In a ground-breaking collaboration, the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) partnered with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to drive transformative advancements in India's construction and wastewater treatment sector. It was an effort to align the ‘Access to Knowledge for Technology Development and Dissemination (A2K+) Studies’ Scheme of DSIR with India's Smart Cities Mission and its commitment to becoming a net-zero emitter by 2070. The DSIR has awarded two research studies to TERI with the intent to bridge the information gap on advanced building materials and building design for achieving energy efficiency and to make a status and scoping report on membrane-based sewage wastewater treatment systems for reuse and recycling.

In this regard, a DSIR–TERI, collaborative Stakeholder Consultant Meeting with key decision-makers was held at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The event was attended by esteemed experts from academia, industry leaders, and policymakers.

TERI along with GIZ India conducted a stakeholder workshop to kick off the project 'Integrated Urban Climate Action for Low-Carbon and Resilient Cities (Urban-Act)' on 2 November 2023 in Shimla. The workshop introduced the Urban-Act project components and conducted an interactive problem tree analysis exercise to understand the current scenario of Shimla city. Stakeholders enthusiastically participated in identifying root causes and impacts of key challenges in Shimla, such as large-scale spatial expansion, growing geohazard and climate risks on infrastructure, construction and demolition (C&D) waste management, growing energy consumption in buildings, etc. An opportunity dashboard was also presented to them, where they deliberated on the numerous opportunities to tackle such challenges.

Shimla's Municipal Commissioner, Sh. Bhupender Kumar Attri shared his enlightening perspectives and encouragement towards urban climate resilience in his keynote address. The workshop was also graced with the presence of the Mayor of Shimla Municipal Corporation, Sh. Surinder Chauhan.

Urban Act project aims to drive low-carbon and resilient urban development in five countries—India, the Philippines, Thailand, China, and Indonesia. In India, the project will focus on Coimbatore, Panaji, and Shimla.

On 24 October 2023, during the 35th Meeting of the Parties (MoP35) in Nairobi, Kenya, TERI participated in the side event organized by the World Bank on the theme of ‘Championing Sustainable Cooling in India: Strategies for Enacting the ICAP Vision’. The panellists engaged in a comprehensive dialogue about the diverse implementation modalities for the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP) and deliberated on the essential components required to establish an effective governance framework aimed at amplifying the impact of the ICAP.

The distinguished panel was moderated by Mr Sanjay Seth, Senior Director, Sustainable Buildings, TERI and brought together notable representatives from the Natural Resource Defence Council (NRDC), Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (IGSD), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and TERI itself. Additionally, the keynote for the session was delivered by Ms Rajasree Ray, the Head of the Indian Delegation, who is engaged as Economic Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC). In her address, Ms Ray emphasized the significance of aligning India's journey towards fulfilling the goals outlined in the ICAP with the aspirations of the Indian populace. She shed light on the current institutional framework and review mechanisms that have been put in place for the ICAP's execution and acknowledged the need for their further fortification. Ms Ray extended her warm appreciation for the on-going collaborative efforts of the World Bank and TERI and expressed her eagerness to collaborate with the team in addressing these critical matters in the future.

In collaboration with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), TERI, and ECBC Cell Ladakh conducted training programmes in Nubra, Leh and Kargil on awareness of the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) and the Eco-Niwas Samhita (ENS).

One-day training programme on 'Envelope Optimization' and a two-day training programme on ‘Integrative Design Approach’ were conducted in Nubra, on 14 November 2023 and 15–16 November 2023, respectively. One day training programme on ‘Daylight Simulation’ was conducted in Leh on 18 November 2023. One-day training programme on 'HVAC Design Awareness' and a two-day training programme on ‘ECBC Rules and Compliance Procedures’ were conducted in Kargil, on 20 November 2023 and 21–22 November 2023, respectively, which were attended by participants from the government departments of Nubra, Leh, and Kargil.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the GRIHA Council and Sustainable Buildings Division, TERI to collaborate and work together for technical support to each other.

Recognizing the importance of interior spaces in energy efficiency and occupants' well-being, TERI's Sustainable Buildings Division and GRIHA Council developed specialized ratings for building interiors—GRIHA for Interior Spaces. Launched during the Inaugural Session of the 15th GRIHA Summit, these ratings endorse eco-friendly materials, energy-efficient designs, and innovative sustainability measures, significantly contributing to India's broader green building efforts. ‘GRIHA for Interior Spaces’ was launched by Mr Pramod Kumar Tiwari, Director General, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India, Prof. Ar. Abhay Purohit, President, Council of Architecture (CoA), Dr Vibha Dhawan, President, GRIHA Council and Director General, TERI and Mr Sanjay Seth, Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, GRIHA Council and Senior Director, TERI.

At the culmination of the Summit, the unveiling of the coffee table book, 'Beyond Green Building Blocks: GRIHA Impactful 50’, took centre stage in the esteemed presence of H.E. Mr Freddy Svane, Ambassador, Royal Danish Embassy, New Delhi, India, Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, International Solar Alliance, and Ms Leena Nandan, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India. This milestone marked not just the conclusion of a highly successful summit but also celebrated the noteworthy contribution of TERI's Sustainable Buildings' team. Their pivotal role in the composition and release of this influential publication stands as a testament to their dedication to advancing sustainable practices within the industry.

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Various dignitaries along with their teams visited the MTCoE lab to understand the on-going testing of opaque and transparent construction materials utilising cutting-edge tools and technology. The TERI team provided a walk-through tour of the CoE along with a demonstration and got acquainted with the various sustainability principles and design strategies espoused by the CoE building.