AQA India Strategy Session 2021

17 September, 2021

Hon. Dr. Jairam Ramesh, MP, Chair, Standing Committee on Environment inaugurated the AQA India Strategy Session

Host: SW-AQA
Location: Webinar, Delhi, India

On September 17, 2021 AirQualityAsia organised a strategy session to bring high-level policy makers, subject specialists and parliamentary policy staff together to develop strategies for transition towards a green economy in India including the promotion of renewable energy alternatives and building a zero-emissions transportation ecosystem. The webinar was inaugurated by Hon. Dr. Jairam Ramesh, MP, Chair, Standing Committee on Environment. Hon. Matthew J. Nolan, Treasurer, AQA, moderated the webinar. Ms. Shazia Z Rafi, AQA President and Convenor presented on role of legislators in UN’s SDGs 2030 framework and implementation.

The first panel titled “Transition to a Green Economy” was moderated by Hon. Satya Yudha Widya, Member, National Energy Council, founder, Green Economy Caucus, Indonesia, Sr. Advisor, AQA. Technical presentations were made by Mr. Jostein Nygard, Sr.Env. Specialist, The World Bank Group, Ms. Vibhuti Garg, Energy Economist, Institute of Energy Economics & Financial Analysis [IEEFA], Mr. Monish Mahurkar, Fmr VP, IFC, Advisor, Green Climate Fund [GCF].

The second panel titled “Transition to Renewable Energy” was moderated by Hon. Nolan. Experts included Mr. Bharath Jairaj, Director, Energy, World Resources Institute, India, Ms. Kanika Chawla, Programme Manager, Sustainable Energy for All, Mr. Simran Grover, CEO, BASK Research Foundation, Mr. Sunil Dahiya, Analyst, Centre for Research on Energy & Clean Air.

The third panel on Transition to Clean Air Transportation System was moderated by Hon. Harry Duynhoven, Secretary, AQA. Presentations were made by Mr. Anup Bandivadekar, India Director, International Council on Clean Transportation [ICCT], Ms. Akshima Ghate, Principal, Rocky Mountain Institute India, Mr. Gerald Ollivier, Lead Transport Specialist, World Bank Group, Mr. Polash Mukerjee, Lead, Air-Quality & Climate Resilience, Natural Resources Defense Council, India [NRDC].

The webinar ended with an inter-active discussion between parliamentary staff and experts chaired by Hon. Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MP, Board member, AQA, who also gave closing remarks.