In 2022, the maximum CSR funds were spent on education. However, it’s high time that environment sustainability should be given priority now. We have seen events taking place. From the floods in Pakistan to the hunger crisis in Africa and furthermore the shifting seasons and weather. The recent Joshimath sinking crisis is another result of the rampant infrastructure development and the climate crisis, experts have suggested. In this conversation with TheCSRUniverse, Sustainability Advisor Dr Yogendra K Saxena talks about the importance of water and energy conservation, corporate role in mitigating the climate crisis and what should be India’s agenda at COP28.
A practitioner of sustainability, Dr Saxena has earlier worked as Group Chief Sustainability Officer of TATA Power and Chief of EHS & Sustainability at Jubilant Life Sciences Limited. He has also worked as Environmental Engineer at UNDP in the beginning of his career.
Excerpts from the interview:
TheCSRUniverse: We have seen a warmer December. Is global warming the reason? What’s your take on this?
Dr Yogendra K Saxena: The temperature difference (day and night time) in December was certainly due to Global Warming. In my view, everyone must play his/her role to avoid climate change and manage the un-manageable.
TheCSRUniverse: A report says that by 2025 the world is going to face a big water-crisis. What are your views on this and how should this expected crisis be tackled?
Dr Yogendra K Saxena: Conservation should be a priority for both water and energy. It should start from primary schools as awareness to engineering/business schools and end at manufacturing facilities with strategy and goals. There is a great and immediate need for strict regulations and penalties for groundwater withdrawal and pollution of surface water.
TheCSRUniverse: India has submitted its strategy to achieve net-zero target by 2070. Do you think the goal and target is in sync with the need and pace of the times?
Dr Yogendra K Saxena: I am not happy either with India's strategy of net zero by 2070, or India Inc.’s on emissions. India Inc. must take the environment agenda on top of all emissions for better air quality.
TheCSRUniverse: Climate financing was the talk of the town during the two-week COP27. But there was a larger disagreement on various related issues between the developed and the developing countries. What’s the way forward?
Dr Yogendra K Saxena: Undoubtedly, climate financing was at center stage, and commitment from developing countries to cut carbon emissions is a concern for developed countries. However, developed countries must support greener projects and provide new technologies for cleaner and greener production. Both developed and developing countries must move every inch to work for climate change to fill the gap.
TheCSRUniverse: What should be India’s strategy for COP28?
Dr Yogendra K Saxena: In my opinion, India must develop policies for cleaner and greener production, AAQ and emissions.
TheCSRUniverse: There’s a need for circular economy processes and inventions especially in the manufacturing sector. How can businesses opt for reusable, recyclable materials and methods?
Dr Yogendra K Saxena: Net zero, circular economy, and ESG are good words to use in sustainability and annual reports, but the manufacturing sector must rewrite the company's strategy with reference to ESG/net zero strategy.
TheCSRUniverse: How important does corporate lobbying for climate change become in the Indian context?
Dr Yogendra K Saxena: Corporate is neither lobbying for climate change nor working for adaption or mitigation on a serious note.
TheCSRUniverse: How can corporates help in green transition at the workplace to reduce carbon footprints?
Dr Yogendra K Saxena: Corporate are working in this direction, but visibility could be better. They should rework again from ISO 140001 to ESG and from meeting the regulatory to beyond compliance.
TheCSRUniverse: How can CSR become a precursor to ESG?
Dr Yogendra K Saxena: CSR will never be a precursor to ESG. In fact, environmental sustainability should take the lead for CSR activities, which is not the case today.
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