Green Infrastructure and Circular Economy are the twin pillars of the ‘Telangana Rising 2047’ vision. ESG BROADCAST shares key takeaways.
The state of Telangana has set an ambitious goal to become India’s first Net-Zero State by 2047, outlining a comprehensive plan that seamlessly integrates environmental stewardship with rapid economic growth. This vision, encapsulated in the ‘Telangana Rising 2047’ document, aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy by leveraging green technology, infrastructure investment, and progressive policy frameworks. The move positions Telangana as a sub-national leader in climate action within the world’s third-largest emitter nation.
The foundation of this commitment rests on a massive scale-up of renewable energy capacity, guided by the Telangana Clean and Green Energy Policy 2025. With an existing installed capacity of approximately 9 GW, the state is targeting an additional 20 GW by 2030, with a long-term goal of reaching 40 GW by 2035. This expansion across solar, wind, floating solar, and green hydrogen projects is expected to unlock investments totaling up to Rs. 2 lakh crore and generate over one lakh highly skilled green jobs. Furthermore, the state is proactively pursuing Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs), which are critical for energy balancing and enabling higher penetration of intermittent renewable sources onto the grid.
The decarbonization strategy extends profoundly into transport and urban waste management, demonstrating a holistic approach to achieving the Net-Zero State ambition. In mobility, the state aims for a 95% reduction in oil demand by 2047, with a complete shift to electric and hydrogen-driven transport. Accelerating this shift, Telangana implemented a pioneering 100% road tax waiver for electric vehicles. This incentivization is backed by significant infrastructure expansion, aiming to scale the current operational 1,036 public EV charging stations to 6,000 by 2030 and 12,000 by 2035.
Telangana also views the circular economy as a central strategic opportunity. The state has already achieved impressive recycling milestones, including 76.88% of municipal waste, 88.5% of e-waste, and 66% of hazardous industrial waste. To address remaining challenges—particularly in treating sewage (58.3%), plastics (54%), and construction waste (13.58%)—the state is drafting a dedicated Circular Economy Policy. This policy focuses on reuse, refurbishing, and eco-design to foster new business models and create green manufacturing jobs. The proposed establishment of a Net Zero State Authority and a Green Energy and Carbon Transition Fund further underscores a governance commitment to channeling carbon revenues and green finance into climate-smart development.
Strategic significance lies in the integrated nature of the ‘Telangana Rising 2047’ blueprint. By coupling aggressive economic targets (a $3 trillion economy by 2047) with a binding Net-Zero State goal, Telangana provides a replicable model for other regions globally. The focus on local manufacturing, job creation, and innovative financing mechanisms, such as those associated with the 5,600 MW of hybrid and biogas projects that secured Rs. 29,000 crore in investment, ensures that the green transition is both economically viable and socially inclusive, setting a new national benchmark.
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