Global sustainability Alliance’s 5th SDG meeting in New Delhi draws Indian and international leaders

New Delhi : The Global Sustainability Alliance (GSA) kicked off its 5th edition SDG conference at the ITC Maurya in New Delhi on September 27, 2023. This enthralling event brought together an extraordinary array of Indian and worldwide leaders, government officials, business magnates, and sustainability specialists dedicated to improving sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

The first day of the summit, themed “Strengthening Economies – Collaboration! Financing! Resilience!” served as a vibrant platform displaying a variety of projects aimed at addressing climate change concerns and promoting sustainable development. Enlightening roundtable conversations and thought-provoking leadership dialogues were on the agenda, encouraging information exchange, cooperation, and the development of creative solutions.

“Bhutan is indeed a case study for the kind of environmental justice delivered to address climate change and promote sustainability in every possible way for a carbon-neutral future.” – Lyonpo Namgay Tshering, Finance Minister of Bhutan

“The whole globe was watching the G20 conference in New Delhi. The message from global leaders is clear: we must work together to create a more sustainable, wealthy, and peaceful world. SDG is more than simply a set of objectives; it represents the world’s aspiration for a brighter future. As India accelerates its development, it will be responsible for most of the heavy lifting in terms of meeting the SDGs.” -Shombi Sharp, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in India

The day’s talks focused on macro and micro challenges connected to sustainability, with a special emphasis on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) objectives and the UN’s Sustainable Development objectives (SDGs).

The pledge session, during which top corporations and conglomerates officially pledged to contribute to a more sustainable world and working assiduously towards Net Zero Emissions, was a highlight of the summit. This emphasised the importance of the private sector in solving environmental concerns and creating long-term solutions.

The summit also served as a venue for state workshops focused on particular SDGs, as well as the release of the paper “Flattening the Curve – A Report: Not Just About Reconditioning, But Unleashing Innovation at Scale for Circularity.” The India Leadership Council (ILC) and ET Edge Insights collaborated on this analytical research, which highlighted the significant accomplishments and benchmarks in sustainability.

Distinguished ministerial speakers included Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Minister of Jal Shakti, and Lyonpo Namgay Tshering, Minister of Finance of Bhutan, among others.

A distinguished panel comprising Nadir Godrej, Chairman and Managing Director of Godrej Industries; Deepali Khanna, Vice President, Asia Regional Office at The Rockefeller Foundation, Thailand; Dr Tayeb A Kamali, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Abu Dhabi School of Management; and Kartikeya G.S, Partner at JSA, engaged in a profound discussion on the topic of “Sustainable Leadership and Corporate Business Strategies.”

Another distinguished group consisting of Geetanjali Kirloskar, Chairperson & Managing Director of Kirloskar Systems Limited; Mohit Bhargava, CEO, NTPC Green Energy Ltd, NTPC; and Nishant Arya, Vice Chairman of JBM Group & Chairman of Linde Wiemann Gmbh, delved into discussions focused on “Green Action and Collective Impact.”

The success of this first day underlines the importance of collective action and collaborative efforts in advancing sustainability goals. The summit continues tomorrow, September 28, offering further insights and impactful discussions.

For more information about the Global Sustainability Alliance and its initiatives, please visit GSA’s Official Website https://et-gsa.in/sdg/