As India accelerates its journey toward a low-carbon future, the scale of economic transformation ahead is both unprecedented and full of possibility. According to recent analysis, climate-action investments totalling US$1.5 trillion by 2030 could unlock over five million green jobs, reshaping industries, redefining skill needs, and opening new avenues for inclusive growth across the country. To understand what this transition truly means for India’s workforce, its businesses, and the broader economic ecosystem, we spoke to Prashanth Nutula, Partner at Deloitte India, who has been at the forefront of assessing these shifts.
In this conversation, Nutula unpacks the sectors poised for rapid expansion, the emerging skill sets that will define future-ready talent, and the enabling policies required to turn India’s climate ambitions into measurable impact. He also shares insights on barriers to citizen engagement, the evolving role of businesses in climate action, and the frameworks needed to evaluate climate jobs beyond traditional metrics. His perspective offers a holistic view of how India can build a resilient, innovative, and equitable green economy, one that creates value not only for enterprises but for communities and the environment alike.
Read the full interview below:
Q. The report estimates that US$1.5 trillion in climate-action investment by 2030 could unlock over 5 million jobs in India. What kinds of job roles and skill sets do you see emerging most strongly in this transition?
A. The green transition will drive demand for roles across project construction, plant operations, logistics & warehousing, feedstock aggregation, audit & reporting, digital technology, and data analytics. Key critical skill sets that will be required include systems thinking, digital literacy, climate science & decarbonization, ESG reporting, and technical skills for installation, maintenance, and monitoring of green infrastructure. Climate-action investment will have a significant linkage to the rural and informal sectors. Thereby, upskilling resources in those sectors, especially women and youth, will be vital to ensure an inclusive transition.
Q. You highlight manufacturing, operations & maintenance, green materials, and logistics as key sectors. Which of these sectors do you expect to scale fastest and why?
A. Renewable energy & storage will be a key sector for growth owing to the strong government push & announced targets. Green materials & industrial decarbonization in hard-to-abate sectors will follow, to meet the regulatory requirements. Logistics will expand with demand for efficient, low-carbon aggregation of feedstocks, components, and finished goods.
Q. The analysis also mentions an annual economic output of US$3.5-4 trillion tied to climate investment. Which business models or technologies do you consider most promising to generate this growth?
A. The growth in economic output will be driven by investments across the ecosystem and value chain associated with sectors/segments like Renewable Energy, Bioenergy (like Ethanol, Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Compressed Biogas, etc.), Green Hydrogen & associated derivatives, Energy Storage Solutions, Water sector solutions, Circular economy & waste management, Sustainable transport infrastructure, Sustainable agriculture, etc.
Q. Your report emphasises that India’s climate response must become a “systems agenda” rather than isolated initiatives. What are the biggest structural or policy enablers that need to happen for this to succeed?
A. Climate action is a multivariate issue that demands coordinated and collaborative efforts across stakeholder groups. Tackling an isolated challenge in silos is unlikely to yield sustainable results; every intervention must be viewed through the lens of its broader systemic impact - on policy, economy, environment, and society. For meaningful and durable outcomes, enabling structures must strengthen interlinkages rather than operate in isolation. Some of the key enablers will be integrated & cross-sectoral policy frameworks, robust digital public infrastructure for climate data, monitoring, and decision support, streamlined and transparent regulatory processes, targeted incentives for green investment and innovation, and capacity-building at state and local levels to strengthen on-ground execution
Q. According to the Citizen Climate Survey, 86 % of Indians reported tangible impacts of climate change, and 22 % remain inactive. What are the main barriers preventing individual or community-level engagement, and how can businesses help bridge them?
A. As per Citizen Climate Survey, 86% of Indians feel a tangible impact of climate change – they report impact in the form of health issues, crop/livestock loss, disruptions & actions to water / electricity. The majority of respondents are taking actions in their daily life by reducing electricity consumption, practicing waste segregation, cutting single-use plastic use, etc. 22% of the respondents remain inactive. Key barriers include the perception that individual actions will not result in significant change, lack of incentives, limited awareness and lack of infrastructure. Businesses can help bridge these gaps through making Climate Action visible and tangible, offering incentives and support, and investing in building awareness and knowledge bases, among other initiatives.
Q. On the corporate side, 41 % of firms said they are building climate-resilience capabilities, and only 28 % investing in climate innovation. What advice would you offer to companies hesitant to invest in climate solutions due to cost or time-horizon concerns?
A. Climate risk is now a core business risk - not just an environmental or compliance issue. The report highlights that climate change is already disrupting business operations through extreme weather, supply chain interruptions, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer expectations. These risks are translating into tangible financial impacts: rising insurance costs, asset devaluation, and even loss of market access for companies that lag. However, there is a significant business opportunity. Firstly, investing in adaptation and resilience can protect existing business value, reduce downtime, and safeguard supply chains, turning risk management into a competitive advantage. Secondly, early investments in innovative climate solutions (such as renewables, circular economy, and digital climate tools) position companies to capture new markets, access green finance, and build long-term value. While cost and time-horizon concerns are real, the cost of inaction is far greater.
Q. Upskilling and talent development feature significantly in your report. What interventions or partnerships do you see as most effective for preparing the workforce for green jobs - especially in underserved or rural areas of India
A. Effective interventions include scaling vocational training, integrating green skills into school and college curricula, and fostering partnerships between industry, academia, and government. Entrepreneurship support and local incubation hubs can drive rural innovation. Programs like the Skill Council for Green Jobs and targeted upskilling for women and youth are essential for inclusive workforce development.
Q. Given India's unique challenges around climate adaptation (such as water stress, extreme heat, and biodiversity loss), how should the green jobs roadmap account for regional diversity and differentiated investment needs?
A. The roadmap must be tailored to local climate risks and economic contexts - prioritizing water management and heat resilience in arid zones, climate-smart agriculture in rural regions, and clean energy/logistics in urban-industrial clusters. Investment should be directed to regions with high vulnerability and job displacement risk, ensuring equitable access to training, finance, and technology.
Q. Measuring impact-oriented climate jobs is complex. What metrics or frameworks do you believe are essential for tracking job creation, quality of work, and long-term environmental or social value?
A. According to the report, long-term environmental and social value from climate action should be measured using an integrated approach. This approach emphasizes that value creation extends beyond compliance and short-term gains, encompassing four interconnected layers: regulatory compliance (“license to operate”), societal trust (“societal license to operate”), commercial viability, and ultimately, competitive advantage through transformative innovation and ecosystem partnerships. By tracking progress across these dimensions, companies can ensure that their climate actions deliver enduring benefits for both business and society. This holistic approach enables organizations to move from fragmented, project-based efforts to a resilient, future-ready growth model that aligns business success with positive environmental and social outcomes.
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