What, in your view, defines an effective partnership in the context of sustainable development and climate solutions?

Sustainable goals necessitate a partnership-led or collaborative approach, as these goals are inherently meant to serve achieve the combination of economic, environmental, health, and security goals.  Sustainability progress serves the wider community as a whole and is best accelerated by the combination of civil society, global north and south, governments, business, academia all at the table together

An effective partnership is rooted in shared purpose, trust, and accountability. It demands alignment of goals, resource sharing, and a commitment to innovation. At its core, such collaborations bridge diverse expertise—from industries deploying scalable solutions, governments helping to accelerate deployment through  policies that encourage and incentivize adoption, to communities ensuring grassroots impact. Transparent communication and measurable outcomes further cement trust and effectiveness. For instance, global initiatives like the UN's Race to Zero bring diverse stakeholders together to align on science-based targets. In India, following the state government directive, several cities in the state of Maharashtra are developing Climate Action Plans (CAPs) to address climate risks, including Mumbai's climate budget, which integrates sustainability into urban planning and development. These examples underscore the importance and potency of collective action—the convergence of ambition, action, and inclusivity.

How do you envision integrating climate solutions and sustainability across policies, industries, and sectors?

For climate action to be effective, there needs to be a holistic approach that involves embedding sustainability as a foundational principle across all sectors, rather than something that is an after-thought or add on. Policies must incentivize the adoption and implementation of efficiency first—working to reduce emissions and waste as the top priority since such action cuts costs and frees up capital for further climate action and delivers the clean environment that protects health and well-being.  After efficiency is maximized, then investment can accelerate renewable energy growth, and sustainable infrastructure more broadly.  Building circular economy structures where materials are reused and repurposed in the economy are also powerfully effective in cutting emissions and waste. In this regard, governments play a catalytic role in driving change, by implementing green standards and financing mechanisms and building necessary supportive infrastructure.

Globally, initiatives like the US Inflation Reduction Act, the EU Green Industrial Deal, and the Singapore '80-80-80' Green Building Initiative illustrate how cross-sectoral policies enable systemic shifts. In India, the National Solar Mission has been pivotal in integrating renewable energy across industries. At Johnson Controls, our work exemplifies this—combining cutting-edge technology with policy engagement to scale decarbonization in several sectors from health care to aviation, to real estate. Such models underscore the power of synergizing policy and industry action to drive universal impact. Bringing the power of technology and partnership together enables us to drive results that are good for people and the planet. With a pharma company in India, for example, Johnson Controls has shown that we can reduce energy consumption by 45%, resulting in $1.2M savings, while also significantly cutting carbon emissions. At our own factories we demonstrated that leaning into decarbonization bolsters the bottom line, cutting emissions more than 40% and operating costs by nearly $1M/year. These examples are critical since we can accelerate climate action when we demonstrate that prosperity and taking care of the planet go together rather than representing inherent tradeoffs.

What means of implementation and enabling environments are needed to encourage partnerships involving different stakeholders?

Creating an enabling environment hinges on robust policy frameworks, financial mechanisms, educational and awareness mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives. Public–private partnerships can amplify resources, while clear governance structures ensure accountability. Equally important is fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration among stakeholders. Platforms like the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) provide a vital forum for dialogue and partnership-building.

Globally, the adoption of carbon financing mechanisms has encouraged businesses to invest in sustainable technologies. In India, green bonds are mobilizing capital for climate-friendly projects. Furthermore, last year's Union Budget made significant provisions for advancing India's sustainability goals, including enhanced budgetary allowances (from INR 128.5 bn to INR 191 bn) for renewable energy, with an emphasis on solar, thermal, and nuclear energy projects.

Johnson Controls, through its partnerships, has demonstrated how collaboration with stakeholders across various sectors and Tier-1 and Tier-2 urban centres can accelerate progress. A key example includes our work with the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh where state-of-the-art and high-efficiency cooling and infection control technologies are deployed. This supports not only in providing quality health care, but also drives progress towards decarbonization for the state.

Can you provide an example of how your organization has leveraged partnerships to accelerate sustainable development and climate solutions?

At Johnson Controls, partnerships are central to our mission of creating smarter, healthier, and more sustainable buildings. A compelling example is our recent collaboration with the Mahindra Group to launch the Net-Zero Buildings Initiative. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership, which integrates cutting-edge technologies, such as AI-driven building management systems, to decarbonize India's commercial, urban residential and public buildings.  This initiative comprises a cost-free, all-in-one toolkit and training, with a view to help building and facility owners learn about best practices of sustainable buildings. The toolkit empowers them to understand implementation strategies to assess building parameters, identify and implement conservation measures, and understand building regulations in India, available incentives, technology, financing models, etc.

Together, we are working to create scalable models for net-zero campuses in India and beyond. By aligning with Mahindra's sustainability vision and leveraging our technological expertise, this initiative exemplifies the transformative power of partnerships in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. It underscores our belief that partnership accelerates impactful climate solutions. #