Times Network and EY have partnered to highlight the importance of this mission and reveal the true effects of climate change on India’s business and socio-economic landscape through this whitepaper.
New Delhi: Nitesh Mehrotra, Partner in Sustainability and ESG at EY India, presented a whitepaper on navigating India’s climate and sustainability transition at the India Climate Summit 2024. Times Network and EY have partnered to highlight the importance of this mission and reveal the true effects of climate change on India’s business and socio-economic landscape through this whitepaper.
Summarising the report, Nitesh Mehrotra noted the need to examine the climate situation sector by sector, as sustainability issues vary greatly between industries like steel, telecom, and financial services. He also highlighted the importance of considering both the risks and opportunities presented by this transition.
He further said, “We are experiencing heat waves. That becomes a narrative and it’s a silent death killer, we all know that. But the other important thing which we have seen data model from an India standpoint is that if monsoon was to start changing, I mean imagine a percentage change in temperature, the power of nature, trillions of trillions of water is picked up and dumped into our agri-land and obviously we are very, very agri-centric still. And if that is what to change, what is the impact? And I think that’s one of the biggest issues because we are in a way, one would say frontline of this fight.”
Nitesh Mehrotra also mentioned that it is nearly impossible to have a conversation today without including AI. He stressed the importance of analysing AI not just for its narrative but for its significance. He advised those investing in AI to consider not only the relevant use cases but also the business cases related to sustainability. This approach is essential for driving change and creating more data-led and meaningful projections, he said.
During a panel discussion on “Understanding the Global Carbon Footprint: Current Realities and Sustainable Solutions,” Nitesh Mehrotra, Safi Ahsan Rizvi (Advisor on Mitigation for NDMA, Government of India), and Ashish Chaturvedi (Head of Action for Climate and Environment, UNDP India) discussed the government’s proactive programs on climate and agriculture.
Ashish Chaturvedi noted that the government is implementing many proactive programs on climate and agriculture. Speaking on agricultural emissions, he said that they have not traditionally been the focus of India’s climate policy because these emissions come from necessities.
Safi Ahsan Rizvi stated that disasters are the effects of climate change that pose a large policy question. He added that there is a need for scientific analysis to study this issue properly and provide answers before the consequences become evident.
About India Climate Summit
The Times Network India Climate Summit aims to address the critical and pressing issue of climate change threatening our civilisation. With India witnessing a faster warming trend than the global average, accompanied by rising temperatures, increased heat wave casualties, diminished food production, extended summers, water conflicts, and large-scale migrations, the summit seeks to mobilize attention towards these challenges urgently.
Focused on fostering a sustainable nation, the summit aims to unite stakeholders under a shared agenda for decisive action.
