PHDCCI Hosts Seminar on Driving Kerala’s Sustainable Future through Industrial Decarbonization

New Delhi, January 30, 2026: The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) successfully organised a one-day seminar titled “Driving Kerala’s Sustainable Future: The Role of Industries in Decarbonization and Environmental Stewardship” on Thursday, at Holiday Inn Kochi, Kerala.
 
The seminar brought together policymakers, industry leaders, academicians, sustainability practitioners, financial institutions, and thought leaders to deliberate on climate action, industrial decarbonization, ESG integration, green finance, and innovation-driven sustainable development, with a specific focus on Kerala’s climate resilience and low-carbon growth pathways.
 
The programme commenced with the Inaugural Session, beginning with a Welcome Address by Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, Secretary General, PHDCCI, who highlighted India’s growing influence in the global economic and sustainability landscape. He emphasized that India’s Free Trade Agreements with countries such as Oman, the UK, UAE, and the European Union are reshaping global trade dynamics while opening new opportunities for sustainable growth. Highlighting Kerala’s leadership in sustainability, Dr. Mehta cited Cochin International Airport, the world’s first fully solar-powered airport, as a global benchmark for scalable green practices. He further stressed the importance of expanding sustainability initiatives and integrating MSMEs into Kerala’s economic framework to achieve inclusive and environmentally responsible growth.
 
Delivering the Industry Address, Dr. P. B. Boss, Co-Chair, PHDCCI Kerala Chapter, highlighted Kerala’s strong reputation as a green industrial state and its potential for industrial expansion supported by global connectivity. Emphasizing PHDCCI’s role, he stated that the Chamber acts as a crucial bridge between policy formulation and long-term industrial vision.
 
John Simon, Managing Director, JSF Holding and Charter Member, SICCI Kerala Chapter , spoke on the core principles of sustainability, outlining its social, environmental, and economic dimensions, and highlighted Kerala’s geographical and ecological strengths that support sustainable development pathways.
 
Addressing the urgency of climate action, Dr. N. M. Sharafudeen, Chairman, Indo Gulf and Middle East Chamber of Commerce, spoke on global decarbonization trends and the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, which account for nearly 30% of global emissions and significantly contribute to extreme climate events. He emphasized Kerala’s aspiration to emerge as a solar-powered, climate-conscious state.
 
The Guest of Honour Address was delivered virtually by S. Suhas, Chairman, Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), who highlighted CIAL’s journey as a global sustainability model through the integration of renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies. He stressed the importance of balancing environmental and social dimensions to achieve long-term sustainability.
 
A Special Address by Shri Sanjay Kumar, Director (Systems), Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) focused on sustainable urban infrastructure, highlighting KMRL’s green buildings and low-carbon public transport initiatives amid the challenges of rapid urbanization and fragile coastal ecosystems.
 
The seminar featured three in-depth Technical Sessions covering climate vulnerability, ESG integration, scientific foundations of climate change, carbon markets, sustainable finance, agriculture-led decarbonization, and innovation.

Technical Session I, moderated by Dr. Ravi Verma, NIT Calicut, focused on Kerala’s climate risks, resilience strategies, and ESG frameworks. Speakers emphasized community-driven adaptation, decentralized renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, and the transition of ESG from voluntary commitments to regulated performance metrics.

Technical Session II, moderated by Dr. Tarun Gupta, IIT Kanpur, examined climate science and emission reduction pathways. Speakers highlighted the dominance of carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, the need for evidence-based policies, responsible implementation of carbon credits, and the importance of robust monitoring, reporting, and verification mechanisms. Financial enablers such as government subsidies and SIDBI’s institutional credit support for renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects were also discussed.

Technical Session III, moderated by Dr. Athira P. S., NUALS, Kochi, focused on the role of academia, innovation, and policy in advancing sustainability. Discussions highlighted green patents, responsible innovation, executive education, ESG reporting, carbon markets, and emerging solutions such as green hydrogen, while emphasizing stronger industry–academia collaboration and farmer-centric sustainability models.

The seminar concluded with a networking lunch, fostering dialogue on collaborative pathways to accelerate Kerala’s transition towards a sustainable, inclusive, and low-carbon economy. The proceedings concluded with a Vote of Thanks delivered by Mithilesh Kumar, Senior Secretary and Head, Kerala Chapter, PHDCCI. The event was successfully coordinated by Mohit Kumar, Senior Assistant Secretary, whose efforts ensured seamless execution and effective stakeholder engagement.