Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 16th of November, 2025 : The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) and the Confederation of Indian Industry – Green Business Centre (CII-GBC) have entered a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaboratively promote the greening of industries through the CII GreenCo Rating System and the widespread adoption of green building ratings across Andhra Pradesh.
The MoU on facilitating the Greening of Industries through the GreenCo Rating System and promoting Green Buildings in Andhra Pradesh was formally signed and exchanged in the presence of the Honorable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Shri N. Chandrababu Naidu; Shri Ram Mohan Naidu, Union Minister for Civil Aviation; Shri Gottipati Ravi Kumar, Minister for Energy; Shri Vijay Anand, Chief Secretary, Government of Andhra Pradesh; Mr. P. Krishniah, Chairman, APPCB; Mr. Murali Krishna, Chairman CII AP State Council; Mr. Suresh Rayudu Chitturi, Past Chairman CII AP State Council; and Mr. K S Venkatagiri, Executive Director, CII Green Business Centre during the CII Partnership Summit 2025 in Visakhapatnam.
This partnership will focus on driving sustainability in the industrial sector through CII’s GreenCo Rating. This globally recognized framework helps industries enhance resource efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and achieve cost savings. It will also support the implementation of IGBC Green and Net Zero ratings in commercial establishments, hospitals, and large residential developments. This collaboration focuses on building capacity, facilitating technology, recognizing GreenCo-rated industries, and accelerating environmental clearances for IGBC-rated projects.
This initiative aligns with the Government of Andhra Pradesh’s vision of fostering sustainable, climate-resilient industrial growth, while advancing India’s national commitments toward emission reduction and green development.
Mr. P. Krishnaiah, Chairman (Retd. IAS), Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, while signing the Memorandum of Understanding, said, “This MoU marks a significant milestone in Andhra Pradesh’s journey towards sustainable industrialization. By harnessing the expertise of CII Green Business Centre, we aim to make GreenCo Rating a cornerstone for Greening the industries in the state. By recognizing GreenCo-rated industries that go beyond compliance and IGBC-rated buildings, we intend to set new benchmarks in environmental performance and resource efficiency, thereby setting an example for other states to follow.”
Mr. Murali Krishna Gannamani, Chairman, CII Andhra Pradesh State Council, who was also a signatory to the MoU, said, “CII has always been a catalyst for transformative and sustainable development in Indian industry. This collaboration with APPCB will accelerate the adoption of green technologies and practices among Andhra Pradesh’s industries and building sectors. Together, we want to demonstrate that sustainability is not just necessary but also makes solid business sense, fostering competitiveness while protecting our environment for future generations.”
CII GreenCo facilitates companies in improving sustainability beyond compliance, resulting in resource savings and reduced environmental impact. The system also provides motivation and recognition for continuous improvement through certification levels from Certified to Platinum+. In the Andhra Pradesh context, CII GreenCo’s role is to provide capacity building, training, and technical support for industries in the state to adopt and implement the GreenCo standards, incentivizing greener industrial practices and improving competitiveness with environmental stewardship.
The CII Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) is dedicated to promoting green building practices across various building types including commercial, residential, hospitals, and large gated communities. The role of IGBC in this partnership is to facilitate the adoption of these green building certifications in Andhra Pradesh, providing training, technical guidance, assessments, and promoting incentives for developers to achieve certified ratings. The IGBC also supports accelerating environmental clearances for certified projects, helping to create sustainable built environments aligned with climate-resilient development goals.
Mr. KS Venkatagiri, Executive Director, CII Green Business Centre, added, “The GreenCo Rating, IGBC and Net Zero Certifications have successfully enabled manufacturing industries and buildings to significantly reduce energy, water, waste, and carbon footprints across India. With APPCB’s support, this partnership will expand these benefits further and advance the state’s leadership in environmental stewardship. We are excited to provide training, technical guidance, and innovative technology facilitation to propel green growth in Andhra Pradesh.”
The MoU, effective for three years, sets forth key collaboration areas including extensive capacity-building programs, promotion and implementation of GreenCo Rating, IGBC and Net Zero Certifications, technology collaboration for advanced environmental management solutions, and recognition of GreenCo-rated industries. APPCB will also ensure faster environmental clearances for IGBC-certified projects to encourage sustainable development.
This partnership reinforces Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to sustainable industrial practices and the creation of green, climate-resilient urban spaces, contributing significantly to India’s overall climate action goals.
About AP Pollution Control Board
The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB), established in 1975, plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the state’s environmental resources. With a mandate to control water and air pollution, APPCB also works to enhance the environmental performance of Andhra Pradesh’s industries. It enforces environmental laws, oversees pollution control, and promotes sustainable practices. The Board conducts regular inspections, environmental impact assessments, and supports industries in improving sustainability. Through public awareness initiatives and collaboration with industries, APPCB contributes to the state’s green growth agenda while ensuring compliance with national environmental standards.
About CII GreenCo Council
The CII GreenCo Council, an initiative of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), is a leading platform driving environmental sustainability in Indian industry. Through the GreenCo Rating System—India’s first and internationally recognized framework for assessing and improving green performance—the Council helps organizations integrate sustainability into core business strategies. The rating framework covers key areas such as energy efficiency, water management, renewable energy, waste reduction, and product stewardship, guiding companies toward long-term environmental and economic resilience.
Since its inception, over 1500 units of companies across 27 sectors have joined GreenCo movement and first 600 GreenCo-rated companies have delivered significant environmental and financial outcomes, including annual savings of 604 million kWh of electricity, 194 million kilolitres of water, 5.7 million tonnes of CO₂ reduction, and 22 million tonnes of material conserved, translating to INR 5,136 crore in cost savings each year. Through initiatives like the GreenCo Summit, technical workshops, and multi-stakeholder engagement, the CII GreenCo Council continues to catalyze India’s green industrial transformation and accelerate progress toward national net zero goals.
About CII Indian Green Building Council
The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) was established by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2001 to actively promote the Green Building concept in India. The Council, with 32 Chapters across India, is represented by all stakeholders of the construction industry comprising corporate, government, and nodal agencies, architects, product manufacturers, institutions, and more. The Council also works with governments, the World Green Building Council, and bilateral and multilateral agencies in promoting green building concepts in India.
With a registered Green Building footprint of 14.75 billion sq. ft, and with over 17,060+ projects adopting IGBC’s 32 rating systems, the Green Building movement in India has been advancing at a rapid pace and transforming India, into one of the global leaders in green built environment. IGBC is a market leader with about 90% of the India’s green building projects adopting IGBC Green and Net Zero Rating Systems.
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