It’s summer. You wake up in  your naturally ventilated home. You no longer need an AC. . Your house is built from sustainable materials that don’t trap heat. Power cuts are a thing of the past since you began generating electricity with rooftop solar. You get ready for work and step out onto walkable streets lined with trees that help regulate the area’s temperature. You take an e-bus that drops you right in front of your office. In the evening, you visit a lake in your city – home to local and migratory birds, native trees, and a refreshing breeze that accompanies a spectacular sunset. The lake was recently restored and is maintained by an all-women team from a neighbouring informal settlement. This work provides livelihoods to women from low-income households.  

This is what a net-zero society could look like. In theory, net zero refers to a state where greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released into the atmosphere are balanced by their removal through carbon sinks. But in practice, a net-zero world can be far more exciting, engaging, and rewarding. It’s about much more than technological innovations and shifts in systems – it’s about discovering  greener, fairer ways to live together.

As the world’s most populous nation and with many competing priorities, India faces several challenges – including  unemployment, food, water and energy insecurity. Net zero has the potential to address these meaningfully. It can create employment opportunities, shape cities that promote sustainable behaviours, and address deep-rooted inequalities embedded in our society.  

We often think of net zero as a scientific target centred around climate action. It can feel technical and impersonal. But net zero should permeate the very fabric of our society, helping us reimagine development in ways that are exciting, inclusive, and rooted in justice for  both people and the planet. However, the path to net-zero society looks different in different places. In a diverse nation like India, where realities vary from state to state and even neighbourhood to neighbourhood - net zero will naturally take many different forms. Cities need net-zero solutions tailored to their unique ecology, culture, demography, climate, food habits, and architecture. Only by accounting for these local variables can we build net-zero futures that communities are genuinely excited about. 

Recently, with support from the Goa Energy Development Agency, Transition Research’s People Urban Living Lab (PULL) published the Compendium of Net-Zero Solutions for Panaji, Goa. While the report outlines strategies for transitioning to clean energy and promoting green buildings, it also highlights  the social dimensions of a net-zero transition rooted in Panaji’s unique context. This means that the solutions, though rooted in technology and innovation, must also be designed to advance social justice, create employment, preserve and restore Panaji’s heritage and ecology, and actively involve Panjimites in low-carbon transitions.

For instance, mangroves, a diverse group of trees and shrubs that thrive in the intertidal areas of coastal and estuarine ecosystems, cover a significant portion of Panaji’s coastline. These ecosystems are ecologically rich and support diverse flora and fauna, including migratory birds, otters, monitor lizards, and more. 

Besides having great potential to absorb carbon, they also provide a plethora of ecosystem services including water purification, flood protection, offering hatcheries for fish and other seafood, and soil erosion control. In doing so, they play a key role in protecting communities and infrastructure from extreme weather events.

However, mangrove conservation faces serious challenges. Unplanned construction of tourist resorts, ports, and urban infrastructure along the coast has led to significant encroachment.  This reflects a short-sighted approach that prioritises immediate economic gains over long-term ecological sustainability. Limited public awareness and poor management further weaken conservation efforts. 

When integrated into an inclusive net-zero strategy, mangrove restoration can empower local communities to take an active role in managing and protecting these ecosystems. Emphasising the diverse economic benefits of mangroves, can strengthen conservation efforts. 

Highlighting the co-benefits of net zero is therefore crucial. Without public trust and enthusiastic participation net-zero strategies  will not succeed –  regardless of the strength of government schemes. We need vibrant, positive visions of net-zero futures to engage the public and policymakers alike. It’s time to recognise the simple fact that what’s good for the planet is also good for people. 

A net-zero future would shape every aspect of life: how we move, the buildings we live in, how we eat, how we work and socialise. It would redefine how we relate to our cities. To treat  net zero solely as a climate goal is to miss its  full creative and transformative potential.  If done right , net-zero means naturally cooler homes, healthier living, more jobs, a tighter-knit community, vibrant cities, and  ways of living that are aligned with local realities. So let’s move beyond abstract ideas of net zero and ground these goals in exciting collective visions of the future!