Puducherry: Pondicherry University has released its “Roadmap for Net Zero Carbon 2035”, outlining a strategic plan to achieve carbon neutrality well ahead of India's national target of 2070. The roadmap was unveiled during the International Conference on Energy and Water for Sustainable Environment 2025, jointly organized with the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. P. Prakash Babu released the report in the presence of dignitaries including Madam France Marquet, Trustee of the Madanjeet Singh Foundation; Mr. Toine van Megen, Co-Founder of Auroville Consulting; Prof. R. Arun Prasath, UNESCO Chairholder for Renewable and Clean Energy for Sustainable Development; and Prof. Lalith Rajapakse from Sri Lanka.

Prepared under the guidance of Prof. Arun Prasath, the roadmap provides a phased approach for the university to eliminate or offset carbon emissions through renewable energy, efficiency, mobility, and procurement initiatives. The comprehensive Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory, covering emissions from 2014 to 2024, was developed using the Sustainium.io carbon accounting platform aligned with global standards.

The report highlights the university's ongoing success in solar power generation, with an installed capacity of about 2.6 MWp producing nearly 3.5 million units annually since 2021. The plan includes clear interim targets, decarbonization strategies, and third-party validation.

The Net Zero Carbon 2035 Roadmap aims to make Pondicherry University a model for climate leadership and a replicable framework for higher education institutions across India and South Asia.