Post Date: August 13, 2025 |
Last Edited: August 23, 2025
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.
