Pune: Women’s Role in Driving Climate Solutions in Focus at PIC Conference

Pune, 8th March 2025: The role of women in driving climate solutions was the focus of an all-women panel discussion at the PIC Climate Emergency Conference held at the PIC Campus on March 8, celebrated as Women’s Day.

The discussion, chaired by Prof. Amitav Mallik, Founder Member and Trustee, PIC, and Convenor of the Conference, highlighted the intersection of climate change with social, economic, and governance challenges.

Panellist Dr. Girija Godbole, GHOD Water Fund Lead, stressed that climate change is not just an environmental issue but a social one, exacerbating inequalities along economic, gender, and urban-rural lines. She called for greater representation of marginalised communities in decision-making.
Addressing the growing issue of eco-anxiety and human resilience, Panellist Aditi Kale, Director at CCP Environmental Foundation, advocated for conscious consumerism and integrating climate awareness into professional fields. She emphasised that resilience is not a luxury but essential for survival.

Panellist Anagha Paranjpe, Founder of VK:e, a firm specialising in green buildings, highlighted the critical role of cities in economic growth, noting that while they occupy just 3% of India’s land, they generate 65% of the country’s GDP. She called for greater investment in urban governance to ensure sustainable development.

Dr. Priyadarshini Karve, CEO of Clean Energy Access Network and a pioneering investor in biomass energy, posed a thought-provoking question: Can thought leaders elevate climate literacy to a level where public demand forces politics to break free from its dependence on petroleum?

The discussion underscored the urgency of inclusive, knowledge-driven, and governance-focused climate action, urging individuals, policymakers, and industry leaders to act decisively.

Industry urged to adopt sustainable practices
Industrial CO2 emissions can be reduced by 20%: Shantanu Pandit
Reduce energy usage in plastic manufacturing: Milon Nag
N energy can be scaled up to 6,500 GW by 2047: Mahesh Deodhar
Convert biomass to gas for clean energy: Nitin Mate

The Industry Panel Discussion on ‘Moving to Lasting Sustainability’, moderated by Dr. Gurudas Nulkar, Director, Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) at Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, and life member, PIC, discussed sustainability in industry, focusing on energy efficiency, plastics recycling, and innovative energy solutions. The discussion underscored the urgent need for sustainable industrial practices and explored viable pathways for reducing carbon emissions.
Shantanu Pandit, Climate Change Chair highlighted the importance of energy efficiency and power quality, emphasising that industrial carbon emissions could be reduced by 20% through optimised power consumption.

Milon Nag, Managing Director at K.K Nag Pvt Ltd, addressed the challenges in the plastics industry, noting that thermoplastics can be recycled, and advocated for reducing energy usage in plastic manufacturing.

Mahesh Deodhar, Head of Centre for Sustainable Energy and Mobility at PIC, provided insights into India’s nuclear energy potential, stating that while the country’s current nuclear capacity is limited, there is a roadmap to scale it to 6,500 gigawatts by 2047.

Nitant Mate, Director at SeeGreen Products Pvt Ltd, proposed biomass as a viable energy source, explaining how 300 tons of biomass can be converted into 300,000 meters of gas, significantly contributing to cleaner energy solutions.

The panel also introduced “Nakshatra 27,” an initiative promoting the planting of 27 trees per 2000 sq. ft. of land, reinforcing the commitment to environmental restoration. The discussion concluded with a strong emphasis on collective action, technological advancements, and policy support to drive sustainable industrial growth.

Key Action Items:
• Promote the Green Core initiative to plant 27 trees per 2000 sq. ft. of land.
• Explore the potential of geothermal energy as a renewable source.
• Enhance plastics recycling processes by refining baseline data and scaling up sustainable practices.
The session ended encouraging industries to adopt sustainable energy solutions and strengthening environmental responsibility for a cleaner and greener future.

Need to decouple economic growth from resource exploitation: Dr. Gurudas Nulkar

In a session on ‘Challenges of Real Sustainable Development and Future Directions’, Dr. Gurudas Nulkar, highlighted the pressing challenges of resource extraction and environmental degradation in India, emphasising the urgent need to decouple economic growth from resource exploitation. He highlighted the inefficiencies of over 200 mines operating without computers, leading to unsustainable extraction and pollution.

Dr. Nulkar proposed alternative economic strategies, including adopting a circular economy approach and shifting towards service-based models such as leasing instead of selling. He cited Xerox’s successful photocopier leasing model as an example of sustainability-driven profitability.

Discussing India’s renewable energy transition, he stressed the country’s heavy reliance on imported critical minerals and advocated for self-sufficiency. He proposed nationwide projects to cultivate biomass and leverage the carbon cycle for sustainable energy solutions. Additionally, he underscored the need for strategic planning, political will, and investment in renewable resources to ensure long-term economic and environmental stability.

Key Action Points:
• Explore nationwide projects for biomass cultivation as a renewable energy source.
• Reevaluate India’s renewable energy strategy to maximise self-reliance.
• Promote sustainable economic models such as circular economy and servici (leasing over selling).

Dr. Nulkar concluded by urging a shift towards a greener GDP, where economic growth is aligned with sustainability and resource efficiency.

Maj Gen Nitin Gadkari, Director, PIC, and Dr. Gurudas Nulkar gave a summary of the discussions and recommendations presented at the conference. The conference concluded with the Chairperson’s remarks and Vote of Thanks by Dr. Vijay Kelkar, Vice President, PIC.