Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced that India’s development model prioritises both economic growth and environmental preservation. He was addressing the 20th Global Sustainability Summit, which carried the theme “Reimagining Sustainability: Resilient. Regenerative. Responsible.”

The minister stressed the importance of countries redesigning their growth strategy to align with concepts of sustainability and resilience. He stated that putting sustainability at the centre of policymaking is critical for ensuring future development. According to him, India’s approach is distinctive because it seeks to combine ecology and economy without compromising either.

According to Yadav, sustainability must be built into development strategies through long-term, practical methods. He highlighted the circular economy, green manufacturing, nature-positive actions, and behavioural changes that promote responsible consumption. He advised nations to shift away from excessive consumption towards mindful resource utilisation.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change implemented the Revised Green Credit Programme, which establishes a national framework for environmental auditing with private sector participation. Additionally, the new Environment Audit Rules 2025 were implemented to improve monitoring systems.

Yadav also unveiled the National Critical Mineral Mission 2025, which identifies 24 critical minerals and 29 important minerals essential to India’s economy, energy security, and strategic objectives.