Sensitising the academic community on sustainability and the circular economy

Apeejay School of Management’s (ASM) Centre for Sustainability & Circular Economy recently organised an online Multidisciplinary Conference on Sustainability & Circular Economy. The idea was to sensitise the academic community about the urgent need for mitigation of multiple risks induced by climate change. Over 50 participants from 20 institutions attended the event. Dr Srirang Jha, the conference chair, welcomed the distinguished speakers and delegates. In his welcome address, Dr Jha emphasised, “There is a need for continuous dialogue on sustainability to combat the imminent climate risks.” 

Dr Shakila Shamsu, Honorary Adviser, Centre for Public Policy & Research, inaugurated the conference. In her inaugural address, Dr Shamsu urged the delegates to integrate the elements of sustainability in the curriculum to raise climate consciousness among youth in sync with the spirit of National Education Policy 2020. She also emphasised, “The need for internships and community service projects revolving around the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals stands important.” She maintained that sustainability could bring in equity and academic institutions had a big role in the process. Further, Dr Shamsu called upon the academic leaders to come forward to share and collaborate to optimise limited resources held by the Indian higher education institutions. Breaking the institutional silos is a major roadblock in the struggle against climate change mitigation, Dr Shamsu observed.

Sharing the conference perspectives, Prof Sajal Mukherjee, Director, Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication (AIMC), emphasised that the communities need to have a futuristic view on resource utilization. He expressed concern over excessive use of resources. Prof Mukherjee mentioned that the climate risks can be reduced by mindful consumption. Already, there is a growing consciousness among the people about buying products which have been sourced, manufactured and marketed in a sustainable manner, he added. Further, he observed that the media plays a role of informer and gate keeper by keeping checks and balances on how the corporations, communities and the state agencies deal with nature and natural resources. Prof Mukherjee also felt the need to integrate the philosophy of sustainability and sustainable development goals in the curriculum of programs of journalism and mass communication.

Further, Mr Pushkara S V, Senior Consultant, Indian Institute of Human Settlement, delivered the keynote address at the conference. Mr Pushkara observed that small steps by common people usually have big impacts. He emphasized that a conscious approach to waste management, especially in the urban areas, can drastically reduce environmental hazards. He said that littering and mixed waste in the cities were the reasons behind poor management and disposal of waste leading to mountains of trash. Mr Pushkara advocated a sustainable lifestyle based on the principles of ‘reduce consumption, reuse old things as far as possible, recycle things when they cannot be used in the present form, repair things whenever required and reject things which are not sustainable’ for a better tomorrow.

Lastly, Dr Ishita Adhikari, Associate Professor, ASM, chaired the technical session in which seven experts shared their views on different aspects related to sustainability and circular economy. Dr Nikita Dhankar, Conference Co-chair conducted the proceedings, summed up the discussions and proposed a vote of thanks to all the speakers and delegates. Panel of invited speakers included Dr S P Sharma, Managing Director & Chief Economist, NEO Economists, Dr Maheep, Public Policy Expert, Dr Alok Dwivedi, Assistant Professor, School of Indic Studies, Institute of Advanced Sciences, USA, Dr Pooja Chaturvedi Sharma, Area Chair, Finance, ASM, Dr. Prasanta Moharaj, Assistant Professor (Sociology), Dayananda Sagar University, Bangalore, Prof Vrinda Kapur, Assistant Professor, Janki Devi Memorial College, Delhi University, and Dr Anindita Roy, Associate Professor, Symbiosis Institute of Technology.