Decarbonizing Built Environment
TiE Bangalore
TiE fosters entrepreneurship globally through mentoring, education, networking, incubation and funding. tgs2024.org
The India-Australia Climate Tech Forum: Fostering Cross-Border Partnerships for Climate Action
On April 11, 2024, the India-Australia Climate Tech Forum, a joint initiative by TiE Matrix Forum and Greenhouse convened a panel of esteemed thought leaders from the climate tech ecosystem to explore emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities in developing solutions for "Decarbonizing Build Environment". The virtual event was moderated by Arundhati Sett, Co-Founder and CEO of EcoCollab.com , a pioneering one-stop platform focused on sustainable Buildings.
Arundhati Sett the moderator, commenced the webinar by welcoming participants and outlining the forum's objective of fostering partnerships between Indian and Australian entities to drive climate action. Sett, a trailblazer in the sustainability domain, emphasized EcoCollab's mission to minimize operational building efficiency and embodied carbon emissions during construction and Building Operations, thereby enhancing overall building performance.
The esteemed panel comprised:
Emerging Trends and Opportunities in the Built Environment
Malini Dutt, shed light on NSW's initiatives to accelerate net-zero buildings, including a $4.8 million funding program aimed at reducing embodied carbon emissions, supporting energy efficiency in existing buildings, and incentivizing high-performance new developments. Additionally, NSW is collaborating with industry to encourage the voluntary use of low-emission building materials like green steel and concrete.
Sameer Sinha, representing the IGBC and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), shared his observations on the evolution of demand for green building voluntary certifications in India. He emphasized that the Indian government's progressive policies, coupled with the availability of green funding, are driving the adoption of sustainable practices in the real estate sector.
Julian Kezelman discussed Taronga Ventures' ecosystem and real tech platform, highlighting the firm's focus on investing in emerging technology companies that impact the built environment. He underscored the importance of helping early-stage companies rigorously assess their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts to meet the reporting requirements of major asset owners.
Jatin Shah shared insights into Colliers' strategies for delivering effective green solutions and integrating ESG principles within the company and for its clients. He highlighted the significant opportunity for energy efficiency upgrades in India's existing Grade A commercial building stock, estimated at around 110 million square feet across major cities.
Philip Keogan delved into the technologies and solutions adopted by leading Australian property groups, such as WatWatchers' energy data management technology. He emphasized the growing demand for such solutions, driven by regulatory requirements, investor expectations, and tenant preferences for energy-efficient buildings aligned with decarbonization pathways.
Ganesh Shankar recounted Fluxgen's entrepreneurial journey, starting with convincing a few clients about water conservation and eventually saving billions of liters for its clientele across multiple sectors, including food processing, dairies, hospitals, and manufacturing. He underscored the deep nexus between energy and water, highlighting the substantial energy footprint associated with water consumption, treatment, and waste management.
Kyle Bolto discussed how OnWe Go has simplified e-mobility solutions for buildings in Australia, addressing the convergence of electrified transport and sustainability in the built environment. He emphasized the importance of considering both ESG outcomes and user experience when implementing such solutions, ensuring a seamless customer experience for residents and tenants.
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Cross-Border Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange
Throughout the webinar, participants identified synergies and opportunities for cross-border collaboration between Indian and Australian entities in the climate tech domain. Malini Dutt highlighted NSW Investment's outreach programs to connect the two ecosystems, including an upcoming event in Delhi organized by the Indian Energy Storage Alliance, where Australian companies will showcase their technologies.
Sameer Sinha shared insights from a collaborative research project between IGBC, the Confederation of Indian Industries, and academic institutions, which investigated the impact of green buildings on occupant well-being and productivity. The study found that a 1% increase in a building's green index led to a 7% increase in employee thriving and an 8% increase in engagement, directly impacting business bottom lines.
Julian Kezelman and Philip Kogan expressed keen interest in exploring the Indian market, identifying partnerships as a potential avenue to facilitate market access. They acknowledged the similarities and synergies between the Australian and Indian contexts, presenting opportunities for knowledge and technology exchange.
Ganesh Shankar echoed the sentiment, expressing a willingness to collaborate with Australian startups to serve FLUXGEN's existing corporate clients in India while also seeking partnerships to enter the Australian market.
Malini Dutt proposed formal collaborations between ecosystems, such as TiE Bangalore partnering with Greenhouse, an Australian organization facilitating such engagements. She cited successful partnerships in other sectors, like the space industry, where startups and scale-ups from both countries participate in exchange programs and company visits.
Closing Thoughts and Key Takeaways
As the webinar drew to a close, Arundhati Sett synthesized the key takeaways, emphasizing the interconnectedness of green finance, built environments, water and energy consumption, and the broader sustainability agenda. She encouraged building owners, developers, and property managers, regardless of scale, to prioritize sustainable practices and leverage the expertise of the panelists and their organizations.
Sett also highlighted the importance of considering embodied energy during construction, advocating for recycled materials and innovative solutions like low-carbon cement alternatives that replace traditional, carbon-intensive components.
The India-Australia Climate Tech Forum served as a powerful platform for knowledge exchange, fostering cross-border partnerships, and driving climate action through innovative solutions in the built environment. As the world grapples with the urgent challenges of decarbonization and resilience, such collaborative efforts between India and Australia hold immense potential for accelerating the transition towards a sustainable future.
Thanks to the team for bringing together such a distinguished panel and create this platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration.