A Global Climate Leader Joins Hands with Future Change-Makers!
Welcome to Ovais Sarmad, Former UNFCCC Deputy Executive Secretary/ASG, assumes a role of Mentor to SCCN of GTF
The Smart Campus Cloud Network (SCCN), a global initiative connecting university students in pursuit of localising SDGs and Net Zero goals, is proud to welcome Mr. Ovais Sarmad, former Deputy Executive Secretary/ASG of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), as a Global Mentor.
Mr Sarmad now joins a visionary group of three global mentors to SCCN, namely, Erik Solheim, former Executive Director of UNEP and Under Secretary General of UN, Prakash Javadekar, former Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and also former minister of Human Resource Development of India and Dr Vijay Bhatkar, father of India’s supercomputer and former Chancellor of Nalanda University, India.
Mr. Sarmad has served as Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC from 2017 to 2023, where he was instrumental in facilitating international cooperation under the Paris Agreement and supporting climate action at national and institutional levels. Prior to that, he held senior leadership positions at the International Organization for Migration (IOM) over a period of 27 years.
With a distinguished career spanning over three decades in global multilateralism, including in migration management, climate diplomacy, sustainable development and institutional efficiency, Mr. Sarmad brings valuable expertise, vision, and leadership to the one of its kind global network of universities aimed at making their campuses Net-Zero. His engagement comes at a time when just about 5 years is left for meeting the target of emission reduction by 50 percent from 2005 level, heralds the dire need to engage the youth in universities through well-coordinated partnerships. His guidance will play a vital role in strengthening, scaling and speeding SCCN’s mission to empower youth in higher education institutions for climate solutions and sustainability practices.
Commenting on the role at SCCN, Mr. Sarmad said:
“The Smart Campus Cloud Network-SCCN- is not just a network, it is a mechanism for the youth and academic institutions to embark on tangible and measurable climate action. It is one of the most critical investments we can make at this stage for a sustainable future. SCCN is a meaningful platform that brings innovation, education, and sustainability together, providing much needed momentum to meet Net Zero target agreed in the Paris Climate Agreement. I am honoured to support this initiative through mentoring students and engaging with educational institutions to help them in taking positive and concrete actions for a sustainable future for all.”
Dr Rajendra Shende, founder of Green TERRE Foundation and former Director of UNEP and coordinating lead author of IPCC 2007 that won the Nobel Peace Prize, said:
“We are excited to welcome Mr. Ovais Sarmad to the SCCN family and looking forward to leveraging his experience and expertise at the highest levels of global climate governance and multilateralism. We have no doubt that his engagement will inspire and guide universities and their students in their journey towards carbon neutrality and skilling the youth for meeting SDGs”
SCCN has now emerged as one-of-its-kind global network of 500+ universities from 14 countries. The network that has started providing human-capital urgently needed, but often overlooked, to achieve the Net Zero and Climate Safe Future. SCCN fosters behavioural changes in the university youth by adopting to climate friendly lifestyle and accelerate the Net Zero goal.
The engagement of Mr Sarmad marks a significant step forward in integrating global expertise into grassroots action, reaffirming the vital role of education in tackling the climate crisis and promoting sustainable development. Most importantly it is coming when the climate action is more pressing than ever.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ar. Durga Kamat, Project Leader
Note to Editors:
Green TERRE Foundation is a not-for profit organisation in India. TERRE is a global and local forum for action by youth and communities on the challenges faced by the planet’s ecosystem, particularly climate change, biodiversity, health, and inequality. It facilitates colleges and universities to mainstream the future policy-makers and policy-implementers in implementing the SDGs by promoting sharing of the information on transformative actions undertaken by students and faculties in the campus. More importantly, it encourages to deploy the digital technologies like IoT, AI, Cloud-networking, Machine learning and Block chain for optimum use of energy, water in campus and catalyse effective waste management, sustainable transport, air pollution and nature conservation within the campus.
Smart Campus Cloud Network (SCCN) (www.sccnhub.com) is a flagship project of Green TERRE Foundation. SCCN is a Global Network of 500+ Universities and Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs) from 13 countries that localises Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Net Zero. Smart Campus Cloud Network is actively engaging with youth to promote the practical projects in the campus. SCCN is mentored by Erik Solheim, (former Minister of Environment of Norway as well as former USG of United Nations), Dr Vijay Bhatkar (Padma Bhushan and India’s super computer man), and Prakash Javadekar (former Minister of Environment Forest and Climate Change). Ministry of Education (AICTE), Ministry of Power (EESL), UNESCO, UGC, ASSOCHAM and Niti Aayog have supported the project either through formal MOUs with GTF or through strong encouragement.
