The Indian construction industry is scaling rapidly with an annual rate of 9.4% (FY 2024-25) and contributing to 8-9% of GDP. However, the scenario leading to growth is accompanied by high resource consumption and extreme environmental impacts, creating sustainability a critical concern for the industry and country.

To bring this to light, Technology & Action for Rural Advancement (TARA), social enterprise of DA group, conducted a one-day workshop on ‘Decarbonising India's Brick Industry ' to focus on identifying pathways for decarbonising the sector. The workshop brought together experts, industry leaders and policy makers as well as researchers and practitioners from the brick and construction sectors to deliberate on the future of India’s brick industry.

The workshop was structured into four thematic sessions, each focused on a strategic enabler to enable decarbonisation of the sector, including an approach that balances environmental sustainability, economic viability, and worker welfare.

Key areas of discussion included:

● Technology options for cleaner and energy-efficient brick production

● Enabling access to finance and strengthening market demand for low-carbon bricks

● Policy interventions for enabling large-scale change

● Social considerations, including improving labour conditions and livelihoods

The workshop laid the foundation for meaningful discussion on the decarbonisation of the brick sector, and it also affirmed that a low-carbon brick sector with social and economic equity without causing harm to the environment is possible and achievable if the right and strategic enablers are provided with collective and coordinated action from government and people together.