As climate concerns increase by the hour, it becomes imperative that we strengthen our efforts to mindfully use natural resources. Ignorance towards the depleting raw materials and ecosystems is creating a strain on the cohesive harmony of the planet. As equal stakeholders in protecting the planet, corporates are making active and impactful strides to reduce their carbon footprints, develop sustainable solutions and nurture the environment. As the theme of this World Environment Day is ‘Only One Earth’, let us be responsible caretakers and work towards protecting our precious planet.
We have some industry leaders sharing their thoughts as we celebrate this meaningful day.
George Rajkumar
Country President – Grundfos India
“As we celebrate World Environment Day, this year’s theme of ‘Only One Earth’, is an urgent reminder that we have to step up and take action now to save our home – our only planet. Rapidly increasing pollution, carbon emissions, and energy consumption coupled with unchecked depletion of natural resources is aggravating the impact of climate change. While we focus on economic growth, we also need to take a sustainable approach here and switch to a circular economy mindset that can ensure the efficient use of energy, water, and other essential resources, which will help build not only a green economy but will also be good for the planet. For example, according to the studies by IPCC, in India without the right interventions, the population facing water scarcity is expected to increase from the current 33 per cent to 40 per cent in 2050. We are at the tipping point now, and therefore need to act immediately to save our planet.”
Irfan Pathan
Co-Founder & CEO – Pi Green Innovations
“Global warming, soil degradation, environmental degradation, and pandemic threats are all consequences of human excesses, and to regulate this and build a sustainable plan we must have a deeper understanding of the intricate links between nature and human well-being. With the rise in environment-friendly innovations and the right leadership, we have the knowledge, power and technology to fast-track solutions according to the challenges we face. To live sustainably in sync with nature, we just need to adapt and respond faster. A country like India needs a massive change in its habitual ecosystem to repair and reverse challenges like these. Taking the initiative, we at Pi Green Innovations have developed a patented filter-less technology that holds the promise of cleaner air and the environment. Apart from developing products and technologies, we need to develop a sustainable lifestyle too. On this World Environment Day, let us pledge as a community to make a fundamental and deliberate change in our society to combat growing pollution. Let us remind ourselves and create awareness each day about our responsibilities towards Mother Nature.”
Rajesh Kabra
Managing Director – RR Parkon
“With the rapid growth of urbanisation, it is getting difficult for the cities to accommodate the increasing vehicles on street and providing efficient parking spaces is also a huge concern. Due to the unavailability of parking spaces, citizens need to drive around in circles endlessly in search of a parking space, emitting Co2 and other harmful greenhouse gases. This affects the environment greatly and adds to the ongoing issue of air pollution that the majority of Indian cities are already facing. On the occasion of World Environment Day, we aim to revolutionise the Indian parking industry and create efficient smart parking solutions catering to the wellbeing of the environment that will help reduce carbon emissions substantially.”
Neeraj Bahl
MD & CEO – BSH Home Appliances
“As our Chief Sustainability Officer Christine Maria Betz rightly puts it, ‘Sustainability is not just our Plan A – its Plan B and C as well.’ It is not just a statement but a way of life at BSH. We believe that our influence on the environment and society is just as important as our balance sheet. For long-term success and market survival, maintaining this balance is extremely important. In India, our key initiatives toward the environment include energy efficiency through the use of renewable energy sources at our factory in Chennai. We operate solar plants which provide 1040-Kilowatt peak capacity which helps us generate 1440 Megawatt per year. Through this effort, 56 per cent of our energy consumption at the factory is renewable. BSH worldwide has been carbon neutral since the end of 2020. Looking ahead, our climate-neutrality targets for 2030 aim to reduce energy consumption and reduced C02 emissions along the value chain. Our new material and substance strategy targets >95 per cent material recyclability, >50 per cent recycled content, and a 15 per cent reduction in CO2 consumption by materials until 2030.”
Gaurav Burman
VP & APAC President – 75F, India
“The UNEP conference, themed “Only One Earth” from 50 years back, still holds even today. This planet is our only home, and we must protect its finite resources. But despite years of deliberations, issues like global warming, climate change, wastage of energy and resources, and pollution continue to be major threats to our planet. Be it green gas emissions in the atmosphere or constant climate change, every little human activity is adding to the growing environmental stress. Unfortunately, we trivialise these issues simply because we fail to see their lasting impact directly, but it won’t be long till we realise the tragic repercussions.
We, at 75F, believe that it is our responsibility, as individuals and as a business, to start taking action against these factors that exploit our planet. We feel that the technological advancement of humans might be a big factor in this crisis – keeping this in mind, we have ensured that our solutions in building automation are designed to minimise energy wastage and leverage an eco-friendly approach. We are not trying to change the world. We are building a better one.
We should consider this year’s World Environment Day as an opportunity for people to come together and become representatives of the environment. It is time for us to shift our focus toward creating a nurturing environment that protects nature.”
Sandeep Mukherjee
Director – Fluent Commerce, India
“It is vital to acknowledge and understand the effects human interactions with the environment have had on the world we live in. Issues such as global warming, the depletion of the ozone layer, CO2 emissions and other climatic changes are threatening our future way of life. It is truly imperative that while striving towards meeting our development goals we also consider how we can achieve those goals without damaging the environment unnecessarily.
Fluent Commerce believes in striking a healthy balance between development and environmental contribution by focussing on sustainable growth. For us as a business, and as a vision for our customers. Running sustainable businesses today is the only way to secure our tomorrow. Individuals all need to contribute. But it is businesses who can make the biggest difference.”
Pearl Tiwari
Director & CEO – Ambuja Cement Foundation
“We all know the impact of changing climate on both people and our planet – one we need to preserve, come what may. Water, soil and biodiversity are key elements of nature which are severely impacted by different sectors – industry, mining and agriculture. It’s time that we took drastic measures for the protection and regeneration of these essential resources, for both human and environmental sustainability. By protecting our water, soil and biodiversity, we ensure that they are harnessed to sustain current human needs, whilst regenerating to fulfil the needs of generations to come. In the rural context, Watershed Development is one proven way to tackle all these elements at once and create sustainable communities. At the end of the day, whatever natural resources we have inherited are being exploited at the cost of our children and grandchildren – it’s our duty to course-correct, and we must do it now. Ambuja Cement Foundation is supporting rural communities across several geographies, in collaboration with like-minded organisations, to implement interventions to rejuvenate, revive and regenerate natural resources – enhancing and sustaining livelihoods for today and the future.”
N Venu
MD & CEO – India & South Asia, Hitachi Energy
“This year’s World Environment Day theme, ‘Only One Earth’ mirrors our company’s goal to advancing a sustainable energy future. We are championing the urgency and the pace of change needed to reach Net Zero, and continue to lead innovation to accelerate the energy transition. This World Environment Day, we are recommitting to achieving carbon-neutral operations by 2030.
As a company, we have defined year-wise carbon neutrality targets for the next three years which have the potential to reduce more than 70 per cent of CO2 emissions. We have made great strides towards sustainability – achieved 100 per cent fossil-free electricity across all our facilities, built on waste and water management processes, and implemented smart metering across facilities and standards for Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas management. It is a matter of pride that Hitachi Energy India is demonstrating a true passion for contributing toward accelerating the energy transition. We will continue to invest and bring in the best technological solutions to augment India’s clean energy capabilities.”
S Durgaprasad
Co-Founder, Director & Group CEO – Bahwan CyberTek
“The world we live in, the place that you and I call home, is on the brink of global catastrophe. The last two decades have seen a dramatic shift from reduce, reuse and recycle, to critical dialogue amongst climate scientists, governments and even the private sector, on climate risk and response. Due to the increasing physical hazards and impending socioeconomic impacts – from escalating heatwaves, wildfires and global flooding to the intensifying of rising sea levels, drought, food shortages and risks to human health – the transition to a nature-positive economy and a net-zero future, is humanity’s only hope. Advancements in technology are perpetual and every available innovation must be leveraged to tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental and health challenges. A connected intelligence approach is key, with Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT), making carbon management more efficient, transparent, and effective. Using technology to seamlessly connect and unify any application, device, or data source, we are able to monitor emissions in real-time and provide an accurate measurement. Efficiency is a fundamental driver to a greener planet, with technology cutting emissions without crippling our economy, from manufacturing, agricultural, transport and logistics efficiency, to the deployment of renewable energy, such as hydro, wind and solar energy. As responsible global citizens, let us use every available knowledge resource, to combat climate change and create a sustainable environment for a healthier planet, and most importantly pass on a liveable world, for the next generation and beyond.”
Gauri Shankar Nagabhushanam
CEO – India Business Parks, CapitaLand Investment
Today, corporates across sectors are adopting sustainable practices to combat climate change due to increased awareness of its effects. Businesses are transitioning to a low-carbon approach through green supply chains, circularity in production and technology that ensures energy efficiency.
As a climate-conscious organisation, CapitaLand has been committed to being more sustainable over the past 20 years, slowly growing to be a global sustainability leader in the real estate industry. Through a strategic approach, CapitaLand aims to achieve Net Zero carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve this, CapitaLand will be reducing the absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 46 per cent, up from 28 per cent, by 2030 from 2019 as the base year. Additionally, efforts will be made towards deploying on-site renewable energy, energy and water conservation, supporting sustainable technologies, monitoring supply chains and more.
Sudha Srinivasan
CEO – The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation
“To be environmentally conscious isn’t a choice; it is a necessity to sustain life and livelihoods on this planet. The only way to achieve sustainable development for our country and the world is by holding all enterprises accountable for their economic, social and environmental outcomes. The risk of neglecting climate and environment in business models or social change models is simply too high. A growth model that ignores environmental costs will impact millions of lives, and livelihoods and deepen the state of poverty for many, in addition to putting the future generations at stake. Environmental consciousness must play an important role in innovations, and our new breed of social entrepreneurs are cognizant of this. The/Nudge Institute promotes nonprofits striving for sustainable solutions that serve both – the planet and its people, and ensure resilient livelihoods for all.”
Subhashree Dutta
Managing Partner – Social Entrepreneurship,
The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation
“Climate change severely impacts rural livelihoods, especially where rain-fed agriculture is the only source of income and soil quality has been affected due to prolonged use of chemical fertilisers. Land erosion and rising sea levels have reduced the amount of available farmland and have led to forced migration. Disruptive solutions are required to build resilient livelihoods while putting sustainability at the centre. Fortunately, a new breed of innovators and social-impact entrepreneurs has been paving the way. Farmers for Forests, incubated by The/Nudge CSI, is one such organisation helping farmers protect and increase India’s forest cover to fight climate change and poverty. Energy Harvest, another such nonprofit, aims to commercialise the technologies that can be used for utilising paddy straw as an alternative to the current practices of open field burning. We can no longer create sustainable, impactful change without being environmentally conscious.”
Kanishka Chatterjee
Director and Head – The/Nudge Prize
“The time to act is now. We must take active steps to repair and nurture our environment, as it is one of the most critical enabling factors in building resilient livelihoods. Climate change, depletion of natural resources, and loss of flora and fauna are just some of the many issues that arise when we stop being environmentally conscious. And, this hurts human health, livelihoods and welfare. Sustainable change and stable livelihoods cannot be ensured if we do not take care of our environment. We strongly believe this at The/Nudge Centre for Social Innovation and this belief is reflected in our programs as well. One such initiative, ‘The/Nudge Prize | Ashirvad Water Challenge’, is encouraging nonprofits to think about sustainable solutions to ensure clean drinking water for all, through an environmentally-friendly lens.”