Resilient Kerala 2030: From Vision to Measurable Climate Action
23 February 2026, New Delhi: The 10th GRIHA Regional Conclave, hosted by the GRIHA Council at the Hyatt Regency Thiruvananthapuram, convened leaders from government, finance, infrastructure, academia, and industry to advance a unified roadmap for a climate-resilient Kerala.
The event opened with the fireside chat, “From Home to Horizon – Women Empowering Kerala’s Climate Resilience Journey,” featuring Prof. Deepa Rani R., Associate Professor, College of Engineering Trivandrum, and Ms. Ashiqua Sulthana, South Zonal Chair – Women, ISHRAE Trivandrum Chapter. The session underscored the importance of embedding resilience within the built environment while strengthening inclusivity and leadership in sustainability.
The inaugural session set the tone for coordinated climate action. In his welcome address, Shri. Sanjay Seth, Vice President & CEO, GRIHA Council, emphasized:
“Integrating land-use planning with climate risk, advancing passive architecture, safeguarding watersheds, and strengthening resource efficiency are all part of this evolving model. We strongly insist that Urban Local Bodies embed ECBC and GRIHA metrics into planning processes.”
In his special remarks, Dr. R. Harikumar, Director, Energy Management Centre – Kerala, stated: “Today, while the market is mature in many sectors and Kerala leads the country in EV proliferation, building energy efficiency has not yet transformed at the same pace. There is still significant work to be done. To bridge this gap, ECSBC was notified by the Kerala Government in 2024, and in 2025 it was integrated into KMBR and KPBR. Kerala became the first state in India to incorporate ECSBC into its building rules so swiftly.”
Delivering the inaugural address, Smt. Mini Antony (IAS Retd.), Additional CEO, Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), highlighted the role of strategic financing and institutional coordination: “KIIFB approved 30 additional projects in the last tranche, bringing total approvals to more than ₹1,10,000 crore across roads and bridges, health and education infrastructure, inland waterways, IT and power systems, and land acquisition for strategic corridors. Importantly, around 50 building projects are now registered with GRIHA, reflecting a growing commitment to credible green building standards.”
A key milestone of the conclave was the signing of two MoUs—between GRIHA Council and EMC, and between GRIHA Council and KIIFB—reinforcing institutional collaboration to accelerate climate action.
The panel discussion, “Future in Motion: Climate-Smart Infrastructure and Multi-Modal Mobility for Kerala,” examined resilient design, low-carbon technologies, and ESG-aligned operations across ports, airports, and logistics hubs. Moderating the session, Shri. Sanjay Seth remarked that mobility projects are no longer viewed merely as transport assets but as social and economic enablers, prompting reflections on how equity, inclusivity, and accessibility are defined and measured in infrastructure development. Panellists from the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre, KIIFB, Kochi Water Metro, Kochi Metro Rail Limited, Adani Ports and SEZ, and Thiruvananthapuram International Airport emphasized integrated, multimodal, and low-carbon systems that embed resilience and compliance into large-scale projects.
The conclave concluded with the Roundtable Session, “Bridging Partnerships, Policy, and Practice for a Resilient Kerala.” Opening the discussion, Shri. Sanjay Seth noted:
“While Kerala has shown leadership through climate-responsive policies and programmes, the true challenge lies in implementation—aligning regulation, finance, institutional capacity, and delivery mechanisms to translate ambition into measurable on-ground impact.”
This was followed by the Special Address from Suneel Pamidi, I.F.S., Director, Directorate of Environment and Climate Change (DoECC), who stated:
“This GRIHA conclave is essential, bringing timely outreach to multiple sectors. Residential projects, in particular, should be a key focus for sustainable development in the coming years.”
In his Special Remarks, Dr. G. Shankar, Padma Shri Awardee and Founder of Habitat Technology Group, underscored: “Respecting the land and creating responsible built environments is key. Kerala’s architecture draws from local materials, vernacular designs, and the skills of local human resources, all adapted to the hills, rivers, and climate.”
The roundtable concluded with a collective call for stronger institutional alignment, lifecycle-based financing, independent verification, and procurement reforms to bridge the gap between policy intent and implementation.
The 10th GRIHA Regional Conclave closed with a clear consensus: Kerala’s resilience journey must be climate-smart, data-driven, and collaborative—integrating policy, finance, and innovation to deliver scalable and future-ready infrastructure.
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