Dr. Hariharan Chandrasekhar, a distinguished ecological economist, sustainability mentor, and Chairman of the Indian Green Building Council, recently issued a powerful call to action for businesses to integrate natural resource efficiency deeply into their core strategies, transcending mere Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance.
Speaking at a special webinar titled “Sustainable Real Estate Development: Shaping the Future of APAC Cities,” organized by the World Trade Centers Association (WTCA) Asia Pacific (APAC) Regional Advisory Council (RAC) and Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO), Dr. Chandrasekhar offered critical insights into why environmentally responsible infrastructure is paramount for fostering resilient and inclusive urban growth across the region.
Describing the Asia Pacific as the “theatre of the challenge of sustainability,” Dr. Chandrasekhar highlighted a significant global shift in sustainability concerns. He noted a transition from post-war heating issues in northern latitudes to the escalating pressures of cooling and water security now prevalent across the global south, driven by rapid urbanization in countries like India, China, and across Africa.
“Cities occupy barely 3% of the planet but impact over 98% of its ecosystems,” Dr. Chandrasekhar stated, advocating for localized, scalable solutions that prioritize circular systems over traditional extraction-based growth models. He urged businesses to meticulously examine their operational dependencies, warning of the increasing risks associated with long-distance water sourcing and centralized energy systems. As viable alternatives, he championed value engineering and circular resource utilization, emphasizing their inherent resilience and cost-effectiveness.
To illustrate the tangible benefits, Dr. Chandrasekhar presented compelling regional rainfall data and facility-level water consumption models, demonstrating how large industrial campuses could achieve complete annual water self-sufficiency through rainwater harvesting. He also challenged the widespread reliance on reverse osmosis (RO) technologies, deeming them unnecessarily carbon-intensive and financially inefficient.
Dr. Chandrasekhar set ambitious yet achievable benchmarks, recommending a reduction of raw water demand by up to 70% and energy use by 30%. He clarified that these targets are not about imposing austerity, but rather about unlocking efficiencies through smarter design, diversifying supply sources, and adopting responsible sourcing practices.
“If you have an ESG compliance, please look at the possibilities of value engineering,” Dr. Chandrasekhar urged, identifying a common reluctance to invest in initiatives that promise higher natural resource efficiency. “Somewhere, there is some balking when it comes to spending money on things that can bring higher natural resource efficiency.”
Dr. Chandrasekhar’s address serves as a vital reminder for businesses to proactively embrace sustainable practices, not merely as a regulatory checkbox, but as a fundamental driver for long-term economic and environmental resilience.
