The Mint Sustainability Summit 2024, taking place on Tuesday, will be a platform for intensive discussions, debates, and conversations revolving around one of the most pressing issues of our time – the green imperative. The summit, set to host a multitude of experts from government and the private sector, will focus on India’s journey towards sustainability.
Leading the discourse will be Pralhad Joshi, Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. He will be addressing the critical challenge of transitioning to renewable energy sources and outlining the government’s ambitious targets and net-zero goals.
The summit will also delve into the critical issue of the water crisis. Anuj Kanwal, Commissioner (Command Area Development & Water Management & Bureau of Water Use Efficiency), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Jal Shakti Ministry, will present a detailed analysis of this burgeoning concern. Rajesh Kumar, Inspector General of Forests, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, will provide insights into the challenges facing forest cover and the government’s action plan for increasing it.
A panel of industry leaders, including Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of NTPC Ltd., India’s largest power generator, will discuss the current state of India’s solar journey and what needs to be done to accelerate its progress. Other panelists include Shivanand Nimbargi, MD & CEO of Ayana Renewable Power; Manikkan S, Executive Director and CEO of Radiance Renewables; Rahul Tongia, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress; and Sujoy Ghosh, Vice President & Country Managing Director for India at First Solar.
The summit will kick off with a focused session on climate change. Eminent figures in this field, such as Hisham Mundol, Chief Advisor at Environmental Defense Fund India; Saurabh Kumar, Vice President, India, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP); Amit Prothi, Director General at the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI); Aarti Khosla, Director of Climate Trends; and Arun Sharma, Group Head for Sustainability & Climate Change at the Adani Group, will address the pressing issues related to climate change and its impacts. The session will explore vital questions regarding the effectiveness of current measures, the potential for reversing the effects of climate change, and the need for pre-emptive actions.
Financing sustainable initiatives will be a key focus area, with sessions on water credits as a financing mechanism for sustainability goals, led by Angelo George, CEO of Bisleri International. The summit will also feature a session on responsible mining, led by Priya Agarwal Hebbar, Non-Executive Director and Chairperson of Hindustan Zinc.
A panel discussion on whether Indian corporations are doing enough from a sustainability perspective will include representatives from prominent organizations such as Larsen & Toubro, ITC Hotels, Deloitte India, Savills India, and Achilles Information Ltd.
The summit will also explore the crucial aspects of clean mobility with insights from leaders of PMI Electro Mobility Solutions, Greenline Mobility Solutions, and Blusmart. A dedicated session on financing climate adaptability will bring together experts from Prosus Group, Ankur Capital, National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, and Trilegal.
The summit will conclude with a discussion on renewable energy sources beyond solar, including wind power, biogas, and ethanol, and their role in shaping India’s energy landscape for the present and future.
The Mint Sustainability Summit 2024 promises to be a dynamic platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing, providing valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing India’s sustainability journey.
