Climate action investments could create 5 million jobs in India by 2030: Deloitte–Rainmatter Report
New Delhi: Investing in climate action could generate more than five million jobs in India by 2030, according to findings of a report by Deloitte India and the Rainmatter Foundation.
‘The State of Climate Response in India’ report estimates that achieving this would require investments of around $1.5 trillion in the same period. Such investments could add $3.5–4 trillion in annual economic output, creating employment across feedstock aggregation, manufacturing, operations and maintenance, green materials, logistics, and warehousing, the report said.
The study warns that shifts in rainfall, temperature, and biodiversity loss are straining natural systems and increasing the cost of adaptation. It calls for policymakers, corporates, and civil society to move from isolated projects to coordinated action guided by a systems-based approach.
Ashwin Jacob, Partner, Deloitte India, said India’s climate response must evolve from “scattered initiatives to a shared mission that rewires how we build, invest, and innovate.” He added that this would require policies that de-risk capital, better data to guide decisions, and investment in skills to scale climate solutions.
According to the 2025 Citizen Climate Survey, conducted as part of the report that covered over 1700 households across India’s diverse climatic zones, 86% of respondents said climate change is affecting their daily lives, with a third reporting significant disruptions to health and livelihoods.
While many individuals are adapting—44% practise waste segregation, 40% reduce power or water use, and 30% cut down on single-use plastics—a lack of coordination limits broader participation. About 22% remain inactive, citing doubts about individual impact (33%), need for incentives (30%), and low awareness (25%).
The accompanying Corporate Climate Readiness Survey 2025, which covered more than 50 Indian corporates, found that 47% reported employee health challenges linked to environmental changes, and 44% said shifting regulations and consumption patterns were affecting operations. While 41% are building climate risk and adaptation capabilities and 28% are investing in innovation, corporate efforts remain fragmented.
Prashanth Nutula, Partner at Deloitte India, said green job creation depends on “moving beyond fragmented efforts” and building alliances across government, business, and communities to integrate sustainability into mainstream strategies.
The report calls for embedding climate priorities into corporate and policy decision-making, improving data systems, developing climate-focused talent, and creating unified climate governance across national, state, and local levels. It also emphasises the need for interoperable digital systems to connect sectors such as energy, agriculture, and waste management and drive innovation at scale.
Rainmatter Foundation chief executive Sameer Shisodia said, “By embracing complexity and overcoming silos, businesses and governments can unlock new opportunities for resilience and innovation.”
‘The State of Climate Response in India’ report estimates that achieving this would require investments of around $1.5 trillion in the same period. Such investments could add $3.5–4 trillion in annual economic output, creating employment across feedstock aggregation, manufacturing, operations and maintenance, green materials, logistics, and warehousing, the report said.
The study warns that shifts in rainfall, temperature, and biodiversity loss are straining natural systems and increasing the cost of adaptation. It calls for policymakers, corporates, and civil society to move from isolated projects to coordinated action guided by a systems-based approach.
Ashwin Jacob, Partner, Deloitte India, said India’s climate response must evolve from “scattered initiatives to a shared mission that rewires how we build, invest, and innovate.” He added that this would require policies that de-risk capital, better data to guide decisions, and investment in skills to scale climate solutions.
According to the 2025 Citizen Climate Survey, conducted as part of the report that covered over 1700 households across India’s diverse climatic zones, 86% of respondents said climate change is affecting their daily lives, with a third reporting significant disruptions to health and livelihoods.
While many individuals are adapting—44% practise waste segregation, 40% reduce power or water use, and 30% cut down on single-use plastics—a lack of coordination limits broader participation. About 22% remain inactive, citing doubts about individual impact (33%), need for incentives (30%), and low awareness (25%).
The accompanying Corporate Climate Readiness Survey 2025, which covered more than 50 Indian corporates, found that 47% reported employee health challenges linked to environmental changes, and 44% said shifting regulations and consumption patterns were affecting operations. While 41% are building climate risk and adaptation capabilities and 28% are investing in innovation, corporate efforts remain fragmented.
Prashanth Nutula, Partner at Deloitte India, said green job creation depends on “moving beyond fragmented efforts” and building alliances across government, business, and communities to integrate sustainability into mainstream strategies.
The report calls for embedding climate priorities into corporate and policy decision-making, improving data systems, developing climate-focused talent, and creating unified climate governance across national, state, and local levels. It also emphasises the need for interoperable digital systems to connect sectors such as energy, agriculture, and waste management and drive innovation at scale.
Rainmatter Foundation chief executive Sameer Shisodia said, “By embracing complexity and overcoming silos, businesses and governments can unlock new opportunities for resilience and innovation.”
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