Meet the leaders and visionaries powering UP's sustainable transition

Uttar Pradesh presents a developmental paradox. The scale of sustainability challenges it faces are magnified by its massive size. Yet, they can be traced down to a mélange of hyper-local and regional factors, which necessitate an integrated response. Therefore, while the final state summit of Sustainability100+ Season 2 was ostensibly focused on the sustainable transition within Uttar Pradesh's agricultural sector, it also involved in-depth discussions on natural resource management and the creation of a value chain of sustainability. Holding forth on these themes were some of the country's most prominent sustainability advocates and leaders.

A Word To The Wise

The opening keynote speech by Honourable Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Brajesh Pathak, summarized the principles and initiatives that are guiding future-ready developments in the state. It was not a surprise that a large part of it was focused on the much vaunted Ganga Rejuvenation Project. In his speech, the Deputy Chief Minister illustrated how the singular mission of rehabilitating the Ganga river basin is leading to a radical reorientation of rural livelihoods and even the state's sustainable tourism initiatives. And as he reiterated several times, these initiatives are also in-line with Union Government's sustainable development priorities.

All Hands On Deck

This paradigmatic transition will require behavioral changes and policy initiatives in equal measure, as pointed out by an enlightened panel that discussed India's water problems and how core tenets of sustainable development can help solve them. Hosted by Ruchiraa Sharma, the discussion kicked off with a perceptive insight from Dr. Vinod Tare, Founding Head, Centre for Ganga River Basin Management & Studies, IIT Kanpur. “Biggest issue we are facing is how to value water. We need to ensure that the water loop is closed within a smaller geographic space”.

Responding to questions about key missing pieces in India's framework of sustainability, Anandi Iyer, Director, Fraunhofer Office, India, said “Other countries which have succeeded have brought all stakeholders together. In India, we sometimes tend to over plan and under implement.” Abhishek Singh, Chairman & MD, Earth Samvarta Foundation, and Naman Gupta, State Program Manager, UNDP, shared how implementation can be improved with state-led and corporate interventions. Right on cue, Ankur Jolly, Head – Legal & Compliance, AB InBev India, spoke about how agri based businesses are moving toward zero budget natural farming soon, in that his organization has partnered with 2500 farmers across 400 villages in North India to disseminate lessons in smart agriculture and provide end-to-end support to farmers.

The Age Of Enlightenment

The state summit wound down with a special masterclass by Vikas Kataria, Director – Resource Mobilization & Communication, Water Aid India, on effective strategies for water intervention. He advocated for comprehensive need assessments, centered on the prevalent hydrogeological and socio-economic factors in a particular region. He also encouraged the inclusion of children in water stewardship initiatives, as agents of behavioral change - once again demonstrating the importance of embracing sustainable living at all levels of society and business.

Get more information on Sustainability100+ Season 2 at https://www.sustainability100plus.com/ . Stay tuned as we build up to the first-ever Sustainability100+ Awards.