With an aim to fast-track mainstream sustainability concerns into the 
development path of the resource-rich and economically resurgent state, the Government of Karnataka in association with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), today organized a major state-level summit – Karnataka Sustainable Development Summit – (KSDS) Sustainable Infrastructure Development in Karnataka: Key Achievements and Way Forward. The summit was inaugurated by the honourable Chief Minister Sh. B S Yeddyurappa, Dr RK Pachauri, Director-General TERI, and Mr SV Ranganath, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka. Senior government functionaries and opinion leaders in Karnataka were present at the one-day summit.
The prime objective of the summit was to initiate a multi stake-holder discussion around specific sustainable development issues, the prevalent best practices, and the way forward towards outlining a sustainable development road-map for the state. The Summit dwelt on four key thematic areas of: (1) Green Buildings; (2) Power scenario; (3); Urban Transport initiatives and (4) Urban Water and Resource management issues, apart from discussing many positive examples of sustainable local and state level initiatives and social, environmental and institutional challenges in the state The deliberations at the summit are expected to considerably raise awareness on these issues among a diverse range of stakeholders, and eventually lead to incorporation of these into the development strategy of the state. TERI would also highlight some key learning’s from this summit at the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit scheduled for February 3-5, 2011.
In his inaugural address the honourable Chief Minister Sh. B S Yeddyurappa emphasising the need for inclusive development said, “The deliberations of this summit will immensely help the state in the long run. Government of Karnataka believes in strong infrastructure and development, through which we aim to achieve high growth and equality. It also recognises the need to develop the high quality infrastructure in the state. TERI, under the dynamic leadership of Dr RK Pachauri, has worked hard for India’s growth and development, and their experience and outcomes of this summit will be deeply considered by the government of Karnataka. This summit opens new avenues in infrastructure development in the state of Karnataka.”
Addressing the august gathering, Dr RK Pachauri, Director-General TERI in his address said, “Local governments and its institutions assume a larger role in nurturing local resources, developing local initiatives and mobilizing the civil society towards a desirable change. There is a need to tap these initiatives and emulate them globally.” He praised the government of Karnataka for its initiatives in sustainable infrastructure development and urged them to do more so as to set an example for the other states too.
Committing TERI’s expertise towards the development of the state, Dr Pachauri said, “TERI opened its first regional centre in Bangalore in 1990, and since then TERI is working closely with the state govt. We wish to further join hands with the state of Karnataka for promotion of energy efficient buildings, tapping renewable resources, and illuminating every rural household in Karnataka through our Lighting a Billion Lives Program.” He further added that “There should be a greater coordination between institutes of higher learning and policy makers for sustainable growth, for which TERI willing to build upon the relationship to meet future challenges in the state.”
The summit also had a DSDS build-up event for the youth on climate change, where more than 100 students from various schools participated. It is well established now that the youth will face the brunt of the negative impacts of environment degradation. They also symbolize a great force in combating it and carry immense potential to be the flag bearers of change.
The time is apt to optimally utilize their constructive and creative energies, by linking the twin objectives of creating an active global citizenry and making the planet more sustainable.
While the summit was patronized by the Government of Karnakata, Uninor, the leading mobile service provider co-sponsored the event.
The summit is a part of a series of state-level buildup events towards the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS), TERI’s flagship event, scheduled to be held in February 2011 at New Delhi, where the aim is to effectively engage state government, institutions, multi-bilateral organizations, corporate bodies and civil society: in a bid to tap prevailing local initiatives at the state and the sub-region level and discuss specific sustainable development issues, best practices and way forward. Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2011 proposes to reach out to six Indian states, namely Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand, to bring out these models of sustainability.
