Chennai, Sep 23: Sustainability must move beyond discussions and translate into practical action with measurable outcomes, Tamil Nadu Environment and Climate Change Minister V.K. Rajeev said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the inauguration of The Hindu Sustainability Summit 2026 in Chennai, Rajeev said the state’s green transition vision was aimed at ensuring tangible improvements in people’s daily lives. He identified coastal resilience as one of the government’s priorities.
“Sustainability must be demonstrated through measurable outcomes, including ecosystem restoration,” Rajeev said, adding that industries should move towards commitments in areas such as energy efficiency and decarbonisation.
The state government would extend policy support to accelerate the green transition and encourage young entrepreneurs to drive innovation and clean development, he said.
Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited (TNPL) Chairman and Managing Director Kumar Jayant highlighted the company’s efforts to minimise waste and said it would soon expand renewable energy production.
He also stressed the need to make source segregation a public movement to prevent waste from reaching landfills. “It must be turned into a public project for better accountability,” Jayant said.
Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) Managing Director H. Shankar highlighted the company’s focus on resource efficiency, cleaner energy and reducing its environmental footprint. Its initiatives include desalination and sewage reclamation systems and investments in renewable energy.
“Sustainability continues to be major driver for CPCL’s growth,” Shankar said, adding that environmental concerns remained firmly in focus while meeting fuel demand.CPCL is also engaging people through initiatives such as an urban forest trail and awareness programmes using art, with the aim of translating environmental awareness into action.
