WSDS 2021 Closes With Promise to Achieve a Common Goal of Green Growth

“We all share one precious life giving, but fragile, planet and each of us has a stake in its future. Only through ambitious net-zero commitments and strong international collaboration can we bring the benefits of clean growth and resilient economies to everyone around the world”, said Alok Sharma MP, COP26 President-Designate, while speaking at the valedictory session of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2021.

The three-day long and the twentieth edition of WSDS 2021, concluded in the presence of dignitaries that included Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the European Green Deal; Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Sherpa, G20 Summit; Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, TERI; and Nitin Desai, Chairman, TERI.

“I welcome the important discussions that TERI have convened this week, which reflect the spirit of inclusivity the UK COP Presidency has at its heart. This is vital to creating a cleaner, brighter future for us all”, the COP26 President-Designate added further.

In his address, Frans Timmermans, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the European Green Deal, said, “we stand at the pivotal moment in the fight against climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis. Tipping points are getting closer. We have only a couple of years left to make the necessary changes in our policies if we really want to avoid those tipping points. How we shape our recovery from the pandemic will determine whether we can succeed in our fight against the climate crisis. We need to use this time to really innovate our economies at world scale. We have to open the gates to green growth and a healthy future for all so that we can tell our future generations that we took the first steps that led us to the road of real and sustainable recovery.”

Highlighting the importance of collaboration to achieve green growth, Suresh Prabhu, Sherpa, G20 Summit, said, “I congratulate TERI for organising such a compelling platform to achieve a common target towards fighting environmental challenges. I believe that without a common action and collaboration, we cannot achieve green growth. Energy, water, forestry, oceans are a few sectors that could be discussed at the COP26. We need to save our planet from imminent extinction and the time to act is now, to promote collaboration and to achieve green growth.”

Delivering his address, Nitin Desai, Chairman, TERI, said, “There is a much broader sense of sentiment among the corporates, individuals and youngsters on climate action. There is a universal agreement of scientists, civil societies, and corporations on what can be done to combat climate change. The challenge now is before the governments to provide policies that support positive sentiments towards climate change and broader issues on sustainable development.”

Dr. Ajay Mathur, Director General, TERI, while delivering the vote of thanks at the valedictory session, said, “As the twentieth edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 comes to an end, we take with us, the ideas and the challenges that we must keep in mind to combat climate change. We are delighted to announce that we had over 30 set of sessions with 265 speakers and 21 partners. A range of issues were discussed such as energy transition and climate, adaptation and resilience, clean oceans, women and youth and the kind of ideas that we received this year were much more measurable which is a clear change that how people are talking more about environmental and climate issues.” WSDS 2021

The three-day event addressed the theme, ‘Redefining Our Common Future: Safe and Secure Environment for All’. As the country partner of the WSDS 2021, the UK government was closely involved in various sessions of the summit, in the run-up to the COP 26, which it is preparing to host in Glasgow in November this year.

In his inauguration address at the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s commitment to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 percent from 2005 levels. 

“We are committed to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 percent from 2005 levels. You would be happy to know that a drop of 24 percent in the emission intensity has already been achieved,” he said. WSDS 2021