Cement, Energy and Environment

References Baratta, A., et al., The impact of ESG practices in the industry with a focus on carbon emissions, Insight and Future Perspectives Sustainability 15(8), 6685 (2023) Jha, R., ESG Board’s responsibility – India and Globally; ICSI Publication pp111-116, October (2023) Gupta, Vinayak., An analysis of Environmental Disclosure and Emission Reporting by Indian Companies, NCGG, July (2024) Mahajan, R., Measuring Sustainability in India: A Comparative Assessment of Frameworks and Key Challenges, in Measuring sustainability and CSR from Reporting to Decision Making (pp 179-195), Cham: Springer International Publishing (2023) Maji, S.G., & Lohia P., Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance and Firm Performance in India., Society and Business Review, 18(1), pp 175-194, (2023) Nitturu, Kartheek., et al., Evaluating Net-Zero for the Indian Cement Industry, Report by The Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), October (2023) Pati, S.N., Decarbonization of the Cement Industry Needs Carbon Capture Technologies; Cement, Energy and Environment CMA Publication; pp 40-49, July-December (2023) Pati, S.N.; Sustainability- A Pathway for Cement Industry, Cement, Energy and Environment CMA Publication; pp 44-47 January-June, (2023) Pati, S.N., Sustainable Development in Governance Towards Green Transformation, 17th World Environmental Management Congress, New Delhi, Many of the goals and methods for having them are interrelated with the activities and business decisions of investors. ESG investment can improve sustainability, boost economic growth, and strengthen risk management. ESG investment and the SDGs can reinforce each other. ESG factors are traditionally non-financial or non-material, usually qualitative, and often difficult to measure quantitatively. They generally have a medium-to-long term horizon and are subject to changing regulations and policies. The scope of ESG factors can vary greatly depending on the type of Industry. But all the industrial sectors that rely heavily on natural resources may have differing ESG factors or place greater significance on certain factors than do service industry. The scope of ESG investment includes three main aspects. Environmental Factors through their production and output activities, companies can cause negative externalities through pollution and the depletion of natural resources like the cement industry, with associated detrimental impacts on the ecosystem, the climate and human health, among others. Environmental factors comprise measures to protect and minimise the risk to the environment and efforts to conserve resources, like by reducing greenhouse house gas emissions, complying with government regulations on pollution, and conserving and managing resources and adapting energy-saving practices. The social scope of ESG investment relates to positive impacts and opportunities that a company may provide for society as well as the management of any social risks. These factors can apply generally to society, affecting how companies use their corporate influence to benefit society and how society views the company and its reputation. The factors may also apply more specifically to social aspects within a company, such as the relationship between the company and its workers and the implementation of safe working practices and standards, which impact the company's values. Social factors include social and policy impact, evolution, health and safety measures, and employee relations. Governance Factors are related to the structure and management practices of the company and can be viewed as a commitment to business ethics and proper business conduct. ESG has long-term implications for the Indian market in the cement sector. Be it regulatory compliances or its percolation throughout the value chain, ESG norms are here to stay, thereby making it imperative for all companies 31 including the cement industry to adopt such ESG values to fortify investment values and ensure operational sustainability in the long run.