Capital Markets Key to Unlocking India's Climate Transition: FICCI–NSE World Environment Day Summit 2026
June 08, 2026
FICCI plants a tree in the name of every delegate under the Government of India's ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign
Mumbai, 08 June 2026: The FICCI Centre for Sustainability Leadership, in partnership with the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), organised the World Environment Day Summit 2026 on the theme "Capital Markets as the Gateway of Climate Finance in India" at the NSE Exchange Plaza, Mumbai, on June 05, 2026.
The Summit brought together leaders from government, regulatory institutions, financial markets, industry and the sustainability ecosystem to deliberate on the critical role of capital markets in mobilising climate finance and accelerating India's transition towards a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy.
The discussions underscored that achieving India's Net Zero 2070 ambition will require unprecedented mobilisation of capital towards clean energy, sustainable infrastructure, industrial decarbonisation, climate adaptation and emerging green technologies. The expert speakers and dignitaries highlighted the growing role of capital markets in enabling climate-aligned investments, strengthening transparency, and supporting innovation in sustainable finance.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Deepak A. Trivedi, Chief Financial Officer & Chief General Manager, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), underscored the importance of transparency and disclosures in directing investments towards sustainable development. "Strong disclosures, robust governance and investor confidence are essential for scaling sustainable finance and supporting India's long-term development objectives," he said.
Sharing Maharashtra's experience in leveraging public finance to attract private investment, Shri Aman Mittal, IAS, Joint CEO, Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), highlighted the importance of creating investible projects and effective financial structures.
He stated, "Achieving India's climate and development ambitions will require significantly greater mobilisation of private capital. Public finance must act as a catalyst to unlock private investment, particularly in sustainable infrastructure, industrial decarbonisation and climate-resilient urban development.” He added, “Creating a pipeline of bankable projects and effective risk-sharing mechanisms will be critical to scaling climate finance”.
In the inaugural session of the Summit, Shri Ajay Saxena, Sector Head, Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), Government of Maharashtra, highlighted the growing convergence between climate action and economic development. "Climate transition can be a powerful driver of economic growth, innovation and job creation. Partnerships across public and private stakeholders will be essential to unlock this opportunity," he said.
Shri Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD & CEO, National Stock Exchange of India Limited, mentioned "India's climate transition requires capital at an unprecedented scale. Capital markets can play a pivotal role in channelling long-term investments towards sustainable infrastructure, clean energy and climate-resilient growth."
Shri Prabodha Acharya, Co-Chair, FICCI Environment & Climate Change Committee and Group Chief Sustainability Officer, JSW Group, emphasised that sustainability has moved from the periphery of business strategy to the centre of investment and growth decisions.
"Sustainability is no longer a compliance exercise or a cost centre. It is shaping capital allocation, risk pricing and enterprise strategy. If India is to build a globally competitive low-carbon economy, we must strengthen transition finance frameworks, improve disclosure standards and create the confidence needed to mobilise climate finance at scale," he said.
Marking World Environment Day, Shri Acharya also announced that FICCI is planting a tree in the name of every delegate attending the Summit under the Government of India's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign, launched by the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India. He noted that the initiative symbolises the values of care, nurturing and responsibility that are central to both family and nature while contributing to India's environmental conservation and climate goals.
Dr Mukund Govind Rajan, Chairman, ECube Investment Advisors and Chair, BRICS Business Council Task Force on ESG & Green Finance, highlighted the scale of opportunity associated with India's sustainability transition. "India's climate ambitions present a significant opportunity for innovation and investment. Developing credible and scalable sustainable finance frameworks will be critical for mobilising capital," he said.
Mr Prashanth Venkatesh, Director – Sustainability, Hindustan Unilever and Founding Team Member, FICCI Centre for Sustainability Leadership, emphasised that sustainability must be viewed as a strategic business driver rather than merely a reporting requirement.
"Sustainability is not a burden on business; it is a catalyst for innovation, resilience and future growth. Whether it is reducing costs, strengthening supply chains or attracting talent, sustainability is increasingly shaping business competitiveness. Most importantly, no sustainability transformation can happen in isolation. Partnerships are what de-risk innovation, mobilise resources and enable impact at scale," he stated.
The summit featured key senior dignitaries in fireside chats and panel discussions, including Dr Harish Ahuja, Executive Vice President, NSE, Shri. Navneet Munot, MD&CEO, HDFC Asset Management Company Limited, Shri. Ananthan NS, Head Treasury, L&T, Smt. Vineeta Shetty, MD, NSE Sustainability Ratings and Analytics Ltd., Ms. Neha Kumar, Head, South Asia, Climate Bonds Initiative, Smt. Jaicy Paul, Former CGM, ESG & Climate Finance, SBI, and Smt. Sreelakshmi Hariharan, MD & CEO, Ecube Investment Advisors.
The deliberations highlighted opportunities in green and transition finance, ESG debt securities, nature-related disclosures, climate risk management, and innovative financing mechanisms required to support India's development and net-zero ambitions. Participants also emphasised the importance of strengthening sustainable finance frameworks, enhancing transparency and building investor confidence to unlock climate capital at scale.
The Summit concluded with a shared recognition that capital markets will play a pivotal role in financing India's climate transition and supporting the country's journey towards a resilient, inclusive and sustainable future.