Guwahati: Guwahati witnessed an important discussion on sustainable development and climate resilience on September 9 as The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), in collaboration with Gauhati University, organised the curtain raiser for the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) 2027.
Held at Gauhati University, the event focused on the theme “Converging Commitments: Collaborative Actions for a Resilient Planet”, bringing together policymakers, academics and sustainability experts to discuss the need for stronger cooperation in addressing environmental and climate challenges.
The programme was attended by Assam Finance, Environment & Forest, and Mines & Minerals Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah, Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, TERI Director General Dr. Vibha Dhawan, former Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Leena Nandan, TERI Associate Fellow Taruna Idnani, Assam Civil Service officer Sazzad Alam, and Assam Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Tewari, IAS, among others.
Addressing the gathering, Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah stressed the importance of balancing economic development with environmental sustainability as Assam works towards the vision of “Viksit Assam @ 2047.” He emphasised that tackling climate-related challenges would require coordinated efforts involving the government, industry, academic institutions and wider society.
He also highlighted the role of WSDS as a platform for bringing commitments on sustainable development into practical action. The 2027 edition of the summit is scheduled to take place in New Delhi.
Gauhati University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta underlined the importance of drawing lessons from traditional knowledge systems while developing responses to climate change. He specifically highlighted indigenous practices from Assam and Northeast India, including the Chang Ghar of the Mishing community and the Dong Bandh system associated with the Bodo community.
The discussion placed particular emphasis on the potential of such traditional and community-based practices to contribute to climate resilience and sustainable development. TERI’s official event description similarly notes that the WSDS 2027 curtain raiser seeks to connect the experiences and knowledge of communities in Assam and Meghalaya with wider global discussions on sustainable development and climate action.
The 2027 edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit will carry forward the theme of collaborative action, with the summit scheduled to bring together stakeholders to explore ways of moving from climate commitments towards implementation and measurable outcomes.
