@ Vikash Sharma | Sr Journalist
New Delhi: India has announced its Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LEDS) at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), setting out a broad framework for meeting Net Zero goal by 2070. The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) has organized its 16th Edition of BCC&I Environment & Energy Conclave on “Energy Transition towards Net Zero” in the esteemed presence of Dr. Kiran Bedi, Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry along with Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, International Solar Alliance; Mr. Vivek Kumar Dewangan, IAS, Chairman & Managing Director, REC Limited; Mr. Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority; Shri U K Bhattacharya, Co-Chairperson, Energy Environment Water Committee, BCC&I Director – Projects, NTPC Ltd. and Mr. Gautam Ray, President Designate and Chairperson, Energy Environment Water Committee, BCC&I and Executive Director (HR and Admin), CESC Ltd. and President, HR Group, RPSG today at New Delhi.
The Environment & Energy Conclave witnessed a felicitation ceremony of Dr. Kiran Bedi, Former Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry followed by a presentation of a Case Study of Water Rich Puducherry and water initiatives in Gurugram by her. The conclave highlighted sessions on Policy Framework; Energy efficiency and Renewable energy – new sources and integration; Food Energy Water Nexus; Sustainable Approaches and Circular Economy; Investment and financing; Global Energy Security, Collective Actions and Transition Roadmap.
Addressing the session on Global Energy Security, Collective Actions and Transition Roadmap Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, International Solar Alliance said, “More global collaborations are needed for energy security. Guarantee funds may pull private sector investors into solar and other renewable sectors. He observed that World Bank may also look into guarantee funding.”
Mr. Ghanshyam Prasad, Chairperson, Central Electricity Authority on his address on Powering India’s Growth said, “We have been facing shortages in the power sector. In the global scenario we have no option but to transit from where we are right now to start the frame work. The journey has already started, initially there were certain hassles. Right now, we just have the capacity of just four thousand seven hundred megawatts in the country, out of which around 12-13 hundred devices are not operating. We have to start developing the process of solar system.”
Speaking at the 16th Edition BCC&I Environment & Energy Conclave Shri U K Bhattacharya, Co-Chairperson, Energy Environment Water Committee, BCC&I Director – Projects, NTPC Ltd said, “New action plans for synchronizing energy security and development are not only to facilitate growth but to enhance it. The share of carbon space of the country has to be created towards that. The business quadrilemma should include sustainability, affordability, do ability and security. Energy security is next to food security.”
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Gautam Ray, President Designate and Chairperson, Energy Environment Water Committee, BCC&I said “This Conclave has been Eastern Region’s largest forum on sustainability, corporate climate action. We are bringing this flagship programme to Delhi and wish to hold this in the NCR and other important cities going forward. We can set ambitious sustainability targets, adopt green business practices, and invest in sustainable supply chains. In conclusion, the path towards a net-zero future is challenging, but it is also a path filled with promise. It is a path that will not only safeguard our environment but also drive economic growth and prosperity. It is a path that will define our legacy for generations to come.”
Transitioning to a net-zero carbon emissions future is not just a moral imperative; it is an economic, social, and environmental necessity. Net zero must be aligned with broader sustainable development objectives, which implies an equitable net-zero transition, socio-ecological sustainability and the pursuit of broad economic opportunities. Keeping that perspective in mind, The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) is creating a platform for the stakeholders for discussing the issues and the way forward.
