Real estate developer, Lodha, has committed to setting carbon emissions targets in line with climate science with the Science-Based Targets initiative. This aligns with Lodha's earlier pledge on World Environment Day to go carbon neutral by 2035.
Lodha has received an exceptional score in S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment that demonstrates its focus on sustainability and its net-zero goals.
Commenting on the announcement, Raunika Malhotra, President – Marketing and Corporate Communications, Lodha said, "As a leading real estate company, we recognize the crucial role that businesses play in minimizing the risk that climate change poses to our planet. Combating climate change has become imperative, and corporates like us have a major responsibility in promoting the transition to a low carbon economy".
She added, "With a commitment to provide a better Earth to our future generations, we established a North star goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2035 and now taking a step ahead with setting science-based targets for reducing significant emissions. We expect that India's stated goals and Maharashtra's focus on Urban Renewal communicated at COP26 will enable us to implement the targets faster through the facilitation of technological options and favourable regulations."
Science-based targets give a clear roadmap for companies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, thereby helping avert climate catastrophe and safeguarding businesses from climate risks. Lodha will align its roadmap with global best practices and emerging opportunities during the target-setting exercise. The company's carbon neutrality road-mapping formulated earlier this year covers a broad scope encompassing energy efficiency, energy procurement, embodied carbon, waste, water, and transportation. Successful pilot projects will provide opportunities to scale up feasible solutions and achieve significant emission reductions for the overall buildings' portfolio, including construction development.
The goal of halving the Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2030 and reaching net-zero by 2050 is critical for all stakeholders – governments, corporations, and the public. With climate change emerging as a primary concern, leading corporations need to declare their carbon neutrality roadmaps and plan of action for a zero-carbon future. This will bring the necessary awareness in the industry and the workforce – thereby causing a chain reaction and fostering innovation in the space, accelerating the solutions to decrease emissions.