Global Leaders to Convene at the 17th GRIHA Summit

“Innovate to Act for a Climate Resilient World” on 3 & 4 November 2025 in New Delhi

New Delhi: GRIHA Council is set to host the 17th GRIHA Summit on 3rd and 4th November

2025 at the India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, under the theme “Innovate to

Act for a Climate Resilient World.” The Summit aims to accelerate scalable climate

solutions for India’s built environment by bringing together national and international

leaders to deliberate on policies, market mechanisms, technology advancements, and

partnerships needed to strengthen the resilience of infrastructure, cities, and

communities.

As India advances its sustainability agenda amidst intensifying climate shocks, this high-

level convening will feature over 50 distinguished speakers across four plenary sessions

and four technical sessions, complemented by three innovation-centric exhibition

pavilions. Senior government officials, heads of multilateral institutions, ambassadors,

and industry leaders will share insights on emerging pathways for climate action.

Dignitaries invited to address the summit among many others include:

• Shri Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs,

Government of India

• H.E. Ms. May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of the Royal Norwegian Embassy

• Mr. Ashish Khanna, Director General, International Solar Alliance (ISA)

• Mr. Sanjay Kulshrestha, Chairman and Managing Director, HUDCO

We are honoured to welcome Mr. Gulshan Grover, a distinguished film personality with

acclaimed contributions to both national and international cinema, as the Guest of

Honour at the valedictory event.

Highlighting the importance of collective innovation in addressing climate challenges, Dr.

Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI & President, GRIHA Council, stated, “The built

environment has an undeniable influence on how we respond to the challenges of climate

change. As we rethink how our cities grow and our infrastructure evolves, innovation

must drive every stage—from design to execution. The 17th GRIHA Summit intends to

foster dialogues on the need to integrate resilience, efficiency, and circularity as central

pillars of sustainable development. It is only through collective commitment and

continuous innovation that we can create habitats which nurture both people and the

planet.”

Sharing his perspective, Mr. Sanjay Seth, Vice President & CEO, GRIHA Council, noted

that, “In the current climate discourse, we need to match the scale and speed of growth

with sustainability. For this, Innovation must be the driving force in shaping a resilient

future across sectors and scales. It is evident that we are standing at a turning point

wherein climate action must now shift from ‘intent to implementation’ and ‘ambition to

action’ with the built environment becoming a catalyst for low-carbon, resilient and

inclusive growth. At GRIHA Council, we remain committed to translating ideas into

measurable outcomes that enhance performance and resilience across the built

environment. Our collective efforts today will determine how effectively we build a low-

carbon, adaptive, and inclusive tomorrow.”

Over two days, subject experts will explore India’s transition towards secure and inclusive

low-carbon growth, with discussions on energy security, resilient infrastructure planning,

climate pedagogy to empower future leaders, and community-driven approaches to

climate action. The thematic sessions will focus on climate-smart water security,

innovations in sustainable and low-carbon building materials, integrated solutions for

tackling urban air pollution, and circular economy models that transform waste into

valuable resources.

Notable speakers contributing to technical deliberations include:

• Shri. Anil Razdan, IAS (retd.) officer, Former Secretary, Ministry of Power,

Government of India

• Smt. Leena Nandan, IAS (retd.) Officer, Former Secretary, Ministry of

Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), Government of India

• Ms. Yevgeniya Pozigun, Senior Associate, Zaha Hadid Architects

• Dr. Daniel Joseph Whittaker, Senior Lecturer, Exchange, Collaborations, Guest

Lectures and Exhibitions Coordinator, Singapore University of Technology and

Design

• Mr Peter Graham, CEO, Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN)

• Mr. R R Rashmi, IAS (retd.), Distinguished Fellow, TERI

• Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Vice President, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet

(GEAPP), India

• Dr. Amir Bazaz, Associate Dean, School of Environment and Sustainability; School

of Systems and Infrastructure Head - Infrastructure and Climate, Indian Institute

for Human Settlements (IIHS)

• Mr. Alan Abraham, Principal Architect, Abraham John Architects

• Mr. Aalekh Kapoor, Actor and Influencer

and several other thought leaders from across the globe.

The Summit will also showcase immersive exhibition zones with cutting-edge sustainable

technologies and solutions. A full-scale Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) façade

demonstration and the Nirmaan Architectural Design Competition Gallery will offer

visitors unique insights into climate-responsive design and technology. The prestigious

GRIHA Rating Awards and Felicitation Ceremony will honour excellence in sustainable

construction and infrastructure performance across the country.

The Summit will also offer a rich cultural experience to its participants through a vibrant

cultural evening, featuring a captivating performance by the renowned Nizami Brothers.

With the built environment contributing significantly to national emissions and resource

use, the 17th GRIHA Summit represents a vital platform for turning ambitious climate

goals into tangible progress. The event will enable stakeholders to forge partnerships,

explore investment and financing avenues, initiate pilot projects, and contribute to

scalable policies and markets that shape a net-zero, nature-positive, and climate-resilient

future for India.

Join us to collaborate, innovate, and accelerate climate action at one of India’s most

influential forums on sustainable and resilient built environments.

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