TERI school organizes first ICBESD

The Department of Business and Sustainability at the TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI-SAS) recently organised the International Conference on Business, Economics and Sustainable Development (ICBESD).

The conference was inaugurated by Pinaki Misra, President, National Green Tribunal Bar Association and Member of Parliament; Professor Sunita Singh Sengupta, the Head and Dean, Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi University; Subhash Chandra Vashist, Director, Swayam; Dr. Rajiv Seth, Pro - Vice Chancellor, TERI SAS, Professor Prakash, Professor TERI SAS and Professor Manipadma Datta, Professor TERI SAS.

They discussed the need, challenges, and roadmap to approach long-term viability of business without compromising on profitability, competitiveness, and sustainable development.

Introducing the conference to the audience, Dr. Rajiv Seth, Pro-Vice Chancellor of TERI-SAS informed that an overwhelming 160 papers have been received from across the globe, including Spain, Mexico, Poland, Bangladesh, Nepal, the USA and Canada, which were totally in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) suggested by the United Nations.

"Sustainable development for businesses requires radical and systemic shifts and innovations that provide firms with a holistic framework to envision and implement sustainable practices which create ecological, economic, and social value. I am happy that deliberations at the conference will enable businesses with new management tools for business transition management providing insights for understanding and advancing sustainable development," said Dr. Rajiv Seth, Pro-Vice Chancellor TERI SAS.

Pinaki Misra said, "We are lacking right intent and effort to change the lot of the posterity." He was largely critical about the short-sightedness of the system and the gradual marginalisation of the National Green Tribunal in India.

He added, "At the National Green Tribunal, our efforts have always been to foster 'sustainability change'. With an unprecedented new horizon opening up for the future of India, this conference is a timely congregation of experts, researchers, academicians, and corporate world executives for in-depth discussions to identify new sources of opportunities, advancement of new knowledge on sustainable business practices as well as on required institutional changes by exploring strategies that are enabling, enhances environment-friendly growth which ultimately meets the rising challenges that businesses are facing in India today."

Sunita Singh Sengupta emphasized the need for internal introspection to initiate the process of a sustainable eco-system.

Manipadma Dutta, Conference Chair and Professor at TERI SAS, said, "We strongly believe that ICBESD 2018 will provide the researcher fraternity to come together and share ideas to further the cause of sustainable development. Our only objective is to provide a platform for those committed to the cause of sustainable development, both from academia and industry, to achieve the goal of making our planet more habitable for the posterity."

He drew attention to the point of value sharing and fair distribution of value created.

ICBESD 2018 will discuss around 160 research papers in two days.