The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), under the aegis of CII, hosted the Green Kochi Conclave 2025 at Hotel Holiday Inn recently. Centred around the theme “Tharavadu to Tomorrow: Weaving Kerala’s Heritage into a Sustainable Built Environment,” the event brought together industry experts, architects, planners, and policy influencers to discuss Kerala’s urban future grounded in cultural heritage and climate resilience.
Kerala has become a prominent player in India’s green building movement, with over 460 IGBC-registered projects spanning 49 million square feet. Iconic platinum-rated projects include Kochi Metro, RBI Kochi, Kannur International Airport, and IOCL’s Calicut office. Additionally, Kerala boasts India’s first IGBC gold-rated home – Vismayam – and Net Zero Water certification for Shoba City, Thrissur.
The conclave’s inaugural session featured dignitaries such as V Suresh, Chairman, Policy Advocacy & Govt. Relations, IGBC; Joseph Michael Kallivayalil, Vice Chairman, CII Kerala; and Ar B R Ajit, Past Chairman, IGBC Kochi Chapter. Discussions throughout the day spanned key topics including low-carbon construction, renewable energy, ESG integration, urban mobility, and green certification frameworks.
V Suresh highlighted Kerala’s proactive policies offering incentives – such as reductions in building tax and stamp duty – for green-certified projects. Kallivayalil emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration in advancing sustainability.
Panel sessions included insights from R. Harikumar, Director, Energy Management Centre, Kerala, and Mr M P Ramnavas from Kochi Metro Rail Ltd., who discussed climate-conscious infrastructure and energy-efficient transport. Manu G, Airport Director at Cochin International Airport (CIAL), spoke about CIAL’s pioneering status as the world’s first fully solar-powered airport.
The conclave concluded with a call to action from Ar Lalichan Zacharias, Co-Chair, IGBC Kochi Chapter, encouraging collaborative efforts for climate-resilient, culturally rooted development.
Supported by partners like CREDAI Kerala, Saint-Gobain, UltraTech, and Asian Paints, the event provided a dynamic platform for shaping Kerala’s green future.
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