Ajay Mathur, professor public policy , IIT Delhi , former DG, International Solar Alliance gives keynote addressRenewable energy, sustainable mobility and climate innovation took centre stage at the Times Internet Ecopreneur Awards 2026, which brought together policymakers, industry leaders and sustainability experts to discuss the future of green businesses and recognise organisations driving environmental impact.Delivering the keynote address, Ajay Mathur, professor of public policy at IIT Delhi and former director general of the International Solar Alliance, said renewable energy is "no longer an alternative but has, in fact, become the mainstream."Reflecting on the evolution of the global climate discourse, Mathur said the conversation has shifted from prolonged negotiations focused on defining limits to finding practical solutions. Addressing the gathered audience he said, "For decades we were stuck in negotiations and we were stuck in defining limits. You have moved on from the language of limits to the language of what we can do."Drawing on his experience in climate and energy policy, Mathur stressed that innovation alone cannot drive the green transition without effective implementation. "Technology is only as good as its deployment. And a policy is only as good as the enterprise that delivers it," he said, highlighting the role of businesses in translating sustainability goals into real-world outcomes.He added that India faces a dual challenge of decarbonising its existing infrastructure while simultaneously driving green growth by ensuring new infrastructure is renewable-friendly and built on sustainable foundations and that "We in India sit at the centre of this dual challenge,.""We are not just a participant in the global green transition, we are where it is tested. If we can scale the technology in India's diverse and price-sensitive markets, we can scale it anywhere in the Global South. And if our sustainable manufacturing can meet the demand of 1.4 billion people while slashing emissions, we set the template for the world. This is why this is not just a national priority but a global imperative," he said further.Mathur said the historical notion that environmental protection and economic growth are a zero-sum game no longer holds true, with sustainability increasingly emerging as a source of economic opportunity.Highlighting the significance of the term "ecopreneur", he said entrepreneurs are changing the way environmental challenges are viewed. "I'm so pleased when you see agricultural waste, you don't see stubble burning but you see bioenergy and circular packaging. When you look at urban congestion, you don't see pollution, you see the electric vehicle revolution that is enabling us to be different," he said.Outlining a roadmap to accelerate India's green transition, Mathur identified three key priorities. The first, he said, is accelerating clean energy while building a decentralised energy ecosystem through initiatives such as rooftop solar that empower rural communities. He stressed the need for "a resilient, democratic and decentralised energy landscape."The second priority is advancing the circular economy by moving away from the conventional "take, make, waste" policy. He said products must be designed to be easily dismantled, reused and recycled, enabling resources to remain in circulation instead of ending up as waste.The third pillar is catalysing green finance. Calling for a stronger financial ecosystem, Mathur said greater willingness is needed to take calculated risks on early-stage deep-tech environmental solutions so that green innovations have the capital required to scale and compete.He also called on policymakers, corporate leaders and innovators to work together to accelerate India's sustainability journey.Referring to the awards, Mathur said every startup recognised, every sustainable practice adopted by an institution and every green policy implemented contributes to building "a cleaner, more equitable and, in this hot weather, also a cooler planet."