Make sustainability core to growth strategy: Experts at GCCI Summit

Ahmedabad: Industry titans and policymakers at the GCCI Gujarat Sustainability Summit 2026 have issued a clarion call to the private sector: sustainability is no longer a peripheral “green” obligation, but a core driver of profitability. Addressing over 1,000 delegates in Ahmedabad, leaders argued that embedding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) into mainstream strategy is now the only way to ensure long-term market resilience and risk mitigation.

Addressing the summit on Friday, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation commissioner Banchha Nidhi Pani said sustainability was deeply rooted in Indian traditions and must now shape urban planning and industrial growth.

“Sustainability is part of our culture and our faith. We have always worshipped rivers, nature and animals, and we must reconnect with those values,” Pani said. “Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation is the first civic body in the country to introduce a climate budget. This year, under Mission Million Trees, we have set a target of planting 50 lakh trees. So far, a total of 1.4 crore trees have been planted.”

He said AMC had already interlinked 42 lakes in the city, with work underway on 12 more, as part of a long-term flood mitigation strategy. “We are also developing gardens around lakes to make the city more livable, while continuing efforts to reduce AQI levels,” he said, adding that sustainability would remain central as Ahmedabad prepares to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030.

GCCI president Sandeep Engineer said rising temperatures posed serious challenges for both industry and future generations. “This is the moment for companies to adopt sustainable practices with urgency. Businesses must now focus on sharply reducing carbon emissions,” he said.

Sameer Sinha, chairman of GCCI’s ESG Taskforce, said the summit was designed to convert discussion into implementation. “We brought together leaders from policy, finance, industry and innovation to focus on six critical areas — green finance, sustainable infrastructure, carbon markets, supply chain efficiency, climate tech and gender equity,” he said. “The idea is to create a platform that moves conversations into action.”

Arvind Ltd vice-chairman Punit Lalbhai said ESG should be viewed as a business advantage rather than a compliance burden. “ESG helps companies earn better, build stronger customer relationships and reduce business risk,” he said. “It should not be treated as an extra cost, but as a way to ensure profitability while doing good.”

The summit, themed “Gujarat: India’s Engine for Sustainable Growth – Charting the Course to 2047 & 2070,” drew more than 1,000 delegates and over 40 speakers from industry, govt, academia and international sustainability forums.