Emerson Centre of Excellence for Sustainability Studies

Thematic Track at WSDS 2025 – Building Leadership for Carbon Neutrality (Net-Zero) in Higher Education Institutions:


1. Event Overview
The Emerson Centre of Excellence for Sustainability Studies (CoE) is proud to present its thematic track, "Building Leadership for Carbon Neutrality in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)," as part of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2025.
WSDS 2025, scheduled for March 5^th – 7^th , 2025, will focus on "Partnerships for Accelerating Sustainable Development and Climate Solutions," bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and experts to drive collaborative, solution-oriented strategies for a more sustainable future.
As a pre-event discussion, our thematic track will set the stage for an engaging dialogue on the role of HEIs in driving India’s carbon neutrality goals and fostering a culture of climate-conscious leadership within academic institutions.

2. Thematic Track Details
Date: March 5, 2025
Time: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Venue: Jacaranda 1 Hall, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

This high-impact session will convene leading voices from government agencies, academic institutions, industry, and think tanks to discuss policies, innovations, and action plans that can enable HEIs to transition towards net-zero emissions.

3. Objective

Higher Education Institutions play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of climate-conscious leaders and sustainability champions. This session will:

• Explore best practices and strategies for achieving carbon neutrality on campuses.
• Discuss the Net-Zero Transition Framework for HEIs and how it aligns with India’s 2070 climate neutrality goal.
• Foster collaborations between policymakers, industry leaders, and leaders of educational institutions to drive climate action in the higher education sector.

By integrating sustainability into their core operations, HEIs can lead the way in carbon neutrality, climate resilience, and sustainable innovation.

4. Agenda

The draft agenda for the thematic track on Building Leadership for Carbon Neutrality (Net-Zero) in Higher Education Institutions (5^th March 2025) is as follows:

Time	Draft Agenda
14:00–14:05	Welcome of Dignitaries Dr Suman Kumar Dhar, Vice Chancellor, TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI-SAS)
14:05–14:15	Introductory remarks and briefing on Net-Zero Transition Framework for HEIs Prof. (Dr) Shaleen Singhal, Director, Emerson Centre of Excellence for Sustainability Studies, TERI-SAS Background Presentation Mr. Sagarmoy Phukan, Research Fellow, Emerson CoE for Sustainability Studies, TERI-SAS
14:15–15:15	Panel Speakers: Mr. Sushil Kumar Awasthi, Director General of Forest & Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) Dr N Gopukumar, Joint Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC) Mr. Anil Bhatia, Vice President and Managing Director at Emerson - India Dr. Pradeep Monga, Senior Advisor and Emeritus Research Scholar, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) Moderator:Prof. (Dr) Shaleen Singhal
15:15–15:25	Emerson CoE Fellowship Award Announcement
15:25–15:30	Vote of Thanks Prof. (Dr) Sukanya Das, Dean Research and Partnerships, TERI SAS

5. Join the Conversation!

Be part of this transformative discussion as we shape a roadmap for net-zero campuses in India and beyond. Let’s work together to build leadership in sustainability and make higher education a driving force for climate action.

To attend our conversation register HERE or scan this QR Code

For more details and participation inquiries, contact:emerson@terisas.ac.in