Bangalore, November 4: Bangalore, often referred to as the Silicon Valley of India, is not only a hub of technological innovation but also a microcosm of the challenges and opportunities we face in the pursuit of sustainable development. There is a need for visionary leadership that can steer us towards a path of responsible and equitable development, said Mr Eshwara Khandre, Minister for Forest and Environment here today.
He was speaking at the Sustainability Leadership Summit, organized by Centre for Sustainable Development. While releasing Bangalore Declaration on Acceleration of Sustainable Development Goals, he said Bangalore has seen rapid growth and transformation, but this very growth has also exposed its vulnerabilities. The issues of urbanization, traffic congestion, pollution, and access to clean water and sanitation are problems we cannot ignore. We must ensure that our actions today do not compromise the well-being of future generations. Sustainable development is a complex challenge that transcends borders and disciplines. It requires collaboration across sectors, industries, and communitiesm he added.
“The benefits of sustainable development must be accessible to all, not just a privileged few. We must prioritize inclusive growth to ensure that no one is left behind. We need to address the issues of social justice, reducing inequality, and empowering marginalized communities to participate fully in the sustainable development process through inclusive growth of every sector” he opined
We need to evaluate the progress made toward achieving the sustainable development goals both globally and within specific regions or sectors. Let us assess where we stand in relation to the 2030 targets and identify areas where improvements are needed, the Minister said.
Additional Chief Secretary to Department of Forest and Environmnet, Javed Akthar, IAS delivered the key note address. The head of CSD, former Chief Secretary Dr A. Ravindra, Dr Shalini Rajneesh, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Dr Abhinash Dash, Director, Development, Monitoring and Evaluation Office, NITI Aayog, Dr Upendra Tripathy, former Director General of International Solar Alliance, Dr S. Satapathy, former Director, Climate Change, Union Ministry of Environment, Ashish Tiwary, IFS, Government of UP, Dr Dola Bhattacharjee, Scientist, Regional office, Ministry of Environment, Dr Achalendra Reddy, Chairman, National Bio Diversity Authority, Dr Ramanjaneyulu from Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, Dr Yele Lingaraju, National Director, River rejuvenation centre, and others were present.
