SCOPE-GIZ study highlights PSEs role in Nation’s Climate Agenda

Standing Conference of Public Enterprises (SCOPE) & GIZ, Germany launched a comprehensive report on ‘Low-Carbon and Climate-Resilient Pathways for Indian Public Sector Enterprises- Training and Capacity Needs Assesment’ to address the ways and means for building capacities for developing climate resilient pathways. The report was released in the presence of Mr. Gurdeep Singh, CMD, NTPC; Mr. Agrim Kaushal, Adviser, DPE, Ministry of Finance; Dr. Steffen Koch, Minister & Head of Economic Department and Globalisation, German Embassy; Mr. Mohamed El-Khawad, Cluster Coordinator, GIZ India; Mr. O.P.Singh, Director, ONGC; Mr. Santanu Roy, ED, GAIL India Limited and Mr. Atul Sobti, DG, SCOPE. The launch was attended by several Senior officials of PSEs from across the country. Given the fact that PSEs are involved in hard to abate sectors creating an inherent impact on the environment, SCOPE has collaborated with GIZ to raise awareness and creating capacities of PSEs towards global Climate Change Mitigation through studies & research, workshops, pilot initiatives and e-certification course. Mr. Gurdeep Singh stated that Climate Change is invariably one of the most pertinent topics today and enunciated that though PSEs are undertaking individual actions, there is need for synergised efforts for which SCOPE can create a confluence of ideas by PSEs towards achieving various sustainability targets as a nation. Mr. Agrim Kausal addressed the participants by appreciating SCOPE on the apt timing of the study as Climate crisis is among topmost concerns globally and encouraged participants to analyse and prepare pathways for a green plan. Speaking at the launch, Mr. Atul Sobti emphasised that this study is a game changer and not a mere a desk study. He emphasized that besides skill enhancement, a pipeline of activities in the form of Compendium and short features to highlight the innovations and initiatives towards reducing carbon footprint by PSEs is also being developed. Mr. Mohamed El-Khawad stated that as Climate Change impacts the triple bottom line of business which is economic, environmental and social so PSEs need to be involved strenuously for which this study is an important referral point. Calling GIZ-SCOPE collaboration an imperative step in Indo-German partnership, Dr. Steffen Koch said that PSEs through efforts like low Carbon emissions have been meeting strategic climate targets but as they are strategic for the nation’s climate agenda more needs to be done. Giving the closing remarks, Mr. O. P. Singh, congratulated SCOPE for the launch of a very critical study and emphasised on synergising efforts of PSEs. Mr. Santanu Roy delivered the vote of thanks and complimented SCOPE on a very important study.