UNESCO and global experts highlight the role of education, innovation, and community resilience at the International Conference on Sustainable and Resilient Futures.
Education and sustainability took center stage at the International Conference on Sustainable and Resilient Futures (ICSRSF), hosted by Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, which marked Asia’s first fully carbon-neutral international sustainability conference.
Speaking at the inaugural session, Dr. Tim Curtis, Director of the UNESCO Delhi Office and Representative for India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, emphasized the transformative role of education. “Education is not only a fundamental right of every human being but also the power to build a better future,” he said.
The four-day event was jointly organized by the Amrita School for Sustainable Futures, the UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation and Development, and the International Network for Sustainable Innovation and Resilient Futures. It brought together nearly 1,000 participants from over 20 countries, featuring more than 80 expert lectures, hackathons, symposiums, workshops, and paper presentations.
The conference’s inaugural session was graced by senior leaders from government, academia, and civil society, including Uma Mahadevan Dasgupta IAS, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner of Karnataka; K. V. Shaji, Chairman of NABARD; and Swami Poornamritananda Puri, General Secretary of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, who delivered the benedictory address. Academic leadership from Amrita University, including Dr. P. Ajith Kumar (Registrar), Dr. Maneesha V. Ramesh (Provost), Dr. Bipin G. Nair (Dean, School of Biotechnology), and Dr. M. Ravishankar (Principal, School for Sustainable Futures), also participated.
Highlighting UNESCO’s global initiatives, Dr. Curtis spoke about the Partnership for Greening Education, which brings together over 1,300 NGOs, private sector actors, and educational institutions to embed green curricula and teaching practices. He also referenced UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme, underscoring the balance between human development and environmental preservation.
As part of ICSRSF, three digital platforms were launched, including SREE (Sustainability and Resilience by Community Engagement and Empowerment), a geo-enabled system designed to strengthen community resilience against climate-related risks. This initiative aligns with global adaptation priorities, especially as the UN reported that climate-related disasters displaced over 32 million people worldwide in 2022 alone.
By adopting a carbon-neutral approach, ICSRSF has set a benchmark for sustainable event practices in Asia. The initiative resonates with growing global discussions on reducing the environmental footprint of large gatherings, particularly in the context of COP28 in Dubai and the upcoming COP30 in Brazil.
With its forward-looking agenda and climate-conscious execution, the conference demonstrated how academic institutions can play a pivotal role in shaping a more sustainable and resilient future.