New Delhi, Sept. 25 -- As India charts its path towards becoming a developed nation by 2047, infrastructure is expected to be the backbone of this transformation. Every facet of this progress-from affordable housing to expressways-would rest substantially on cement as a foundation. As the sector is a critical enabler of growth and urbanization, its environmental responsibility will be in focus.

With transformative initiatives such as PM Gati Shakti, Housing for All and India's Smart Cities Mission, cement demand is poised to rise sharply. At the same time, the sector contributes nearly 7% of the nation's total greenhouse gas emissions. This paradox of being both essential and emission-intensive makes the cement sector a crucible of clima...