As cities and states worldwide confront the growing challenges of climate change, the focus on sustainable urban development is becoming increasingly urgent. Speaking in Hyderabad, Matt Meyer, Governor of the State of Delaware (USA), noted that the sustainability initiatives taking shape in Hyderabad and across India carry global significance, as governments and industry leaders look for collaborative solutions to accelerate climate action. With a rapidly expanding portfolio of green and net-zero developments, Hyderabad is steadily positioning itself as an important contributor to the global conversation on building smarter, climate-resilient cities.
Building on this momentum, the CII Indian Green Building Council (CII IGBC) hosted the 2nd Edition of the IGBC Green Telangana Summit 2026 on Friday. The summit brought together policymakers, architects, urban planners, industry leaders, and sustainability experts under the theme “Smart, Green & Net Zero: Transforming Telangana’s Built Environment Together.”
The day-long event served as a platform to deliberate on sustainable construction practices, climate-responsive urban planning, net-zero buildings, and the integration of smart technologies aimed at accelerating Telangana’s transition towards a low-carbon and resilient built environment. The programme featured an inaugural session, plenary discussions, industry panels, and technical sessions focusing on global best practices and emerging technologies shaping future cities.
Over the years, Telangana has emerged as a key player in India’s green building movement. The state currently hosts over 1,245 IGBC-registered projects, representing a green building footprint of 1.67 billion sq ft. These include 715+ commercial projects, 335 residential developments, 110 metro transit projects, 40+ logistics facilities, 15 built environment projects, and more than 20 net-zero projects, highlighting the growing adoption of sustainable development across sectors.
Speaking at the summit, C. Shekar Reddy, National Chairman of the Indian Green Building Council, said India is witnessing one of the largest waves of urbanisation, with the country’s built-up area expected to grow nearly 2.5 times by 2040. He noted that sustainable construction will play a crucial role in balancing rapid growth with environmental responsibility.
India currently has over 19,000 IGBC-registered projects, representing 15.74 billion sq ft of green building footprint, making it the second-largest green building footprint globally, with Telangana contributing significantly to this growth.
The summit also witnessed the unveiling of the Telangana Coffee Table Book, showcasing more than 40 iconic IGBC-certified green and net-zero projects across the state. Industry bodies such as CREDAI and NAREDCO, along with global organisations including ASHRAE, participated in discussions on sustainable urban development and climate-responsive infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Bill McQuade, President of ASHRAE, highlighted that Telangana’s progress demonstrates how policy leadership, industry commitment, and technological innovation can work together to transform the built environment while advancing energy efficiency and climate resilience.
Ar. Srinivas Murthy, Chairman of the IGBC Hyderabad Chapter, said Hyderabad has emerged as one of India’s most dynamic hubs for sustainable buildings, reflecting the commitment of developers, architects, industry, and government to creating energy-efficient and environmentally responsible built environments.
The summit wrapped up with the IGBC Green Crusaders & Valedictory Session, recognising 47 projects with 46.3 million sq ft of green building footprint.
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