The MoU was formalised at the 23rd Green Building Congress 2025, held at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre. The partnership seeks to streamline green financing pathways by enabling developers, lenders, and investors to structure green loans, ESG-linked credit lines, and sustainability-focused financial instruments for projects aligned with IGBC ratings and GRESB benchmarks.

A Major Push Toward Green Finance Mobilisation

Under the new alliance, GRESB and IGBC will collaborate to standardise sustainability metrics, data frameworks, and benchmarking tools so that green real estate portfolios become more bankable, comparable, and attractive to long-term capital.

The partnership also aims to make ESG-aligned performance a core part of India’s real estate credit appraisal system—an advancement industry experts have long called for.

National Housing Bank, Major Banks Already Expanding Green Lending

CII-IGBC shared that the National Housing Bank has already deployed over ₹2,200 crore through dedicated green housing schemes for IGBC-certified projects. Leading Indian and global banks—including SIDBI, SBI, HDFC, ICICI Bank, and Standard Chartered—are also offering:

• Concessional green home loans
• Green development finance
• Sustainability-linked bonds
• Preferential credit for IGBC-certified buildings

IGBC certifications are additionally recognised by key global sustainable finance bodies including the Climate Bonds Initiative and the Asian Development Bank, enabling Indian green buildings to tap global climate capital pools.

Industry Leaders Emphasise Common Standards and Data Transparency

The MoU was signed by:

• Roxana van den Berg, Chief Product Officer, GRESB
• K.S. Venkatagiri, Executive Director, CII-Green Business Centre

Both leaders underlined the critical need for consistent ESG data frameworks, credible metrics, and transparent reporting to mainstream sustainability into India’s built environment financing systems.

The collaboration will help developers demonstrate performance against internationally recognised ESG benchmarks, improving investor confidence and strengthening India’s position in the global green finance market.

A Significant Milestone in India’s Net Zero Journey

The GRESB–IGBC partnership marks a major step toward integrating India’s real estate sector into global sustainable finance networks. With real estate contributing significantly to India’s carbon emissions, solutions that combine green certification + ESG benchmarking + green capital are essential for achieving national net zero targets.

This move is expected to unlock larger green investments, reduce financial risk for lenders, and help scale up India’s green building ecosystem across residential, commercial, and mixed-use developments.

Also Read: Green Building List: Maharashtra On Top.

The post GRESB–CII IGBC Tie-Up to Boost Green Finance and Fast-Track India’s Net Zero Real Estate Transition appeared first on Square Feat India.

Mumbai, 18 November 2025 — Maharashtra has firmly positioned itself as India’s most advanced and ambitious state in the sustainable built environment space, backed by pioneering policy incentives, robust municipal regulations, and an active collaboration with the CII Indian Green Building Council (IGBC).

From Mumbai’s commercial towers to Pune’s industrial and residential hubs, Maharashtra’s cities are setting new benchmarks in green building adoption, net zero development, and climate-aligned infrastructure.

Policy Leadership: FAR Incentives, Mandatory Green Ratings, and ECBC 2025

Maharashtra’s Urban Development Department has rolled out transformative green construction policies, making it the most proactive state in the country:

• Additional FAR incentives of 3%, 5%, and 7% for IGBC Silver, Gold, and Platinum-rated buildings.
• PMC and PMRDA adopting similar green incentive frameworks.
• PWD mandate: all new government buildings and renovations must comply with IGBC Green Building Rating systems.
• UDCPR 2020 update: Integrated township projects must secure at least IGBC Silver rating.
• ECBC Rules 2025 drafted to harmonize energy performance norms across all new commercial buildings in the state.

These reforms ensure that sustainability is embedded at the regulatory, planning, and infrastructure levels.

Maharashtra’s Green Footprint: India’s Largest and Fastest Growing

With six active IGBC chapters, Maharashtra leads the country in green building adoption:

Mumbai Chapter

• 1,700+ registered projects
• 1,800+ million sq. ft. of green footprint
• 550+ certified green buildings
• 45 net zero buildings

Mumbai stands out in:

• Commercial real estate
• Transit infrastructure
• Net zero developments

Pune Chapter

• 1,300+ registered projects
• 2,000+ million sq. ft. of green area
• 400 certified buildings
• 20 net zero buildings

Pune dominates in:

• Residential
• Industrial
• Logistics and warehousing sectors

Nagpur, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, and Aurangabad

These cities are steadily expanding Maharashtra’s green-rated portfolio across educational, civic, industrial, and mixed-use developments.

The state’s cumulative footprint makes it the largest contributor to India becoming the world’s second-largest green building market.

Landmark Green Projects That Define Maharashtra’s Leadership

Some of the most significant IGBC-rated projects in the state include:

• Infosys Pune Campus – A pioneering net zero energy campus
• CIDCO Bhavan, Navi Mumbai – Model green civic headquarters
• Tata Motors plants in Pune and Nashik – Advanced industrial sustainability
• Mumbai International Airport
• Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation HQ
• RBI Building, Fort
• Tata Bombay House
• Major financial and IT buildings across BKC

These projects demonstrate how both the government and private sector are embracing green norms on a transformative scale.

IGBC’s Role: 32 Rating Systems, Technical Guidance, and Industry Mobilization

The CII Indian Green Building Council has been central to Maharashtra’s green transformation. With 32 India-specific rating systems, the IGBC provides sector-wide certification frameworks for:

• Residential & commercial buildings
• Industrial facilities
• Data centres
• Transit & airport infrastructure
• Affordable housing (NEST & Green Affordable Housing)

IGBC also supports the state with:

• Capacity-building workshops
• Sustainable design training
• Policy consultation
• Net zero roadmaps

IGBC on Maharashtra’s Leadership

M Anand, Deputy Executive Director, IGBC, said:
“Maharashtra’s visionary governance and strategic partnership with IGBC have accelerated the net zero and green building movement. The state is shaping India’s future built environment—resilient, resource-efficient, and inclusive.”

The Bigger Picture: Maharashtra Aligns with India’s 2070 Net Zero Vision

Maharashtra’s policy-driven green transition directly enhances India’s broader national climate mission:

• Lower carbon emissions
• Reduced energy consumption
• Water-efficient buildings
• Healthier indoor environmental quality
• Climate-resilient urban infrastructure

The state has created a replicable model for other Indian states seeking to integrate sustainability into urban planning.

Also Read: Green Building List: Maharashtra On Top.

The post Maharashtra Emerges as India’s Green Building Leader: Mumbai, Pune Drive Massive Shift to Sustainable Urban Growth appeared first on Square Feat India.