Symbiosis Law School, Pune Hosts Workshop on Climate Justice for Management and Leadership

This comprehensive workshop represents a significant step towards integrating climate justice considerations into corporate responsibility and sustainable development efforts.

Symbiosis Law School, Pune, a constituent of Symbiosis International University, hosted an intensive Executive Workshop titled "Climate Justice: Advancing SDG and ESG through Impactful CSR Proposal". The event, held from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, was organized by the Jean Monnet Chair EU Climate Justice Law, Governance, Management and Policy (EUC-LAMP) in collaboration with ExploreiT and Climate Reality Project India & South Asia.

Prof. (Dr.) Shashikala Gurpur, Fulbright Scholar, Director of Symbiosis Law School, Pune, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Symbiosis International University, and Jean Monnet Chair Professor (EUC-LAMP Co-funded by EU), delivered the welcome address. She highlighted the workshop's significance as an outcome of a grant secured from the European Union. Dr. Gurpur emphasized the need for a comprehensive law on climate change, citing concerns such as transparency, accountability, and the commitment to Net Zero goals by 2070. She also discussed recent judicial interventions, including the Great Indian Bustard case, which established the right against adverse impacts of climate change as part of fundamental rights.

Dr. Erach Bharucha, Director of Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment Education and Research, Pune, focused his address on SDGs 14 and 15, which deal with life below water and sustainable forest management. He stressed the importance of eco-restoration and shared several successful case studies, including the TELCO lake restoration and the TATA Power Eco Restoration for the Western Ghats.

Dr. Rajashree Joshi, Program Director at BAIF Development Research Foundation, provided insights into the linkages between CSR, ESG, SDGs, and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). She emphasized the need for policy changes at the national level and greater private sector involvement in sustainable development initiatives.

Mr. Shivam Singh, Founder and CEO of ExploreiT and National Coordinator for Youth of The Climate Reality Project, South Asia & India, shared experiences from successful CSR initiatives aligned with SDGs and ESG principles. He highlighted the 'Bring back Butterflies' project and stressed the importance of aligning funding proposals with corporate goals while maintaining project impact and integrity.

Mr. Mandar Vaidya, Director of Srishti for Resilience and Sustainable Development, Maharashtra, offered practical guidance on drafting effective CSR proposals. He emphasized the importance of concise articulation, succinct problem statements, and measurable impact statements that align with corporate commitments.

The afternoon session included a field trip led by Ms. Purnima Joshi, Founder Trustee of Team Swachh Kalyani Nagar. Participants had a guided tour to a local site with potential for CSR intervention, emphasizing SDG alignment and ESG integration led by ‘TeamSwachhKalyaniNagar’.

The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Rupal Rautdesai, Visiting Professor at Symbiosis Law School, Pune.

This comprehensive workshop represents a significant step towards integrating climate justice considerations into corporate responsibility and sustainable development efforts. It provided 108 participants ranging from corporate, NGOs, scientists, academicians, management, law students, and policy researchers with both theoretical knowledge and practical insights into creating impactful CSR proposals aligned with climate justice goals.

To know more, visit https://www.symlaw.ac.in/

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