Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu called for a transition from gray growth to green growth in construction and emphasized prioritizing nature conservation alongside development to meet future generations’ needs during the inauguration of The Earth Center in Bengaluru on September 20.
The Earth Centre, inaugurated jointly by Chief Ministers Naidu and Karnataka’s DK Shivakumar, has been designed to integrate nature, technology, and a modern work environment, focusing on sustainable construction, connection with nature, and the use of recycled materials.
In his address, Chief Minister Naidu highlighted the importance of moving away from concrete jungles to environmentally friendly buildings that use resources intelligently rather than excessively. He stated, “Innovative thinking and responsible action are essential to ensure that development does not come at the cost of nature.” He described climate change as an immediate challenge and urged collective responsibility for environmental protection.
Naidu advocated for adopting net-zero principles in construction, increasing solar power usage, and implementing effective water conservation measures. He further emphasized the need for composting waste and widespread reuse practices to help achieve the objectives of Swachh Bharat, Swachh Karnataka, and Swachh Andhra Pradesh.
The Chief Minister explained that The Earth Center was designed to address contemporary environmental challenges and asserted that environmentally friendly buildings would shape the future. He stressed the dual need to conserve nature while fulfilling people’s needs, noting, “Every building constructed today will influence the climate and environment of cities for decades to come.” He urged recognition of this responsibility.
Pointing out that urban development has traditionally depended on gray infrastructure, he said the future requires green, circular, and regenerative growth. Buildings should generate clean energy, with every rooftop becoming a power plant, water being reused, and waste streams converted into resources. “Protecting water and soil is itself a means of creating wealth,” he added.
Chief Minister Naidu noted that the Andhra Pradesh government promotes Zero Budget Natural Farming in agriculture and called for applying similar principles to urban development. He mentioned that Andhra Pradesh aims to be a key partner in realizing the national target of 500 GW of non-fossil power capacity by 2030, planning approximately 165 GW of renewable energy capacity.
Finally, he spoke about developing Amaravati as an environment-friendly city, reflecting on his earlier role in Cyberabad’s development during undivided Andhra Pradesh. He said, “Amaravati is being developed as a city suited to future generations by integrating nature, technology and modern infrastructure.”