New Delhi The Union Law Minister & MOS for Parliamentary Affairs & Culture Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal on Friday gave a Sustainability mantra- ‘Ek Raat Chaand ke Saath’ (One Night with Moonlight) to participants at the Global Conference on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Prithvi Awards-2023, organized by the ESG Research Foundation (ERF). The two-day conference, organized by the ESG Research Foundation (ERF) from July 14-15, focused on promoting Sustainability aligned with ESG considerations.
Addressing the audience and participants during the inaugural ceremony, the Chief Guest Shri Meghwal said, “Protection and worship of nature is inherent in our culture. Rajasthan’s ‘Khejri movement’ has shown the world that since historical times, trees were protected even at the cost of sacrificing human lives.
Shri Meghwal added, “To conserve electricity, if each one of us pledges to switch off all lights on a Full moon night, the contribution to our environment and society would be enormous as there are 12 full moon nights in a year”
Echoing similar sentiments, the Environment Enthusiast and Film Actor Shri Vivek Oberoi said, “India is a Vishwa Guru in ESG. We need to tell the world that India is the original Sustainability Crusader. Moreover, we need to encourage people to practice "karmic accounting" by planting at least seven trees during their lifespan.”
Urging everyone to contribute a bit towards ESG, CA. Atul Gupta, Founder and Director, ESG Research Foundation and Past President, ICAI said, “The conference is aimed at creating awareness among people, promoting the significance of ESG aspects in business operations within the public and private sector by recognizing Sustainability Icons and presenting the prestigious Prithvi Awards. ”
Leading a path to a greener future, ESG Research Foundation also launched a dedicated Mobile App- ‘Sustain Vista’- " Pledge to Use Public Transport & Save Climate." The ‘Sustain Vista’ App aims to encourage individuals to pledge their commitment to use public transport and contribute to climate conservation.
Other distinguished guests and key speakers from various domains who shared their views during the conference included Shri Rajiv Kumar, Former Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, Shri MV Rao, CEO & MD, Central Bank of India, Dr Deepak Jain, Director General, Federation of Indian Industry and Shri Abhay Bhutada, MD, Poonawalla Fincorp Ltd. among others.
Underpinning the importance of ESG, Dr Deepak Jain stressed increasing investment in Research and Development (R&D) so that with technological interventions,India can reduce its carbon emissions and protect the environment. Shri Rajeev Kumar said “ India faces a double challenge, on one hand, we have to maintain a high growth rate to sustain and on the other, we have to work towards reducing carbon emissions.There is a need to change our mindset and everyone should contribute towards ESG,” he emphasized.
Shri MV Rao highlighted that there is a need to change individual thought process on securing the future. Drawing a parallel from the thought process towards monetary saving, he said, instead of securing the future with ESG considerations, people are securitizing the future. Shri Abhay Bhutada, MD, Poonawalla Fincorp also urged corporates to pay back to society by encouraging ESG in their operations.
The Global Conference on ESG & Prithvi Awards-2023 brought together leaders, experts, and organizations committed to driving sustainable change. Through engaging in discussions and knowledge exchange, sincere efforts were made to raise awareness about the importance of ESG practices and their potential to achieve commercial objectives while creating a positive impact on the environment and societies.
While presenting a vote of thanks CA. Deepak Batra, Director, ESG Research Foundation said, “By working in collaboration with government bodies, public and private sector businesses, and societies, ERF aims to support the transition towards more sustainable operations while facilitating the achievement of India's ESG and climate-related goals.”
The Global Conference on ESG & Prithvi Awards-2023 is part of ERF's ongoing efforts to promote ESG awareness and support organizations in their ESG initiatives.
About ESG Research Foundation (ERF):
The ESG Research Foundation (ERF) is a Not-For-Profit Organization dedicated to promoting the significance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) aspects in business operations within the public and private sectors. ERF conducts various activities, collaborates with corporations and regulatory bodies, and supports organizations in implementing their ESG plans. By working together with government bodies, public and private sector businesses, and societies, ERF strives to facilitate the achievement of India's ESG and climate-related goals. For more information, please visit website at www.esgworldwide.org
