Thawar Chand Gehlot, the governor of Karnataka, has stressed the need to sensitise people about the climate crisis. He also added that knowledge sharing, cooperation, and information exchange are important to help mitigate the challenges of climate change.
The growing concerns over carbon footprint, pollution, deforestation, and other factors leading to a climate crisis were also highlighted by Gehlot. “It is imperative that such issues are addressed urgently,” he said.
Gehlot was speaking while releasing O.P. Jindal Global University's (JGU) Sustainable Development Report (SDR) 2025 in Bengaluru. The report has showcased the university’s commitment to sustainability across research, teaching, operations, and community initiatives. JGU has strengthened its alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“To achieve the SDG goals, multi-stakeholder cooperation is essential. Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley and also a centre of science and research, is facing many challenges and stress on its resources. The government has been working assiduously to achieve SDG goals at the grassroots level through programmes like Make in India, Swachh Bharat, and others in water, health, farmer support, and state initiatives. This report is timely and important for fulfilling our responsibility towards achieving the SDGs,” remarked Gehlot.
The report launch event was followed by the Bengaluru Sustainability Conclave which was jointly organised by O.P. Jindal Global University and RV University.
The conclave featured a panel discussion on “Advancing the Sustainable Development Goals: Maximising the impact of multi-stakeholder partnerships through knowledge sharing and cooperation”. It was discussed that on the corporate front, many organizations were becoming very much environment and sustainability-conscious.
“More and more organizations are becoming conscious as far as sustainability is concerned. It is a kind of a good branding exercise if an organisation has well-defined sustainability practices in place. Sometimes even our customers insist that we have strong sustainability practices in place. At HARMAN our aim is to become carbon neutral by 2040,” remarked Smitha Chandrashekaraiah, Legal Director HARMAN International.
During the event, Justice Michael D. Wilson, former Judge of the Supreme Court of Hawaii, USA, spoke about how they are entering a climate hell and elaborated on the damage that climate change and extreme events had caused, bringing distress and destruction to his native state in the United States.
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Interestingly in the past year, JGU has made progress in research contributions, with an increase in sustainability-related research output and global recognition. The University is encouraging student-led initiatives, new sustainability-focused degree programs, and international collaborations. The university’s campus is featuring improved water conservation efforts, an e-waste management partnership, and health-focused dining reforms.
“This report captures the breadth of our efforts from environmental stewardship and social impact to academic innovation and institutional accountability. Sustainability is a guiding principle that shapes our teaching, research, campus life, community engagement, and governance. This report offers a transparent, data-driven reflection of that journey,” said Professor C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University.
A. V. S. Murthy, Chancellor, RV University while speaking at the event said that India, with its 1.4 million people, is a nation with vast potential for achieving the SDGs.
“What we need today are partnerships that are inclusive, purpose-driven and built on shared ideas as a cornerstone of sustainable development. For instance, a developmental agency might support a university's research in exchange for policy-relevant insights. Or integrate cross-sector partnerships, where multiple entities combine their unique strengths to tackle a shared challenge. These partnerships demand careful planning, mutual respect and strong governance for systemic change. Technology can also help in real-time monitoring, transparent data sharing and participating feedback groups that give voice to any stakeholder,” said Murthy.
