Telangana to achieve net-zero emissions by 2047: CM Revanth Reddy

A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday said Telangana plans to measure the carbon footprint of Hyderabad as part of its focus on green energy and has set a long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2047 .

Addressing Mumbai Climate Week in the Maharashtra capital, Reddy said the state government would soon undertake a city-wide carbon footprint audit in Hyderabad. He said growth, investments and job creation must continue alongside sustainability, adding that the combined impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change has altered governments’ approaches, describing the current situation as a “climate emergency” .

The Chief Minister said the state has developed a comprehensive roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions by 2047 under the Telangana Rising 2047 plan. He added that Telangana aspires to achieve a USD 1 trillion GSDP by 2034 and expand it to USD 3 trillion by 2047 , which would account for about 10 per cent of India’s targeted USD 30 trillion GDP . The Telangana Rising 2047 report notes that reaching the USD 3 trillion milestone would require deep structural transformation sustained over the next two decades.

Highlighting Hyderabad’s sustainability initiatives, Reddy said that within the next five years there would be almost no industry or factory within the city’s urban limits , as industries are progressively shifted to peri-urban zones . He also outlined plans for rejuvenation of the highly polluted Musi river , restoration of lakes , strengthening of water and energy grids , and the establishment of HYDRAA (Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency) , described as the country’s first dedicated environmental police force .

On clean mobility, the Chief Minister said taxes on electric vehicles (EVs) have been removed in Hyderabad, leading to high adoption , while discussions are underway with EV manufacturers for investments. More than two lakh autorickshaws in the city are being retrofitted, over 3,500 state-run buses are being replaced with EVs, and the Hyderabad Metro is being expanded from 71 km to over 200 km .

Referring to energy transition, Reddy said Telangana currently records a peak power consumption of about 17,000 megawatts per day . To support the targeted USD 1 trillion economy by 2034, the state would need to increase energy capacity to 34,000–35,000 megawatts , while shifting away from polluting sources . “ Energy, sustainability and renewable energy are our strengths,” he said, adding that the government aims for 90 per cent of energy to come from green sources such as solar and wind .