ITC has reduced GHG intensity by 53%, lowered energy and water consumption by 42% each, and now meets 51% of its energy needs through renewables.
KOLKATA (India CSR): ITC Limited has surpassed several of its 2030 Sustainability 2.0 targets and committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by over 85% over the next 25 years, Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Puri said while addressing the company’s 115th Annual General Meeting on July 23, 2026.
Decarbonisation remains an important element of our climate action. Over the years, ITC has made significant investments in areas like renewable energy, green infrastructure and mobility. It is a matter of immense satisfaction that ITC has surpassed several of its ambitious 2030 Sustainability 2.0 targets, reducing GHG intensity by 53%, lowering specific energy and water consumption by 42% each, and meeting 51% of total energy needs from renewables, even as our businesses have expanded considerably. We are now committed to achieving Net Zero Operations by 2050, entailing a reduction in GHG by over 85% in the next 25 years.
While Decarbonisation has gained significant traction globally, Adaptation measures have not drawn the attention they deserve. The world, after breaching the 1.5OC threshold last year, is headed towards 2.8°C warming in this century if stronger pathways are not pursued. This is clearly alarming and calls for decisive and urgent action.
Recognising this, ITC has implemented impactful Adaptation and Nature-based Solutions for ecosystem restoration that strengthens climate resilience, enhances farm productivity, water availability, green cover and biodiversity while supporting rural livelihoods. ITC’s Climate Smart Agriculture, which now spans nearly 32 lakh acres across 17 States, benefits over 12 lakh farmers. It is premised on focused programmes that build strong capabilities through skilling, technology adoption and development of institutional linkages. We propose to cover 40 lakh acres under this initiative by 2030. Impact studies have shown that CSA practices in rice and wheat have reduced costs by over 20%, improved yields by around 10% and enhanced net returns by over 23% compared to conventional practices.
ITC has built deep capabilities in water stewardship, afforestation and biodiversity conservation. ITC’s large-scale water management interventions follow a three-pronged approach — community-led watershed programmes, demand-side agricultural water management and revival of river sub-basins. Demand-side initiatives, focussing on “more crop per drop”, cover over 20 lakh acres, creating annual water-saving potential of upto 50% across 15 crops, aggregating to 1.5 billion cubic metres.
Supply-side watershed projects cumulatively span nearly 20 lakh acres, helpingaround 90% of farmers in catchmentsto cultivate through the year. Four river sub-basins have been made water positive, with work under way on the fifth. Such water stewardship interventions have improved gross cropped area by as much as 12%, cropping intensity and groundwater levels by up to 14 and 15% whilst delivering larger benefits for communities.
Biodiversity conservation is a key priority area for sustaining natural ecosystems, strengthening agri-food security, supporting rural livelihoods and building long-term resilience. ITC’s programme focuses on restoring ecosystem services that support agriculture. This is expected to cover nearly 10 lakh acres by 2030.
What differentiates ITC’s sustainability journey is a triad of achievements. First, Longevity, that is reflected in decades of sustained environmental impact. Second, Scale, which is demonstrated through the massive creation of ecological capital and support to millions of livelihoods. Third, Integration, througha distinctive model where sustainability and inclusivity are core pillars of strategy, governance and programmes.
ITC is a global exemplar in sustainability. It is the only company in the world to be carbon-positive, water-positive and solid-waste recycling positive for around
2 decades now. ITC’s businesses support nearly 9 million sustainable livelihoods.
ITC continues to be included among global sustainability leaders in the Dow Jones Best in Class Emerging Markets Index.
ITC has also debuted on CDP Forest ‘A list’, retained ‘A’ for CDP Water, and sustained ‘Leadership’ score in CDP Climate. The ‘AA’ rating by MSCI-ESG has been achieved for 8 years now.
