‘ESG frameworks key for long-term socio-environmental impact’

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Mysuru Zone, organised the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) conference and expo 2025 here on Wednesday.

Themed “Driving Sustainable Transformation: Aligning Business with Sustainability”, it was held in collaboration with the CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, JSS Science and Technology University, and the Schevaran Cleanfix Academy.

The conference served as a platform to catalyse conversations around the ESG strategies and accelerate sustainability-led growth in the region.

Speaking at the inauguration, C.G. Betsurmath, executive secretary of the JSS Mahavidyapeetha, Mysuru, highlighted the critical role of ESG principles in organisational strategy, especially for initiatives aimed at environmental conservation and restoration.

He emphasised that integrating ESG frameworks is essential for building resilient institutions capable of driving long-term socio-environmental impact.

Speakers, including A.N. Santosh Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, JSS STU, and Sohanjeet Randhawa, director – Sustainability, Volvo Group India, shared valuable insights on the evolving ESG landscape and global best practices.

Nagaraja Gargeshwari, chairman of the CII Mysuru Zone, noted that sustainability has transitioned from being a compliance requirement to a core business strategy and reaffirmed India’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, while underscoring Karnataka’s leadership in sustainable industrial practices. “We are not merely discussing sustainability—we are building it, brick by brick, enterprise by enterprise,” he said.

Sam Cherian, ex-chairman of the CII Mysuru Zone, described ESG as a vital business imperative. He spoke about the nationwide shift towards mandatory ESG disclosures through the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Report and lauded the contribution of MSMEs to this evolving landscape. He also highlighted the State’s growing prominence in clean manufacturing and renewable energy sectors.

Ganapathy C.P., convenor of the HSE & Wellness Panel, CII Mysuru Zone, stressed the importance of embedding ESG deeply across sectors and shared that only 37% of Indian companies have fully integrated ESG into their operational and strategic frameworks, indicating vast scope for collective action.

The day-long conference featured four focused technical sessions: Decarbonising Industries: Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions and Resource Management; The Business Case for ESG Accounting—Growth, Risk & Compliance; ESG as a Growth Catalyst for MSMEs; and Transforming the Sustainability Journey—Beyond Net-Zero into the Value Chain.

Over 150 delegates from diverse sectors, including manufacturing, services, academia, and sustainability consultancies, took part in the conference. An expo comprising 10 stalls showcased a wide range of sustainable products, green technologies, and ESG-aligned services offered by participating organisations.