India’s event and exhibition industry is valued at approximately USD 14.3 billion (INR 1.2 lakh crore) in 2024, expanding rapidly at a CAGR of 7.6 percent. As large-scale gatherings grow, so do their environmental impacts: a single participant at a major event can generate as much as 2 tonnes CO₂ emissions (tCO₂e), with travel alone accounting for up to 90 percent of total emissions.
Despite this, the sector remains largely unregulated, representing a significant opportunity for scalable decarbonisation. Strengthening Government’s plans to make India a Global Hub for Events and Exhibitions, Sunkonnect has announced its ambitious goal to reduce the carbon footprint of India’s event industry by 5 percent over the next five years through its newly launched suite of tailored net-zero solutions. This initiative targets the management and mitigation of up to 960,000 tonnes CO₂ emissions annually, directly addressing an industry responsible for 12-18 million tCO₂e in large event emissions each year.
Sunkonnect’s 5 percent reduction target is rooted in its aspirational scenario, which envisions providing carbon management for 1,200 major events annually by 2028. Each event, averaging 800 tCO₂e in emissions, would contribute to a combined annual reduction of up to 960,000 CO₂e, representing a transformative benchmark for the industry. Service fees for the comprehensive net-zero package range from INR 15-30 lakh per event, with annual revenue potential reaching INR 180-360 crore.
Sunkonnect’s approach was recently validated at the 9th Responsible Business Membership Organisations (BMO) Awards 2026, organised by the Foundation for MSME Clusters (FMC). As the event’s official Carbon Neutral Partner, Sunkonnect undertook detailed carbon accounting, facilitated carbon credit retirement and worked closely with MSMEs on actionable decarbonisation strategies.
Dr. Avishek Kumar, Founder and Director of Sunkonnect, said, “Our vision is to catalyse a sustainability movement within India’s event sector. Setting a 5 percent reduction target is both ambitious and necessary; it demonstrates what’s possible with the right expertise and collaborative action. We’re committed to scaling this impact across hundreds of events in the coming years.”
A key pillar of Sunkonnect’s mission is empowering MSMEs, the backbone of India’s event ecosystem, through capacity-building workshops, greenhouse gas assessments and guidance on ESG and green finance. This holistic approach shifts sustainability from a compliance requirement to a strategic business advantage.
Rohit Sikkewal, Sustainability and Climate Change Solution Expert at Sunkonnect added, “For the event industry, sustainability can no longer be an afterthought. Our solutions empower organisers and institutions to measure, reduce and offset their emissions, driving real, lasting change in the sector.”
The company’s methodology begins with a granular carbon footprint assessment, examining emissions from electricity, logistics, materials and food waste. Sunkonnect then partners with clients to design and execute tailored emission reduction strategies, from optimising venue energy use and logistics to promoting sustainable catering and eco-friendly materials. For residual unavoidable emissions, Sunkonnect enables the retirement of high-quality carbon credits sourced from renewable energy, waste management and agro-forestry projects.
Industry data show that with current technology, the sector could achieve a 40-60 per cent emissions reduction, but millions of tons will still require neutralisation. As the industry’s emissions are projected to reach up to 26 million tCO₂e by 2030, Sunkonnect’s net-zero solutions are poised to play a pivotal role in India’s sustainability journey.
By equipping organisers and MSMEs with the tools and frameworks to measure, reduce and offset emissions, Sunkonnect is enabling the industry to meet national and global climate commitments while strengthening business resilience. As India’s event sector continues its expansion, Sunkonnect’s 5 percent reduction target sets a new standard for responsible growth and climate leadership.
