Ahmedabad University announced the launch of its Global Centre for Environment and Energy, a one-of-its-kind centre of excellence at the University to foster and pursue interdisciplinary academic research, and the design of technological and social experimentation related to Environment, Energy and Natural Resources. The Global Centre will undertake scientific studies to develop or assess alternative energy sources, new technology, global climate change and its impact, energy efficiency policies and technologies, environmental economics and conservation, mitigation policies, wastewater recovery, behavioural models in energy and environment, evolution and biology related to climate change.
 
Speaking at the launch of the Global Centre for Environment and Energy, Professor Pankaj Chandra, Vice Chancellor of Ahmedabad University, said: “The Centre will have a strong policy focus that will be evidenced by deep research in sciences, technology, economics, psychology, management and other disciplines. It is an opportunity to connect with as well as influence the direction of research at the various Schools of the University”.
 
“A university is an ideal venue to undertake such studies and generate viable options for the society because it is both neutral as well as multidisciplinary. It is our endeavour to establish this institute that contributes significantly to both the debate and solutions pertaining to the environment and natural resources.”
 
“Within Ahmedabad University, we look forward to connect with as well as influence the direction of research at the various Schools. It will draw faculty from various disciplines of the University who have an interest in aspects of environment and energy. The new Centre will delineate issues of policy facing the nation and the world and address them sharply through evidence-based analysis, outcomes, and implementation. In that, the Centre will be open to working with agencies of the state, other global centres and research institutes. It is envisioned as an international institute and a centre of excellence that will build an integrated perspective on issues related to the environment, energy, and natural resources.”
 
To mark the launch of the Global Centre for Environment and Energy at Ahmedabad University, a panel discussion was organized titled No ‘Plan B’: Looking Through the Sustainability Lens. It was an opportunity for all students and faculty at the University to engage with some of the most important questions facing the planet today- How does climate change affect a student of engineering, commerce, management or technology? How does each one of us reduce our carbon footprint and lead a more sustainable life? What can we do to make a healthier natural environment for our children?
 
The panelists were a range of distinguished experts including P. R. Shukla, the chair of the Global Centre for Environment and Energy and a co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Punit Lalbhai, Executive Director, Arvind Ltd., Subhash Rajpurohit, Assistant Professor, School of Arts and Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Minal Pathak, Visiting Researcher, Imperial College and Global Centre for Environment and Energy and Bijal Brahmbhatt, Director Mahila Housing SEWA Trust.
 
About Professor P R Shukla:
Professor Shukla is Chair of the Global Centre for Environment and Energy and Distinguished Professor at Ahmedabad University. He is a lead author of several international reports which includes nine reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He has been awarded a certificate for the ‘Contribution to the Award of Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 to the IPCC’. Since October 2015 he is the Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III (Mitigation).
 
He has led a number of international research and consulting projects and is a member of several international teams working on energy and environment modelling and policy studies. He has co-authored fourteen books and numerous publications in international journals in the areas of energy, environment and development policies. He holds a PhD from Stanford University.