The 17 SDG goals and 169 targets offer us an integrated perspective to combat the global crisis, economic recovery, and development. With less than 10 years left to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is more important than ever for the global community to mobilise for accelerated action. Delivering the SDGs in less than a decade will demand ambition, decisiveness, and a sense of urgency.
United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has outlined seven priorities for the intergovernmental organization in 2023, providing a ‘roadmap’ for human rights. Global risk report 2023, lists top 10 risk areas – with impact over a period of 2 years and 10 years.
“As per the Business & Sustainable Development Commission, sustainable business models related to the SDGs could open economic opportunities worth up to $12 trillion and increase employment by up to 380 million jobs by 2030”.
2030 Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet, and prosperity. It seeks to strengthen economies and address global challenges, which is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. Sustained and inclusive economic growth especially among the least developed and developing nations can lead to new and better employment opportunities and provide greater economic security for all.
PM Modi emphasized on the commitment of individuals as well as organizations towards environment conservation. Preserving the environment is key to support sustainable economic growth as the natural environment plays an important role in supporting economic activities. It contributes directly, by providing resources and raw materials such as water, timber and minerals that are required as inputs to produce goods and services; and indirectly, through services provided by ecosystems including carbon sequestration, water purification, managing flood risks, and nutrient cycling.
There is need for transition towards renewable and alternate sources of energy, and the adoption of technaology and innovation measures to find solutions to urban challenges. It is seen globally that many nations are adopting a multi-dimensional approach to chart a long-term roadmap for sustainable and environment friendly lifestyle.
Businesses have a major role to play in recalibrating to an economic system that supports sustainable growth and profits. We must set ambitious goals, measure ourselves differently, account for our actions and collaborate across organizations, industries, and regions.
We all understand the key role the government and business can make to implement decisions that can have a real and lasting impact on society and the environment, for the better or the worse, and across the short and long term. Both are bringing concerted efforts to align their strategies and sustainability efforts to best prepare for any future black swan events.
Responsible investments by businesses through the allocation of capital on sustainable equipment and other assets like green technology, will ensure long-term “good” and inclusive and sustainable growth.
The analysis of interrelation between sustainability and business continuity resilience is paramount to ensure smooth functioning of business by designing the following.
Devising enterprise risk management policies for smooth functioning of day-to-day operations.
Developing a risk management framework to avoid impacts of emergencies on businesses.
Making businesses resilient against disruptive unprecedented events like the Covid-19 pandemic
Leading companies are already acting, but time is of the essence. More must join, so we can move faster, together, into a sustainable future.
All countries and all stakeholders are acting in collaborative partnership, to implement on the 2030 agenda and are determined to take the bold and transformative steps which are urgently needed to shift the world onto a sustainable and resilient path.
To amplify, secure and strengthen the existing efforts, there is need for all the local, national, and global partners to come together. The urgency of this decade demands that all sectors of society galvanize to secure greater participation and leadership, more resources, and improved, game-changing solutions to address increasing inequality and the escalating climate emergency. As we embark on this collective journey, we pledge that no one will be left behind.
The Global Sustainability Alliance (GSA) is one of the premium properties of ET Edge. It is the largest platform of global changemakers, individuals and organizations who have championed sustainability.
There are number of initiatives in different formats like roundtables, webinars, events, leadership dialogues; under the umbrella of GSA distributed across the year.
The upcoming 5th edition aims to transform the world by changing ideas to solutions. It focusses on assisting businesses towards more environment friendly practices by tracking and reducing emissions. The summit will convene leaders from government, business, international organizations, and civil society along with a diverse group of experts and innovators to initiate, accelerate and scale-up entrepreneurial solutions to tackle climate change and advance sustainable development.
And last…but not least…You want to BUILD BACK BETTER!
Shri. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat
Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
Dr. Jitendra Singh
Minister of State for Earth Sciences, Minister of State for Science and Technology and Minister of State for Prime Minister’s Office, Government of India
Naseer Ahamed
Hon'ble Minister of Environment, Government of Sri Lanka
Dr. Susil Premajayantha
Minister of Education, Government of Sri Lanka
Moderator: Raman Kalra, Senior Partner, Communications & Sustainability Sector Leader, IBM Consulting, India/South Asia
Moderator: Abhijeet Sankar Ray, Senior urban development specialist, World Bank Group
Moderator:Arupendra Nath Mullick, Vice President TERI Council for business sustainability, TERI
Moderator: Deepali Khanna, Vice President, Asia Regional Office, The Rockefeller Foundation, Thailand
Moderator:Dhruba Purkayastha, Director – Climate Policy Initiative, Director – US-India Clean Energy Finance Facility
Moderator: Gagan Sidhu, Director, CEEW Center for Energy Finance
Moderator: Falit Sijariya, Head of Indian Delegation of G20 Youth Summit 2023 and the Head of Delegate Affairs, Y20 India 2023
Moderator: Manisha Mahiskar, Chief Protocol Officer and Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra
Moderator: Dhruba Purkayastha, Director – Climate Policy Initiative, Director – US-India Clean Energy Finance Facility
Moderator: Sanjana Sanghi, Indian Actress and Model, Youth Champion for UNDP India & Youth Advocate for Education for Save the Children
Neha Jain (Delhi) | Project Lead for the climate ready program in Delhi schools |
Aarav Seth (NCR) |
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Dwishojoyee Banerjee |
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Closing Address: Aashish Beergi, Co-Founder & CEO, MASH Project foundation |
Moderator: Randheer Singh – CEO and founder, ForeSee Advisors, Ex- Director – Electric Mobility and ACC Program, NITI Aayog
Moderator: Rini Simon Khanna
Moderator: Sachin Kotak, Partner, Bain & Company
Moderator: Pranjal Jain, Partner, Bain & Company
Moderator : Suneel Pandey, Director & Senior Fellow, TERI
Moderator: Dr Sameer Joshi, Vice Chairman, Governing Council of Indian Plastics Institute
Moderator: Randheer Singh – CEO and founder, ForeSee Advisors, Ex- Director – Electric Mobility and ACC Program, NITI Aayog
Moderator: Rini Simon Khanna
Moderator: Sachin Kotak, Partner, Bain & Company
Moderator: Pranjal Jain, Partner, Bain & Company
Moderator : Suneel Pandey, Director & Senior Fellow, TERI
Moderator: Dr Sameer Joshi, Vice Chairman, Governing Council of Indian Plastics Institute
#PlanetBuddy, an initiative by ET Edge’s Global Sustainability Alliance, organized a campaign on World Car Free Day to encourage people to leave their cars at home and explore alternative, eco-friendly modes of transportation. They organized an awareness drive in areas of Delhi known for their traffic and environmental challenges.
#PlanetBuddy collaborated with local school students and Delhi police to drive this change. On September 22, school students went to multiple traffic-laden areas with banners to encourage drivers to opt for walking, cycling, or using public transportation and electric vehicles. The Connaught Place area of Delhi was filled with students distributing awareness materials to commuters and ‘Thank You’ notes to those who opted for eco-friendly modes of transportation.
#PlanetBuddy collaborated with Delhi schools like Presidium Indirapuram, Union Academy; and institutes like GL Bajaj Institute of Management and Bennett University. Lending Hands Foundation, a social impact organization committed to driving positive change across India, was a key partner in executing this campaign. Delhi Traffic Police also supported this event.
Children are the future of a sustainable tomorrow, and contributing to positive change will help them think critically about environmental challenges and develop creative solutions. The event served as an inspiration for the students, prompting them to actively engage and participate.
The goal of the campaign is to inspire environmental responsibility and innovative problem-solving abilities to confront the challenges ahead. ET Edge’s initiative #PlanetBuddy strives to contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet and help pave the way for sustainable solutions in the future.