- The Expert Group is a joint Indo-German initiative aimed at spurring dialogue among environmental experts, economists and policy makers on achieving sustainable development
New Delhi, Oct 2015: Can India successfully make environmental goals an intrinsic part of its developmental agenda as it strives to lift millions of its people out of poverty? How can we de-couple economic growth from excessive resource consumption to achieve sustainable development?
These questions will be at the centre of discussion at a two-day conference of Indian and German experts in New Delhi this week. The conference on “Green and Inclusive Economy – a contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” will be held at Taj Mahal Hotel on October 28th– 29th, as part of an Indo-German Think Tank Dialogue which will be carried out on behalf of the Indo-German Expert Group on Green and Inclusive Economy (IGEG).
The Indo-German Expert Group is an interdisciplinary working group of renowned experts from leading research institutions/political think tanks in India and Germany. It was set up in 2013 to enhance collaborative learning, contribute to informed decision-making in both countries and feed into the international debate on a green and inclusive economy. The group is supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) and facilitated by the Environmental Policy Programme of the
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Berlin and the Indo-German Environment Partnership in Delhi.
“The definition of development has been a matter of debate for decades. However, in recent years there is growing consensus that development needs to be all inclusive, in that it shouldn’t leave out marginalized communities from its ambit. At the same time it should also make sure that we do not deplete our resources excessively and do not leave a decrepit planet for our next generation. The growing concern over climate change has given a renewed impetus to the idea of sustainable and inclusive development. This debate is nowhere more pertinent than in India which is working overtime to eradicate poverty and achieve development for all. This conference aims to offer new ideas and solutions for the world which is reeling under the effects of reckless economic growth,” says the Indo-German Expert Group.
The conference provides a forum to discuss the ideas developed within the Indo-German Expert Group on Green and Inclusive Economy over the past years with Indian policy-makers and representatives of the private sector as well as civil society. The conference results are intended to provide conceptual contributions to the debate on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It consists of a series of panel discussions featuring experts from India and Germany on key issues related to a Green and Inclusive Economy, focusing on the following topics in particular:
- Pathways towards a Green and Inclusive Transformation
- Decoupling Economic Growth from Resource Consumption / Resource Efficiency
- Sustainable Lifestyles
- Inclusive Sustainable Cities
The conference will provide an opportunity to exchange and discuss ideas, challenges and possibilities on how to implement strategies on Green and Inclusive Economy. With this conference, a first cycle of the Indo-German Expert Group on Green and Inclusive Economy is coming to an end.
Technological innovation to produce green technologies that are financially viable and effective as well as sensitive policy making are the way forward if we want to achieve sustainable development for all. Our planet doesn’t just need to grow financially, it also needs to conserve its ecology and include a large number of marginalized communities in the growth story. The Indo German Expert Group aims to advocate efforts and policies that synchronize growth with inclusive development.
Among the speakers at the two-day conference are Mr. Ashok Khosla (Development Alternatives), Mr. Ajay Mathur (Bureau of Energy Efficiency) and Mr. Jagan Shah (National Institute of Urban Affairs).