Recently-concluded and very widely debated Paris Accord on climate change was an extremely important event for the Indian cement industry. Mahendra Singhi, Group CEO, Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Ltd, was invited to speak in various events organised at India Pavilion by the Government of India, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI). He was also invited for high level CEO meeting organised by United Nations Global Compact during COP-21. Extracts of his speech.
Year 2015 comes to an end with a remarkable Paris Accord that will shape the world in coming decades. The conclusion of United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-21) took place on December 12 where 195 countries agreed on limiting greenhouse gas emissions to a point where the global temperature rise is capped at less than 2? Celsius. COP-21 was also significant from business participation point of view in order to make private sector part of the solutions.
On December 2, 2015, speaking at Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) event on ?Enhanced Energy Efficiency: LED & Industrial Sectors? at India Pavilion, Singhi explained how Government policies in last couple of years have been changing the energy landscapes in India. He also explained the voluntary initiatives taken by proactive Indian businesses towards climate change mitigation such as Cement Sector Low Carbon Technology Roadmap 2050. He also emphasised that businesses need to provide innovative product solutions to mitigate GHGs through global partnership that allow access to low carbon technology and low cost finance from developed countries to the developing countries.
Speaking at Low Carbon Technology Partnership initiative (LCTPi) event organised by Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI), a sector project of World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), he highlighted how the product shift in India from ordinary portland cement (OPC) to blended cements (PSC, PPC) led to the avoidance of CO2 emissions. All the three panelist: Bruno Lafont, Honorary Chairman of LafargeHolcim; Song Zhiping, Chairman of China National Building Materials Group Corporation; and Mahendra Singhi supported LCTPi.
Speaking at Espace Foundation EDF on ?Water, Waste and Sanitation: Imperatives and Opportunities for Business?, organised by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) on December 9, 2015, Singhi highlighted the actions taken up by Dalmia Cement on water conservation within plant and beyond through our CSR work such as 8,500 Ha. Watershed development programme or developing 5,91,462 m3 water harvesting capacity. He also emphasised the significance of the ?Polluter to Pay Principle? in Indian sub-continent for efficient waste management.
Another event ?Role of Private Sector in Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation? organised at India Pavilion, Singhi informed that cement produced by Dalmia Bharat has 20 per cent lower carbon footprint compared to global average and eastern operations of the group produce 100 per cent blended cements which has about 40 per cent lower carbon footprint than global average.