean mobility through policies like PLI, PM e-DRIVE and SPMEPC. These are not just industrial schemes, they are climate action plans,” he said.

The Golden Peacock Awards recognised outstanding contributions to environment management, eco-innovation and occupational safety across India’s corporate sector.

Minister Kumaraswamy urged the private sector to take bold, long-term bets on innovation and green R&D. “Real change will only be possible when sustainability becomes a moral imperative, not just a compliance checkbox,” he said.

The event was attended by diplomats, senior bureaucrats, and representatives from industry, academia and multilateral agencies.