The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2021 was released by the Governor of Uttar Pradesh Anandiben Patel and discussed by the dignitaries of Lucknow on Friday, 17th December 2021 on the occasion of the Lucknow Sustainability Conclave hosted by O.P. Jindal Global University.
The theme of the event was, “Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: Role of Universities and Civil Society in Protecting the Environment”. The launch was held today at the Raj Bhavan in Lucknow. The Governor Anandiben Patel said that she was delighted to witness the launch of a first-of-its-kind ‘Sustainability Development Report 2021’ of one of the leading higher education institutions of India, O.P. Jindal Global University and that Universities can be instrumental in the evolution of sustainable development for the future by mentoring the youth to be important ambassadors of sustainability, green innovation and social impact.
They become a platform to transform the youth into responsible and socially conscious leaders. More importantly, with the outreach universities have across various stakeholders of the society, their capacity to engage with the community and the intellectual capital they house, universities can help guide our society and serve as role models for creating an impact and change for the world around us.
Patel also highlighted the importance of committing ourselves to the vision of the Sustainable Development Goals to become socially conscious and embrace our responsibility to protect our physical and social environment, and thus the future of our planet, to make this world a better place for the generations to come. The report will prove to be a milestone for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are set by the United Nations. Thus setting a global benchmark, JGU has become one of the first universities to fully implement and implement the SDGs on its campus, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. O.P. Jindal Global University is the first to implement this year’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Speaking on the occasion, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founder Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University said, “Sustainability Development Report 2021 aims to create a green and socially conscious campus and to have a transparent and fair view of our progress. The United Nations demonstrates our commitment to our compliance with the SDGs. This comprehensive assessment was conducted on our processes, from our energy and water management systems to community engagement initiatives. While the Covid-19 pandemic presented us with challenges as well as opportunities to reach the SDGs, JGU has taken a step towards a healthier and safer environment by implementing the SDGs on its campus. By striving to implement the UN-SDG, JGU has shown the way to other educational institutions in how futuristic, social and environmental commitments are met. In the past also JGU has demonstrated its commitment to protect the environment by securing top ranking in the Swachh Campus Ranking of Higher Educational Institutions conducted by the Ministry of Education. The SDG Report 2021 on JGU is the culmination of outstanding efforts by TERI, Trust Legal and Mazars to create a new dimension for promoting sustainable development. It has the potential to change the future and help address the challenges of climate change by bringing universities to the centre of knowledge creation, research, experiential learning, innovation and wider engagement with youth. We have taken a right step towards promoting the importance of UN-SDG by progressively carrying out activities in line with the National Education Policy to meet the goals. I am also happy to share that recently we have opened a new chapter of the International Green Building Complex under the aegis of Confederation of Indian Industry.”
The UN SDGs include affordable and sustainable energy, combating climate change, eradicating hunger, education, health and gender equality. To demonstrate its commitment to the implementation of the SDGs, JGU is engaged in an independent assessment of its campus and is taking initiatives to gain a transparent and fair view of the University’s progress in compliance with the United Nations SDGs. A group of 12 evaluators from the environmental and legal sectors, including The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Trust Legal, Advocates and Consultants and Mazars Business Advisors Pvt Ltd, interviewed the University on its initiatives ranging from energy consumption to water management systems and community work, rigorous evaluation of procedures. O.P. Jindal Global University has created a sustainable model with solar power generation by contributing surplus power to the grid. The university aims to invest in renewable energy generation on campus by establishing zero-net emissions policies.