CMAI India Climate Week 2025 concludes with launch of ‘India EPR Alliance,’ high-level session & awards to ‘Climate Warriors’

The India Climate Week 2025 organised under the by the Carbon Markets Association of India (CMAI) has concluded in New Delhi with a special session of high level with dignitaries from 30 countries on global cooperation in the carbon markets, launch of India EPR Alliance and awards given to climate warriors in different fields.

The Launch of India EPR Alliance

The India EPR Alliance was launched by the CMAI in the presence of Jitin Prasada, Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce & Industry; Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology; Dhanish Goyal, Chair, India EPR Alliance; Vipul Tyagi, Co-Chair, India EPR Alliance, Rohit Kumar, Secretary General, CMAI and other dignitaries in New Delhi. This marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards sustainable waste management and climate action. The alliance aims to drive the adoption and effective implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) across industries, promoting a circular economy and addressing India’s waste management challenges.

EPR is a policy approach that holds producers, importers, and brand owners responsible for managing the entire lifecycle of their products, from design to disposal, encouraging sustainable practices and reducing environmental impact.

“I congratulate CMAI for this theme “Uniting the World for Climate Action”. It’s been a talk and debate for quite something on how to deal with the menace of global warming and climate change. We are reaching to the level that are required but at the same time India has just begun. Some other countries that have gone ahead and led to the situation where we are today (climate change) and under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as far as commitment to EPR is concerned, India has taken bold steps in implementing the solutions,” said Shri Jitin Prasada, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

“The India EPR Alliance has been formed with a clear mission, to ensure that EPR does not become a mere checkbox exercise but instead drives real impact. Through policy advocacy, industry collaboration, and knowledge sharing, we aim to create an EPR framework that is scalable, transparent, and results-driven,” said Dhanish Goyal, Chairman, India EPR Alliance.

“EPR plays a vital role in reducing Scope 3 emissions, which account for 70 to 80% of a company’s carbon footprint across its supply chain. I am proud to launch India EPR Alliance as a part of CMAI initiatives, which will pave the way for many climate finance opportunities,” said Mr. Rohit Kumar, Secretary General, CMAI.

India Climate Samman 2025

The CMAI also conducted India Climate Samman 2025 awards, celebrating exceptional contributions to climate leadership, carbon market innovation, and sustainability. The event featured Praveen Khandelwal, MP and National Secretary General, CAIT, and Dr. VK Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog.

India Climate Samman 2025 recognised leaders and organisations across multiple categories, acknowledging achievements in policy, carbon markets, entrepreneurship, green infrastructure, and climate journalism. Among the key honourees were REMC Limited, RR Rashmi & Dr. R K Malhotra, Tata Power Company Ltd., Malpani Group, and Sembcorp Green, Vijay Nirani, Veena Sinha, Ashok Shrivastav, Dr. Alok Sharma and more.

Rohit Kumar, Secretary General, CMAI, highlighted the critical role of policy, technology, and market mechanisms in accelerating India’s climate transition.

High-Level Session with Dignitaries from 30 Countries on Global Cooperation in Carbon Markets

A high-level session, Global Cooperation in Carbon Markets, brought together representatives from nearly 30 countries, senior government officials, and global industry leaders to advance collaboration on carbon markets and accelerate climate action.

This landmark gathering—one of the first major global forums post-COP29—provided a crucial platform for nations to align strategies on carbon market frameworks. Several ambassadors shared their perspectives on the role of international cooperation in tackling climate challenges.

Brazil’s Ambassador to India, Kenneth Félix Haczynski da Nóbrega, emphasized Brazil’s commitment to shaping the global climate agenda ahead of COP30. “India will be our key partner in setting narratives at COP30. We also look forward to deepening our cooperation in renewable energy within India,” he stated.

The session focused on strengthening carbon trading frameworks, enhancing market credibility, and ensuring transparent cross-border transactions. Discussions explored Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and innovative carbon market mechanisms to drive emissions reduction. Experts also examined challenges, opportunities, and best practices in global carbon trading, emphasizing green technology partnerships.

In the wake of COP29, this session underscored the urgency of aligning global efforts toward Net Zero, accelerating carbon finance, and reinforcing international cooperation for a sustainable future.