Climate action investments could create 5 million jobs in India by 2030: Report

New Delhi: Investing in climate action could create over five million jobs in India by 2030, according to a joint report by Deloitte India and the Rainmatter Foundation titled The State of Climate Response in India. The report estimates that such investments, amounting to around $1.5 trillion, could boost India’s annual economic output by $3.5–4 trillion, with job creation spanning multiple sectors including feedstock aggregation, manufacturing, operations and maintenance, green materials, logistics, and warehousing.

The study warns that shifts in rainfall, rising temperatures, and biodiversity loss are already straining India’s natural systems, driving up adaptation costs. It calls for a shift from fragmented efforts to coordinated, systems-based action involving policymakers, corporates, and civil society.

Ashwin Jacob, Partner at 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 requires policy support to de-risk capital, better climate data for informed decision-making, and investment in skills to scale sustainable solutions.

The report also features the 2025 Citizen Climate Survey, which covered over 1,700 households across India’s varied climatic zones. It found that 86% of respondents believe climate change affects their daily lives, with nearly a third reporting significant disruptions to their health and livelihoods.

While individual actions such as waste segregation (44%), reducing power and water use (40%), and cutting down on single-use plastics (30%) are becoming common, the study notes that a lack of coordination prevents wider impact. Around 22% of respondents said they remain inactive due to doubts about their personal impact (33%), lack of incentives (30%), and low awareness (25%).

A parallel Corporate Climate Readiness Survey 2025, covering over 50 Indian companies, revealed that 47% reported employee health issues linked to environmental changes, while 44% said regulatory shifts and changing consumption patterns were affecting their operations. Although 41% are developing climate risk and adaptation strategies and 28% are investing in innovation, corporate actions remain disjointed and isolated.

Prashanth Nutula, Partner at Deloitte India, emphasised that sustainable job creation hinges on alliances between government, business, and communities to embed sustainability in mainstream strategies.

The report urges integration of climate priorities into policy and corporate governance, development of climate-focused talent, improved data systems, and unified governance across national, state, and local levels. It also highlights the need for interoperable digital infrastructure connecting key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and waste management to accelerate innovation.

Rainmatter Foundation CEO Sameer Shisodia said, “By embracing complexity and overcoming silos, businesses and governments can unlock new opportunities for resilience and innovation.”