India’s Green Economy Pathway Could Create 48 Million Jobs And Unlock $4.1 Trillion Investment By 2047 – Report

A new report from CEEW has presented a powerful and ambitious vision for India’s future development, stating that adopting a green economy pathway could transform the country into a fully developed nation, or Viksit Bharat, by the year 2047. According to the findings, shifting toward sustainable and environmentally responsible growth is not only a way to manage climate risks but also a major engine for job creation, economic expansion, and large-scale investment. The report projects that the green economy could unlock a market value of 1.1 trillion dollars by 2047 and draw in about 4.1 trillion dollars in investment. One of the most striking outcomes highlighted is the potential to generate 48 million new jobs within the country, shaping a future-ready workforce and reducing unemployment for millions of citizens.

The report explains that this green economic future is built on three strong and interconnected pillars that include 36 different opportunity areas, referred to as value chains. The first pillar is the Energy Transition, which focuses on shifting away from fossil fuels to cleaner and renewable sources of energy. The second pillar is the Circular Economy, which promotes reusing materials, recycling waste, and keeping resources in use for as long as possible. The third and one of the most transformative pillars is the Bioeconomy and Nature-Based Solutions, which taps into the country’s biological resources and natural ecosystems to support sustainable growth, especially in rural areas. Each pillar contributes in a different way to overall national development, and together they create a strong structure for future progress.

The report finds that the biggest impact in terms of job creation will come from the Bioeconomy and Nature-Based Solutions pillar. Nearly half of the 48 million new jobs expected by 2047 will be generated through this sector, marking a major shift toward diversifying rural economic activities. Many of these jobs will focus on chemical-free agriculture, agroforestry, wetland management, and the production of bio-inputs that enhance farming without harmful chemicals. The development of new materials such as engineered bamboo and innovative biofibres will further help increase rural income levels and protect livelihoods from climate impacts and market disruption. These opportunities will not be concentrated in large cities but spread across rural and semi-urban regions, improving the lives of communities that depend heavily on agriculture.

The Energy Transition pillar will also play a crucial role, with an estimated 16.7 million new jobs expected to be created. Manufacturing electric vehicles is highlighted as the largest contributor to employment in the entire green economy. This demonstrates how strong industrial growth and climate action can work together. Other fields such as solar and wind power generation, along with the fast-growing energy storage sector, will also contribute significantly. The energy storage industry alone could generate more than 1.2 million jobs. The Circular Economy sector is expected to provide around 7.7 million jobs, many of which will come from improved solid waste management, including waste collection, segregation, processing, and recycling through advanced technology.

However, the report stresses that achieving this large-scale transformation will require more than money. It outlines five key measures that India must take to support this growth. These include making green solutions economically competitive, ensuring reliable raw material supply chains, boosting research and innovation, investing heavily in skill development, and increasing opportunities for women in green employment. The final recommendation is to improve standardization and quality control across all 36 value chains so that products and services can build trust and perform strongly in domestic and global markets. The report concludes that if India commits to these actions, the nation can successfully capture the 4.1 trillion dollar investment opportunity and create 48 million sustainable jobs, ensuring that the journey toward a green and developed Bharat becomes a reality by 2047.