TNN
Panaji: The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and International Institute of Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility (IICSR) have decided to establish a mechanism to work on long-duration energy storage, treated-water reuse, sustainability and energy efficiency in the hospitality sector and mining decarbonisation as pilot projects in Goa.Stakeholders from industry, mining, airport operations, renewable energy, climate technology, govt, academia, consulting and civil society identified these projects to deliberate on accelerating the transition from net-zero commitments to measurable climate action.“Goa is ready to demonstrate that responsible mining and environmental action can progress together. Our priority must be to support economic development and employment while adopting cleaner technologies, strengthening environmental safeguards and protecting the interests of local communities,” said former minister Nilesh Cabral.Other pilot projects include waste-derived industrial heat and waste conversion, net-positive panchayat initiatives and native-species biodiversity restoration. These projects could position the state as a potential testing ground for climate-tech solutions and integrated sustainability projects, said GCCI’s director general Sanjay Amonkar.The two organisations decided that each pilot project should have a clear roadmap, financing plan and measurable reporting framework with quarterly reviews to assess progress, risks, financing and outcomes.“Goa has the potential to become a hub for demonstrating and testing climate technologies. Goa’s compact geography and diverse economic sectors could provide opportunities for collaboration between industry, govt, academic institutions and communities to develop practical and replicable sustainability solutions,” said Joseph D’Souza, GCCI’s managing committee member.The need to bridge the gap between sustainability commitments and implementation was also discussed. During the discussions, Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) presented its clean-energy roadmap and a net-positive panchayat programme being piloted across three locations. The programme includes initiatives such as composting, rainwater harvesting and solar street lighting, supported by carbon measurement and monitoring.Experts also highlighted the practical challenges of sectors such as mining and aviation in reducing emissions.The aviation sector highlighted the challenge of reducing emissions, with airlines, ground handlers, contractors and other service providers accounting for significant emissions outside direct operational control of airport operators.Long-duration energy storage emerged as a potential area for a Goa-based demonstration project. Industry experts said that any pilot project in Goa would need independent evaluation of factors including storage duration, efficiency, degradation, safety, operating conditions, maintenance and lifecycle costs.
