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The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) has won the ‘Greenest University and Research Institution’ award in a competitive assessment, edging out other prestigious global institutions like Copenhagen University, Denmark, University of Plymouth, UK, Deakin University, Australia, and Unity College, Maine, USA, among others. The award is one amongst ten inaugural Climate Change Awards organized by Responding to Climate Change (RTCC) – a news and analysis website. RTCC is the accredited observer to the UN Framework Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) and is the TV host for the UN at its climate, biodiversity and desertification talks. For this first set of awards, the winners, selected across ten categories, including, Green Business, Climate NGO of the Year and other sustainable solutions, serve to highlight individual businesses and sector leaders who are driving the green economy forward. The awards will be presented in Warsaw, Poland while climate change negotiations are taking place at Conference of the Parties (COP) 19.
Underscoring TERI’s commitment to green thinking, Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director General, TERI, Chancellor, TERI University and presently Chairperson, IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) said, “TERI is dedicated to pursuing in our own humble way Gandhiji’s adage of “Be the change you want to see in the world”. As an institute, with an exclusive focus on efficient use of resources and “greening” of economic activities, TERI as well as the university it has promoted, the TERI University, are deeply committed to constructing buildings and processes in which the two organisations function, which are green in every respect. Working in such premises influences value systems and behaviour of all the employees and students using these buildings in the right direction.”
TERI University has demonstrated its dedication to green thinking and construction. It was featured as one of ‘Delhi’s green buildings’ this year, with its Vasant Kunj campus reported as saving 60% energy and reducing consumption of water by 25%. The campus is aesthetically designed with several features of passive solar design, energy-efficiency and water and waste management systems. It has imbibed its eco-friendly values in core academic routines as well. It has been announced that the university’s joint research and development programme will have the participation of 95 government and private entities in the next five years, and will focus on building energy efficiency, solar and biofuels. Apart from doctoral research, TERI University runs masters programmes in Environmental Studies and Resource Management; Environmental and Resource Economics; Geoinformatics; Climate Science and Policy; Renewable Energy Engineering and Management; Urban Development and Management; Public Policy and Sustainable Development; Sustainable Development Practice; and Plant Biotechnology. The University also offers MBA programmes in Infrastructure, and Business Sustainability.
Acknowledging the award and confirming TERI University’s focus, Dr Leena Srivastava, Vice Chancellor, TERI University and Executive Director, TERI said, “The TERI University is honoured and privileged to receive this recognition! Apart from continuously striving to make our campus greener, our entire curriculum is based on sustainability studies and our students are imbibing sustainability solutions on a daily basis. We seek to partner wider with a range of actors to help preserve planet earth for the future generations.”
Besides the Green University of 2013 award, nine other categories across which the Climate Change Awards have been announced, include: Climate NGO of the year, Electric Vehicle innovator, Marine energy solutions provider, Sustainable Waste Management firm, Green business of 2013, Green city of 2013, Sustainable Technology firm, Wind energy solutions provider, Solar energy solutions provider and Climate Woman of 2013.
Other institutions that were nominated under the Green University of 2013 award included: Unity College, Maine, USA, Copenhagen University, Denmark, University of Zambia and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, University of Plymouth, UK, Deakin University, Australia, Lappeenranta University (LUT), Finland, Heriot-Watt University, Loughborough University, the University of Sheffield and University College London.
