The business of sustainable development
While the just concluded Tokyo 2020 Olympics claim of being the greenest ever games aided by the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions is yet to be validated, the Paris 2024 Games are taking further their sustainability agenda and committed to become the first ever climate positive Olympics.
Led by Azim Premji, India’s topmost philanthropists comprise Shiv Nadar, Mukesh Ambani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Anil Agarwal, Ajay Piramal, Nandan Nilekani, Hinduja brothers, Gautam Adani and Rahul Bajaj.
From top philanthropists and most generous women to popular causes and charitable cities, the EdelGive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2020 plots the corporate donation map of India.
Skill building has emerged as a major CSR activity under Companies Act, 2013 for industry to offset the adverse impact on workforce caused by COVID-19
With most of CSR funding going to PM CARES Fund, a majority of NGOs face budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rohini Nilekani’s book ‘Uncommon Ground’ seeks to find middle ground between industry and civil society leaders.
Enlarging the scope of CSR, revised National Voluntary Guidelines on Social, Environmental & Economic Responsibilities of Business (2009) cover not only social, but also environmental and economic responsibilities of businesses and emphasise on promotion of inclusive growth.
Top corporate leaders Ajay Shriram, Arun Bharat Ram, Harsh Pati Singhania, Onkar S Kanwar and YC Deveshwar are all for shouldering corporate social responsibility (CSR), but without the government bringing in legislation to make CSR spend mandatory.
Anu Aga, Sminu Jindal, Sushma Berlia and Amrita Patel, who are known for their CSR thought leadership, speak on the government and civil society face-off on the draft of the Lokpal Bill and related issues and the role business leaders need to play in the current situation.
While corporate India’s performance on sustainability indicators may be debatable, its quantitative reporting is not. Global Reporting Initiative’s chief executive Ernst Ligteringen talks about the relevance of sustainability reporting in the global marketplace.