The PIC Climate Emergency Conference, held on March 8th, hosted an all-women panel discussion on the role of women in driving climate solutions. The discussion highlighted the intersection of climate change with social, economic, and governance challenges. The panellists, Dr. Girija Godbole, Aditi Kale, and Anagha Paranjpe, emphasized the need for greater representation of marginalized communities in decision-making, conscious consumerism, and the critical role of cities in economic growth.
The discussion underscored the urgency of inclusive, knowledge-driven, and governance-focused climate action, urging individuals, policymakers, and industry leaders to act decisively. The panellists proposed various solutions, including greater representation, thought leadership, and investment in urban governance.
Later, an industry panel discussion on ‘Moving to Lasting Sustainability’ explored sustainable practices, energy efficiency, and innovative energy solutions. The panelists, Shantanu Pandit, Milon Nag, Mahesh Deodhar, and Nitin Mate, emphasized the need for sustainable industrial practices and proposed viable pathways for reducing carbon emissions. They highlighted the potential for optimizing power consumption, reducing energy usage in plastic manufacturing, and scaling up renewable energy sources such as biomass.
The conference also featured a session on ‘Challenges of Real Sustainable Development and Future Directions’, where Dr. Gurudas Nulkar highlighted the need to decouple economic growth from resource exploitation and advocated for alternative economic strategies, such as adopting a circular economy approach and shifting towards service-based models.
The conference concluded with a summary of the discussions and recommendations presented, and a call to action for industries to adopt sustainable practices and policies. Key action items included promoting the ‘Green Core’ initiative, exploring geothermal energy as a renewable source, and enhancing plastics recycling processes. The event ended with a strong emphasis on collective action, technological advancements, and policy support to drive sustainable industrial growth.