The inaugural function of Tata environment month was held on 31st May’01 in Mumbai with help of Tata Network Forum, Mumbai. The event provided an effective platform to Tata employees to listen, engage and interface with experts and Tata Senior Leaders. It was a forum as much for knowledge sharing on distributed power generation and emerging clean technologies as to reflect on adopting a sustainable lifestyle by all of us. Over 70 Tata employees based in Mumbai attended the function.
The function was inaugurated by Dr. Irani, Chairman of Steering committee on Climate Change. In his opening remark he emphasised the need of extending awareness on climate change to family and friends of Tata employees. His message was simple and clear-this was the occasion to take a call to combat the menace of global warming!
Dr. H .Sharan of D.E.S.I Power talked of meeting the Challenges of Energy, Poverty and Climate Change. His talk highlighted the strong linkages amongst the three challenges – energy, poverty and Climate change. He gave examples of what can be made to happen if we sit back and consider the problems in an integrated and holistic manner, without forgetting the people dimension. He also mentioned that in a country as diverse, poor and resource-scarce as India, mono-solutions such as centralised power systems may not be enough.
Prof Rangan Banerjee’s talk was focussed on Clean technology options in a carbon constrained world. He urged Corporate to redefine their strategy to include energy services, enhance focus on dematerialization, product design and substitution and most importantly move from the mindset of acquiring “Best Practices” to “Next Practices” (the theoretical minimum as governed by the laws of physics)
The evening ended on high note with the screening of the Movie ‘Story of Stuff’ which established the connections between a large number of environmental and social issues, and exhorted collective action to create a more sustainable and equitable world. The purpose of screening the movie was met-it got audience thinking, talking and engaging on this subject.
Note: All presentations are uploaded on Climate change micro-site of www.tataquality.com
Dr. H Sharan
Dr. JJ Irani
The Participants
Dr. Rangan Banerjee