Goemkapronn desk
Panaji: The president of the Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI), Shrinivas Dempo, and the Director General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Dr Vibha Dhawan, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at conducting baseline assessments and providing consultancy services on environmentally sustainable practices for industries. Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General of TERI, spoke at the golden jubilee celebration and emphasized the global interconnectedness revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic and its implications for climate change. She stressed the importance of fighting climate change and observing sustainable practices. Additionally, she highlighted the rapid changes in Goa’s landscape and the vulnerability of coastal communities to climate impacts.
Addressing the need for sustainable development, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant expressed support for collective treatment facilities, stating, “No waste is waste unless it is wasted.” He also mentioned the government’s readiness to support collaborative treatment facilities for industries.
The signing of the MoU took place at The Energy and Resources Institute’s golden jubilee celebration, which brought together key individuals from government, industry, and environmental sectors to discuss Goa’s journey towards sustainability. Environment Minister Aleixo Sequeira outlined the state’s plans, including the upcoming release of the Goa State Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2033, and the public domain availability of the Goa State Action Plan for Climate Change 2033.
Former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu raised concerns about Goa’s ecological balance, particularly in the Western Ghats, and proposed conducting a comprehensive carrying capacity study to harmonize economic development with ecological preservation.
GCCI President Shrinivas Dempo highlighted the slow pace of the industry’s efforts to achieve net-zero emissions and emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration with institutions like TERI to accelerate progress towards the Prime Minister’s vision of achieving net-zero emissions by 2047.
