Talk show of two giants in Global Environment - Advocacy and Action

Talk show of two giants in Global Environment - Advocacy and Action

On 31st May 2020, a webinar was arranged by TERRE Policy Centre and National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela's; Spartan Digital Conclave an association of students from NIT Rourkela hosting two eminent personalities in the space of environment advocacy, Dr. Rajendra Shende, Chairman TERRE Policy Centre, former Director UNEP and Erik Solheim, Former Executive Director, UN Environment.

Dr. Rajendra Shende and Erik Solheim discussed the issues pertaining to climate change, sustainability and renewable energy. They said that the consequences of the decades of neglect have become clear now in the present context of COVID 19. Both panelists shared success stories of the United Nations where some of the issues around the Ozone layer and other problems as pressing as COVID 19, were dealt with effectively. Both speakers claimed that now is the time for countries in the Global south such as India and China to assert their faith and confidence in upholding their responsibilities to the environment and lead by example.

Both speakers calmed several fears of the youths who believed that today's institutions and governments are characterized by a lack of accountability. They said that we need to trust our own motives and powers as consumers, citizens and workers to make decisions which pressure all stakeholders into better actions. It is when the civil society, business and bureaucrats come together that the wind of change is unstoppable.

Stating that this is the time for action based work and that the time for webinars should be utilized to create spaces for coordinated action, Dr Shende set the tone for the webinar.

He took the opportunity to discuss the possibility of making NIT Rourkela carbon neutral in the coming future through shifting to renewable sources as well as banning single use plastics from their campuses.