The global building sector today is responsible for roughly 36 % of final energy use and nearly 40 % of energy‑related CO₂ emissions, and in India alone buildings and construction account for about 32 % of the country’s greenhouse‑gas output. Rapid urbanization—India’s towns and cities are expected to house 40 % of the population by 2036 (up from 31 % in 2011), and urban areas already generate 60 % of GDP while contributing 70 % of emissions—combined with a projected doubling of floor area by 2040, presents both a challenge and a critical window of opportunity. Without energy‑efficiency improvements, building energy demand could more than triple by 2050, driving a fourfold increase in carbon emissions. Achieving net‑zero carbon buildings is therefore essential not only for meeting India’s NDC target of reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 45 % by 2030 but also for enhancing resilience to increasingly severe climate events.

In response, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation (TMC), in collaboration with WRI India, is developing a city‑specific Action Plan for Net Zero Carbon and Resilient Buildings (NZCRBs). Aligned with the NZCRB (Net Zero Carbon and Resilient Buildings) Action Plan for the Thiruvananthapuram City, this single-day expo is crafted to provide an intensive, high-impact platform for showcasing innovative and sustainable building materials. The expo will demonstrate how climate-responsive and locally rooted building materials, technology and practices can spearhead net zero/low carbon transformation in the building sector in Thiruvananthapuram City.

This event aims to offer an immersive, one-day gathering where innovators, architects, engineers, builders, policymakers, and industry influencers converge to experience, learn, and collaborate on zero/low carbon building material solutions.

The objective of this event is to fast-track the dialogue and facilitate the net zero transition and market transformation of the building sector of Thiruvananthapuram City that emphasize climate responsive vernacular architecture, local materials and technology, energy efficiency, and resilience against climate variability—all encapsulated within a single-day interactive event.

  • Jahamgeer S, Secretary, TMC
  • Dr. R Hari Kumar, Director, Energy Management Center-Kerala (TBD)
  • Dr. Manoj Kumar K, Managing Director, KTIL
  • Asha PA, Chief Engineer REES-TBC
  • Denzil Fernandez, Regional Town Planner, Town Planning Department, LSGD Representative from KIIFB (TBI)
  • ISHRAE representative
  • Ar. P B Sajan- Chief Architect and Joint Director, COSTFORD
  • Sumedha Malaviya, Program Head, Building Decarbonization, WRI India