As the world faces the climate emergency, businesses, including SMEs, and investors play a crucial role in driving the global shift towards sustainability. Key business priorities: ambitious emission reduction targets, renewable energy investments, energy-efficient technologies, emission reduction collaboration across supply chains, and climate risk disclosure. Investors should integrate climate risk, engage with companies for better climate performance, and divest from high carbon-emitters. Embracing these priorities mitigates climate risks and unlocks low-carbon economy benefits.
Independent of the above, India’s Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy, presented at COP27 in November 2022, highlights the importance of financial assistance, technology transfer, and capacity-building for India to achieve its climate goals. Developed nations must take the lead in reducing emissions and supporting developing countries with climate finance and technology arrangements.
The above sentiments resonate with all of Global South. In India’s G20 presidency, Aspire Impact and Aspire Circle have decided to focus on these twin issues of Climate Technology and Climate Finance, with special reference to role of business (especially SMEs) and investors.
In collaboration with TERI, and Knowledge Partners (Mahindra University, Protean e-Gov Technologies, m1xchange and Desai & Associates), Aspire aims to catalyse these twin climate agenda priorities amongst G20 countries’ private sector and the world, and present an innovative and actionable agenda.
Aspire-TERI aims to propose innovative climate solutions leveraging India and Global South’s experience. The focus areas are
Two Working Groups of 25 global Experts each will co-author recommendations through online meetings.
The main event, a Global Consultation on July 27, 2023, will gather feedback from global experts, Keynote Speakers, and Special Invitees. Public comments are welcome until August 4, and the final reports will be submitted to the T20 Secretariat on August 9.
4.30 – 6 PM IST; 7 – 8.30 AM ET; 12 – 1.30 PM BST
| Timings | Session | Key Speakers |
| 4.30 – 4.35 PM IST | Welcome Note and Video | Amit Bhatia, Founder & CEO – Aspire Circle & Aspire Impact
Nitin Desai, Former Chief Economic Advisor – GOI, Under Secretary General – UN Harpreet Kaur Ghai, Director, Knowledge Development – Aspire Impact |
| 4.35 – 4.50 PM IST | WG#1 Presentation:
Catalysing Climate & ESG-linked Finance for SMEs and Supply Chains |
Suresh Sethi, Managing Director & CEO – Protean eGov Technologies Ltd.
Sundeep Mohindroo, CEO – M1xchange Adriana Kocornik-Mina, Senior Manager – Global Alliance for Banking on Values |
| 4..50 – 4.55 PM IST | Reflections and Feedback | Ateesh Kumar Singh, Jt. Secy, MMSME – GoI |
| 4.55 – 5.10 PM IST | WG#2 Presentation:
Unlocking Climate Technologies for Global South |
Corey Glickman, VP – Global Head Sustainability and Design Consulting Services – Infosys
Anirban Ghosh, Head – Centre for Sustainability – Mahindra University Zarmeen Pavri, Co-Founder and Partner – SDGx |
| 5.10 – 5.15 PM IST | Reflections and Feedback | Masood Mallick, CEO – Re Sustainability
James Robey, EVP & Head, Sustainability – Capgemini |
| 5.15 – 5.20 PM IST | Special Address | Vibha Dhawan, Director General – TERI |
| 5.20 – 5.25 PM IST | Special Address | Deepali Khanna, Vice President – The Rockefeller Foundation |
| 5.25 – 5.35 PM IST | Keynote Address | Anjali Kaur, Deputy Assistant Administrator – USAID |
| 5.35 – 5.45 PM IST | Keynote Address | Amandeep Gill, Under Secretary General – UN |
| 5.45 – 5.55 PM IST | Keynote Address | Sir Nicholas Sterns, Member – The House Of Lords |
| 5.55– 6.00 PM IST | Vote of Thanks | Amit Bhatia, Founder & CEO – Aspire Circle & Aspire Impact |