ENECON’24
SIIB Auditorium | 1st October, 2024 | 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Batch 2023-25 and 2024-26 | Participants – 240+
Panelist: Mr. Harish H. V, Founder and managing director, Ecube Investment Advisors
Dr.A.K.Bhattacharya, IFS(retd), Chairman of Integrated Development Organisation
Dr. Arvind Bodhankar, CSO of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India
Mr. Siddarth Bhagwat, CEO of Sustain and Save
Mr. Amit Saxena, VP-Tech and Innovation, Aditya Birla Renewables Ltd.
Mr. Rajneesh Sharma, VP- Sustainability, MakeMyTrip.
The Energy and Environment Department at SIIB hosted its annual flagship event, ENECON’24, on 01st of October from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm. The event aimed to delve into crucial discussions surrounding the theme of “Green is the new black: Mainstreaming Sustainability.”
The event commenced with an impactful thematic introductory video, setting the stage for discussions on the innovative integration of mainstream sustainability practices. The visual presentation engaged the audience and created anticipation for the insightful conversations that followed.
After the video, Dr. Alka Maurya, Director SIIB, and Dr. Prakash Rao, Deputy Director SIIB felicitated our esteemed guests for the event, Mr. Harish H. V, Founder, and managing director, Ecube Investment Advisors and Dr. A.K. Bhattacharya, IFS (retd), Chairman of Integrated Development Organisation. They also inaugurated the 9th volume of the annual newsletter of the Department of Energy and Environment, “EQUILIBRIA.”
After inaugurating the annual newsletter, Dr. Alka Maurya extended a warm welcome to guests by discussing key global risks associated with the environment, negative impacts on the global economy due to various anthropogenic activities, and COP 28. This was followed by Dr. Prakash Rao who discussed the crucial aspects of climate change, ESG emergence, and the interlink between environment and economy. His remarks also emphasized the importance of events like ENECON’24 in fostering a collaborative environment for the exchange of ideas and knowledge in the realm of energy, environment, and sustainability.
Continuing to the discussion, the event’s chief guest, Mr Harish H.V., elaborated the Earth Overshoot Day, which is consuming twice what the earth can give. He compared the extreme weather events of 1960 to 2020 and the change in the trends. He also emphasized a significant increase in GHG emissions due to meat consumption and waste management. Dr A.K. Bhattacharya, guest of honor, took the session forward by started a Green Pledge. He quoted, “Youth are the future for the environment” and discussed the blue economy providing a holistic approach and the need for an environment cell in every corporation.
Mr. Dipen Paul (Faculty of Energy and Environment) concluded the session with a vote of thanks and extended heartfelt gratitude to the participants, guests, and attendees.
The event moved towards the panel discussion with the esteemed session chair Dr. Arvind Bodhankar, CSO of ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India) and the panellists, Mr. Siddarth Bhagwat, CEO of Sustain and Save, Mr. Amit Saxena, VP-Tech and Innovation, Aditya Birla Renewables Ltd., and Mr. Rajneesh Sharma, VP- Sustainability, MakeMyTrip.
The event moderator skilfully guided the discussions throughout the event, ensuring a seamless flow of ideas and insights between the panellists. The focus of the panel discussion was Sustainability Imperative-Eco Evolution in the business landscape. Panellists discussed the role of AI in R.E. for improving efficiency, NDC’s commitments, LCA “Hotspot analysis” and linkage of the Circular Economy with LCA. The engaging discussion covered various aspects, including the role of AI in optimizing resource management, managing data privacy concerns, enhancing energy efficiency, managing big data, and addressing climate challenges. Panellists shared their expertise, fostering a deeper understanding of the potential impact of AI on sustainability efforts.
As the panel discussions concluded, the floor opened to an engaging question-and-answer session, allowing the audience to actively participate. Attendees seized the opportunity to pose insightful questions to the panellists, sparking dynamic conversations on the nuances around the event theme.
In concluding remarks, Dr. Ravi Sharma (Faculty of Energy and Environment) concluded the session with expressions of gratitude in his vote of thanks by acknowledging the valuable contributions of the speakers, the moderator, and all the participants in making ENECON’24 a successful and enriching event.
Key Takeaways:
“I learned how AI is driving the implementation of renewable energy in a truly sustainable way, optimizing efficiency and integration. The event also emphasized that electricity is poised to become a widely traded commodity shortly.”–Vedant Dave, MBA SM (2024-26)
“I gained insights into the strong connection between economic and environmental issues, particularly how meat production contributes significantly to GHG emissions. The discussion highlighted the broader impact of industrial practices on both the economy and the environment.”– Nambiar, MBA SM (2024-26)
“I gained insights into Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), particularly its hotspot analysis, which identifies the most impactful stages in a product’s lifecycle. This approach is essential for optimizing sustainability and resource efficiency.”– Varshil Bhatt, MBA SM (2023-25)
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