Sustainability must be backed by measurable outcomes, practical action: Tamil Nadu Minister V.K. Rajeev

Sustainability must move beyond discussion and translate into practical action; the Tamil Nadu government’s vision for green transition is to ensure that sustainability leads to tangible improvement in people’s daily lives, V.K. Rajeev, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, said at the inauguration of The Hindu Sustainability Summit 2026 in Chennai on Wednesday (September 23, 2026).

Pointing out that such summits would serve as a platform to arrive at practical solutions, Mr. Rajeev underlined the Tamil Nadu government’s vision for a sustainable environment. Coastal resilience was one of the priorities of the government, he said.

Sustainability must be demonstrated through measurable outcomes, including ecosystem restoration. Industries must move towards commitments, be it through energy efficiency or decarbonisation, Mr. Rajeev added.

The State government would extend its policy support to accelerate green transition and would encourage young entrepreneurs to drive innovation and clean development, he said.

Highlighting the various sustainable solutions adopted, Kumar Jayant, chairman and managing director, Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited, said TNPL was a bagasse-based paper mill and aimed at minimising waste through innovative approaches. It would soon expand its renewable energy production.

Need for segregation at source

Noting that paper recycling is not a structured setup as yet, he said source segregation must be made a public movement to ensure that waste does not go to the landfill. There has been a renewed focus on source segregation in cities like Chennai. It must be turned into a public project for better accountability, said Mr. Jayant.

Speakers also emphasised the need for collective responsibility to build a sustainable future for the next generation.

H. Shankar, managing director, Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited, elaborated on CPCL’s pioneering efforts that focuses on resource efficiency, cleaner energy, and reducing its environmental footprint. He highlighted various initiatives, including desalination and sewage reclamation systems and investments in renewable energy sources.

Sustainability continues to be major driver for CPCL’s growth. While ensuring that CPCL is ahead of the curve in meeting the demand for fuel, environmental concerns are firmly in focus, said Mr. Shankar.

CPCL is also working towards engaging people in sustainability initiatives, including through its urban forest trail project and creating awareness through art. These efforts would help move awareness towards action and impactful activity.

S. Sundaresan, senior vice president (Advertisement), The Hindu, also participated.