Theme: ‘Pathways for a Low-Carbon Future: Buildings to Infrastructure’
Humankind is witnessing severe climate crisis, driven primarily by unsustainable patterns of development and resource consumption. We are amid a climate emergency that has been further exacerbated by the prevailing geopolitical scenario. The talks to translate global commitments into investable, scalable and measurable pathways was yesterday. Today we are racing against time. The volatile international arena reaffirms the need for self-reliance and resource security. A clear road map that imposes a strict climate action plan for a low carbon future along with definitive timelines is the need of the hour.
The built environment spanning buildings, infrastructure and the cities, sits at the heart of this climate action plan. It accounts for approximately 75% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions and offers one of the most tractable sectors for rapid and cost-effective decarbonisation. To advance the built infrastructure sustainability agenda for a resource secure and low carbon future, GRIHA Council is hosting its annual 18th GRIHA Summit centred around the theme “Pathways for a Low-Carbon Future: Buildings to Infrastructure”, scheduled on 3-4 November 2026 at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India.
The theme deliberately expands the discourse from buildings to larger infrastructure systems. It emphasises the need for integrated and systems-based approaches that connect buildings, transportation, energy, water, waste and public infrastructure to enable a resilient, resource-secure and low-carbon future. The theme also highlights the importance of lean and resource-efficient construction practices that minimise waste, optimise resource utilisation, lower embodied carbon and improve lifecycle performance across the built environment.
The 18th GRIHA Summit is deliberately positioned as a pre-dialogue leading up to COP31 to reflect upon India's stance on climate action and consolidate its contributions to the global climate agenda, before nations gather to renew and raise their commitments. It will serve as a platform that brings together a wide spectrum of stakeholders to foster knowledge sharing, showcase new advancements and impactful community initiatives, question the gaps and advance collective action towards a resilient, resource-efficient and low-carbon built environment. The platform will also serve as a ground to share ideas that bridge Indian dialogues with global deliberations, connecting Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) with on-the-ground practice; aligning sectoral pathways with the global stocktake and ensuring that the built infrastructure's potential for deep decarbonisation is fully represented in international negotiations.
As part of its continued commitment to advancing inclusive and climate-resilient infrastructure, GRIHA Council is hosting its GRIHA Regional Conclave centred around the theme ‘Pathways for a Low-Carbon Future: Buildings to Infrastructure’. The conclave will be held on 30th September 2026 at Hotel Conrad, Pune.
The regional conclave intends to serve as a platform to deliberate innovative and actionable strategies that can transform our climate ambitions into tangible outcomes. Recognizing the pivotal role of regional insights in shaping a resilient and sustainable future, the conclave seeks to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders - innovators, policymakers, industry leaders, architects, engineers, product manufacturers, researchers and urban practitioners to convene for a day to ‘discuss, innovate, adapt’ and ‘collaborate & act’ on strategies that have the potential to build a climate-resilient world.
The Summit and Conclave will amplify India's leadership in clean energy transitions, low-carbon built developments, updation in building policies and codes, blue-green infrastructure, demonstrating how a nation at scale can drive climate action that is equitable, resilient and scalable.
Industry experts, including policymakers, industry leaders, architects, engineers, researchers, financiers, innovators and urban practitioners will convene at the Summit and Conclave to deliberate, collaborate and commit towards actionable pathways that can strengthen India's contribution to the global low-carbon transition. This year's theme charts a deliberate continuum from the individual building to the wider infrastructure that sustains cities and regions.