Dr Ajay Mathur made a pitch for Green Energy Transition in his keynote address at the 12th Subir Raha Memorial Lecture jointly organized by UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) and ONGC at ONGC Corporate office, New Delhi on 19th July 2024. The theme of the keynote address was “Affordable Green Energy: Navigating Capital and Infrastructural Challenges for Round the Clock Renewables”.
In his address, Dr Mathur delved into the pivotal role the corporates can play to achieve Sustainable Development Goals identified by the United Nations. He opined that corporations can help in sustainable development in many ways. “We are now looking at a future where cost-effective, round the clock electricity is finally available, but we need this change to occur at a gigawatt level”, he said.
“We moved into renewables because we believed they were the solution to the energy problems of especially the poor of India.”, he further explained. Dr Mathur also had an engaging question and answer session with the audience members.
In his welcome address, Mr Arun Kumar Singh, President, UN GCNI and Chairman ONGC said that “there is not a single day here when Mr Raha is not spoken about. If you remember someone, it means they have made a difference. We are thankful to Mr Raha for all the contributions he has brought to ONGC”.
Over 400 people from diverse institutions/sectors like Corporate, Civil Society Organizations, UN Agencies and Business Schools including students from various Universities and Institutions attended the program.
During the opening remarks, Shuva Raha shared that the Subir Raha Memorial Lecture series has been instituted to honour the memory and contributions of Late Shri Subir Raha. She further added “Sustainability relates to everything that stands the test of time and has the political and public will to be maintained as a national priority”.
Delivering the Vote of Thanks, Mr Ratnesh, Executive Director, UN GCNI later thanked all the guests and participants and assured that the journey started by Mr Raha will continue to achieve the goals for what UN GCNI was formed.
Notes to the Editors
UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) as the Indian arm of United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), New York has been active in India since 2000 and since its inception it has been providing a vibrant platform to Indian companies, subsidiaries of MNCs, SMEs, Institutions, media houses, governments, corporate foundations, industry chambers and civil society organizations to institutionalize Ten Universal Principles covering Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption among various stakeholders. Besides this, UN-GCNI is also complementing 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals and working hand in hand with Governments.
On Friday, 18th July 2024, UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI), held its 11th Annual ‘Subir Raha Memorial Lecture’ to honor the memory of a great corporate visionary leader Late Sh. Subir Raha, Founder President of UN-GCNI & Former CMD, ONGC. The program was held at Deendayal Urja Bhawan (ONGC-Green Building), Vasant Kunj, New Delhi.
Dr. Ajay Mathur is the Director General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). Prior to joining ISA, Dr. Mathur was Director General of the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and a member of the Prime Minister of India’s Council on Climate Change. He was co-chair of the global Energy Transitions Commission and the Clean Cooling Initiatives of the One Planet Summit. He earlier headed the Indian Bureau of Energy Efficiency and was responsible for its foundational programmes, which mainstreamed energy efficiency through initiatives such as the Star Labeling program for appliances, the Energy Conservation Building Code, and the Perform, Achieve & Trade program for energy-intensive industries. He was a leading climate change negotiator and was the Indian spokesperson at the Paris climate negotiations. He served as the interim Director of the Green Climate Fund during its foundational period.Dr Mathur was a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. He was appointed a Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Merite by the President of France in recognition of his outstanding commitment to preserving the environment and coping with energy- related challenges.
Dr Mathur received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the (then) University of Roorkee and a Master’s and PhD degrees from the University of Illinois. He has also received the Distinguished Alumnus Awards from both his alma maters.
