The Green Consortium
We are building a cross-sectoral platform that brings together government, industry, and civil-society leaders who can create and scale innovative ideas for green economic development.
What we mean by green:
Whether it is a solar company helping small land-holding farmers, or a chief minister creating a land bank for wind companies, or a foundation investing in direct air capture technologies, we define as green any actor working to address climate and sustainability issues.
Climate concerns and economic issues need to be addressed from multiple angles for an urgent and impactful response and this platform brings in actors from across sectors to do so.
Why we need to act now:
The ongoing pandemic has brought on unprecedented job losses, particularly among the most vulnerable. Government data has shown that employment numbers remain significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels. The labour participation rate fell from 43% to 36% following the first wave of COVID-19. A quick recovery brought it back to 41% as lockdown measures were lifted, but it has since slid back to just above 40% as of November, 2021.
Most of these losses are in daily wage work, hitting marginalized communities the hardest.
As a result, the pandemic has exposed the unreliability of previous models of economic development and the fragility of our current economic systems. At the same time, it has highlighted the need to rethink how we look at creating livelihood opportunities.
As climate conditions worsen, and the likelihood of future pandemics and natural disasters increase, development actors must reevaluate previous models of growth and rebuild through a sustainable, green economic model.
How the Green Consortium can help:
By bringing together committed and forward-thinking actors including senior policy makers, civil society leaders, green companies, and media personnel, the Green Consortium will break through the silos that limit scalability and help each entity leverage their strengths to create impact. Consortium members will work together within an action-oriented platform, exchanging knowledge and parterning on the creation and adoption of scalable solutions.
We believe the most effective way of ensuring immediate adoption of climate-friendly practices is to work through an economic and jobs-focused perspective. The Green Consortium will use this lens to develop, implement, and scale programs that will create economic benefits for the most marginalized people and environmental benefits for all.
We believe the most effective way of ensuring immediate adoption of climate-friendly practices is to work through an economic and jobs-focused perspective.
The Green Consortium will use this lens to develop, implement, and scale programs that will create economic benefits for the most marginalized people and environmental benefits for all.
We are establishing this platform on three core principles:
Partnerships across sectors are key to addressing issues of climate change. Thus, the consortium will bring together governmental and non-governmental actors to work towards green development and sustainability through job creation. While we expect to bring impactful and innovative models through non-governmental partici-pation, we expect public sector players to scale these. For example, we recognize that the Indian government will push for local job creation through the MP Kusum Yojana. The Green Consortium will then actively seek out partners who can ensure the effective implementation of such a program.
Knowledge is power and through the exchange of ideas, information, experiences, and best practices, the consortium will bring forth solutions that can be adopted by various entities.
The knowledge exchange will work to address the fundamental questions, the answers to which are key to the success of a green economic development plan: “How do we create and retain jobs in the green industry?” and “What do we need to do to develop a specific, realistic, and achieveable roadmap on ways to foster green industries in marginalized communities?”
Climate concerns need scalable solutions in a timely manner so that we can protect the most vulnerable. Therefore, we will seek to bring together partners who recognize the need to move quickly and broadly and who have demonstrated the means and ability to push solutions forward. This platform will generate not only pressure but excitement and enthusiasm around the adoption of key technologies and new, innovative programs.
Designed to be a “do-committee,” the Green Consortium will look to create tangible impact fast.
What the Green Consortium will do:
Convene
We will bring together professionals from all sectors on a periodic basis to exchange notes on the most promising ideas on green initiatives and sustainability and engage on proven and emerging interventions. Specific ideas will be taken forward to scale up initiatives.
Connect
Individual connections to core ideas will also be taken forward beyond the convenings. For example, if specific state governments are looking for solutions that exist within the private sector, then those introductions and connections will also be made.
Implement
As connections and partnerships are built, we expect innovative programs to be developed or improved upon or successful existing initiatives to be taken to scale.
Showcase
Through media partners, promising initiatives will be showcased on larger platforms to increase visibility of the program, build networks, and promote engagement.
Cross-sectoral partnerships helped end energy poverty for small land-holding farmers in Jharkhand through government funding, mobilization by farmer producer organizations, and technology support from local companies.
This is the type of solution this platform will replicate and scale.
Beginning in December, 2021 the Green Consortium will hold the first of its core meetings that will present the work of leading organizations working in the sector, facilitate an open and thoughtful discussion on programs and innovations, and begin to build the connections that will be so key to the success of not only this platform but of a new model of green economic development.
Meetings will focus on pan-India issues as well as other critical areas such as the transition away from coal and other fossil fuels and ending energy poverty.
The impact of the Green Consortium will be measured in the number of partnerships developed and the number of scalable solutions that are subsequently implemented promoting green economic development and sustainability.
Contact us for updates or to get involved. We’d welcome the chance to partner with you.
