Leaders, policymakers, researchers, and changemakers in the field of environment and conservation reinforced the need for collaborative actions at the first annual Sustainability Fair organised by the Dr Kiran Patel Centre for Sustainable Development at the institute today.
More than 25 exhibitors including government organisations, non-government organisations, independent agencies and industrial companies came together to share their sustainable development practices, activities, experiences and ideas in the areas of water conservation, water quality, renewable energy, climate change, pollution, waste management, natural resources, wildlife and ecosystems, among others. Vhali, the life-sized model of the whale shark, was also put on display at the exhibition by the Wildlife Trust of India to spread awareness about the whale shark.
Speaking on the occasion Prof Sudhir K Jain, director, IITGN highlighted the three pillars of IITGN viz. student-centric institution, research for impact and strong societal commitment. He introduced the participants to the key features and sustainable initiatives incorporated in the design of IITGN which strongly believe in inclusivity. “Sustainability is the way of living. This Sustainability Fair is a great opportunity to bring together people from diverse organisations and initiate new relationships”, he remarked.
Prof Amit Garg, Public Systems Group, IIM Ahmedabad, provided management perspective for the sustainable development projects. He also underlined the need to find good bankable projects to meet the requirements in India. Dr V B Mathur, director, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun highlighted the biodiversity targets and important sustainable development goals of life below water, life on land and climate action. He called for incentivising conservation to garner people’s support and engagement.
Invited speakers from organisations such as Abellon Clean Energy Ltd, Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF India), National Institute of Urban Affairs, Gujarat Ecology Commission, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute shared their perspectives, practices, and experiences in energy, water, climate change, wildlife & ecosystem, environment & pollution.
The latter part of the Sustainability Fair had a networking session to explore knowledge sharing and academia-industry partnerships around a wide range of sustainable development themes.
Any growth at the cost of ecology is not going to be a sustainable one. Conservation and development should go hand in hand. It should be conservation with development instead of conservation vs. development. Technology, policies and young minds can help in this.
Dr V B MathurSustainable development projects are perceived as high risk and low reward. Market should take cognizance and green companies should be given finance easily.
Dr Amit Garg
