WSDS 2026: Day 2 Bulletin
Transformations through and for Nature
The plenary session, Transformations through and for Nature, in which Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, set the context, examined how nature-based solutions can be integrated into national and corporate strategies to drive climate resilience and ecosystem restoration. Moderated by Ms Teena Jha, Senior Anchor, Sansad TV, the session included distinguished speakers, including HE Ms May-Elin Stener, Ambassador of Norway to India; Ms Dechen Tsering, Regional Director, APAC, UN Environment Programme; Mr Amit Kumar Patjoshi, CEO of Palladium India; Ms Martina Otto, Head of Secretariat of the Climate & Clean Air Coalition at UNEP; Ms Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Government of Tamil Nadu (Environment, Climate Change and Forests).
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Towards a Himalayan Coalition for Sustainable Development
The flagship session ‘Towards a Himalayan Coalition for Sustainable Development’ focused on the urgent necessity of building a unified regional front to safeguard the fragile Hindu Kush Himalaya by transitioning from fragmented local efforts to a coordinated, mountain-sensitive framework that institutionalizes collective action across the region.
The plenary session was moderated by Mr Ranjit Barthakur, Balipara Foundation. Distinguished speakers included Mr Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Hon’ble Governor of Manipur; Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Director General, ICIMOD, Nepal; Mr Durwood Zaelke, Founder and President, Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD); Ms Nameeta Prasad, Joint Secretary, MoEFCC; Mr Mingma Tempa Sherpa, Commissioner cum Secretary, Planning and Development Department, Government of Sikkim; Mr Ram Kumar S, Secretary, Planning, Government of Meghalaya; Dr Dipankar Saharia, Senior Director, TERI; and Ms Sonali Ghosh, Director, Kaziranga National Park, Assam.
Greening Manufacturing and Trade
The plenary session examined how green manufacturing and sustainable trade can empower the Global South to lead equitable transitions by reshaping global value chains through innovation and circularity. The session was moderated by Ms Seema Paul, Programme Director, India, Sequoia Climate Foundation. Other panelists in the session included Mr Bob Keefe, Executive Director, E2; Mr Yoshinori Kodama, Principal Fellow, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies; Mr Michael Walker, Chief Executive Officer, STAX Engineering; Dr Sangita M Kasture, Advisor & Scientist 'G', Ministry of New and Renewable Energy; Prof. Veena Sahajwalla, Scientia Professor, University of New South Wales, Sydney; and Mr Shreyas Shende, Net Zero Industrial Policy Lab, Johns Hopkins University.
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Future Tech for People, Planet, and Prosperity
The plenary examined how emerging technologies—including AI, biotechnology, and green chemistry—can be harnessed to drive sustainable innovation and accelerate climate action. Opening the session, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Cabinet Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, remarked, “India’s ports sector is embedding sustainability at its core, targeting 60% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2040, while developing green hydrogen and ammonia hubs to position ports as anchors of the clean energy transition.”
The session was moderated by Mr R R Rashmi, Distinguished Fellow, TERI, with the global leadership address being delivered by Ms Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director, UN-Habitat (United Nations Human Settlements Programme). Keynote addresses were delivered by Mr Amitabh Kant, ex-Sherpa, G20 India and Former CEO, NITI Aayog; and Mr Ashish Khanna, Director General, International Solar Alliance.
Other panelists included Dr Charles Ogilvie, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Ocean Energy Pathway; Mr Shankar Iyer, Director – Transportation, Smart Cities and Sustainable Infrastructure, Johnson Controls India; Mr Shankar Iyer, Director – Transportation, Smart Cities and Sustainable Infrastructure, Johnson Controls India; Mr Naveen Ahlawat, President & Head – Sustainability & Decarbonisation, Jindal Steel Limited; Mr Vinit Adarkar, Vice-President and Head - Interior and Exterior Modules, Design (Styling), CAE & Thermal Comfort, Mercedes Benz Research and Development India Pvt. Limited; Mr Sudhir Pathak, Chief Science and Technology Officer, Hero Future Energies; and Prof. Deo Prasad, Distinguished Professor (Scientia), University of New South Wales, Sydney.
Multilateralism as a Force for Hope and Impact
Bringing together ministers, policymakers, and climate leaders, the session focused on revitalizing global cooperation to address the urgent challenges facing both people and the planet. Moderated by Ambassador Manjeev Singh Puri, Distinguished Fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), the session commenced with opening remarks by HE Mr Madhav Prasad Chaulagain, Minister, Ministry of Forests and Environment, Nepal. Other speakers during the session included HE Dr Dammika Patabendi, Minister, Ministry of environment, Sri Lanka; HE Dr Muaviyath Mohamed, Minister of State, Ministry of Tourism and Environment, Maldives; Mr Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary, German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection; HE Mr Mattias Frumerie, Climate Ambassador & Head of Delegation to UNFCCC, Swedish Ministry of Climate and Enterprise; Ms Patricia Fuller, President and Chief Executive Officer, International Institute for Sustainable Development; Prof. Frank Biermann, Professor of Global Sustainability Governance, Utrecht University; Mr Ovais Sarmad, Vice Chair, Green House Gas Protocol Steering Committee; and Dr Tom Rivett-Carnac OBE, Co-Founder and President, Global Optimism.
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Dinner of Hope and Launch of LaBL 2.0
The Dinner of Hope & Launch of LaBL 2.0 at WSDS 2026 brought together policymakers, ministers, international leaders, industry partners, and grassroots beneficiaries to formally unveil the next phase of TERI’s Lighting a Billion Lives programme. The evening featured addresses by TERI and MNRE leadership, followed by the official launch of the TERI–MNRE joint policy paper and the introduction of LaBL 2.0’s mission, vision, logo, website, and vision film. A high-level ministerial segment and international dignitary engagement highlighted strong political and global support for decentralized clean energy. Key initiatives and strategic partnerships were announced, alongside recognition of LaBL beneficiaries and partners. The event concluded with future support pledges through a symbolic “Press the Light for LaBL” moment, reinforcing collective commitment to inclusive, sustainable energy transitions.
The evening witnessed addresses from Mr Jeevan Kumar Jhetani, Scientist D, MNRE; Dr Amit Kumar Thakur Associate Director, TERI; Mr Nitin Desai, Chairman, TERI; Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI; Dr Dipankar Saharia, Senior Director, TERI; Lakshmikanth Bajpai, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha; Om Prakash Sinha, Member of Parliament.
WSDS 2026 Partners
