India’s First Youth-Centric Eco-Summit by Bajaj Foundation Sets Agenda for Sustainable Action–Throws Spotlight on e-Waste Management

India’s First Youth-Centric Eco-Summit by Bajaj Foundation Sets Agenda for Sustainable Action–Throws Spotlight on e-Waste Management

Reporter Madhu Khatri

New Delhi, January 18, 2024 –The Bajaj Foundation marked a significant milestone today with the successful inauguration of the first Youth Eco Summit at the Siri Fort Auditorium. The summit, held under the theme of building awareness towards sustainable e-waste management,” garnered support from renowned entities such as the United Nations, Ministry of Electronics and IT, TERI, TECNO Mobiles, and the Kiran Nadar Museum of Arts. The summit served as a dynamic platform for uniting over 200 Delhi-NCR schools, youth leaders, environmental experts, and policymakers against the escalating challenge of e-waste.

The key highlight of the summit was the presence of actor and humanitarian Sonu Sood, who also participated in a panel discussion, “One World, One Family: Community, Industry, Government,”, along with Mr. Arijit Talapatra, CEO of TECNO Mobiles. The panel discussion hosted by Mr. Pankaj Bajaj, Founder of the Bajaj Foundation, emphasized the importance of spreading conscious education and awareness for responsible e-waste management, besides accentuating the collaborative effort needed to achieve this.

Another panel discussion on “Decoding E-Waste and Its Environmental Impact” moderated by Youth Environmentalist Mr. Abhiir Bhalla, featured key stakeholders such as Mr. Aashish Saurakhia, Director of Public Policy, India Cellular & Electronics Association, Dr. Suneel Pandey, Director of TERI, and Dr. Harveen Kaur, Government Advisory, and Mr. Nitin Pramod, Indian Foreign Service Officer, GOI. The discussion highlighted the significance of robust regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) in tackling the e-waste challenge. By incentivizing manufacturers to take accountability for the entire lifecycle of electronic products, EPR creates a closed-loop system that minimizes environmental impact. Similarly, ROHS restricts the use of harmful materials in electronics, thus, contributing to easier recycling.

Furthermore, a Young Voices Panel Discussion, featuring students from 11 schools in Delhi-NCR, added an insightful perspective to the summit. These Young changemakers of tomorrow presented solutions for e-waste management, thereby enhancing the overall perspective of the event.

Addressing the global e-waste problem, Mr Pankaj Bajaj, Founder, Bajaj Foundation, emphasised the importance of students in addressing the escalating problem. He stated, “Bajaj Foundation has always been working towards humanitarian issues for many years, and now we are focusing on environmental aspects to protect the environment and create a better world. Students are the eco-warriors the world is waiting for to build a better tomorrow. Their innovative ideas and commitment are crucial for mitigating the global e-waste crisis and shaping a more sustainable future.”

Discussing the prospects of the Youth Eco Summit, he remarked, “We are enthusiastic about building a brighter and more harmonious world, with an increasing number of youth participants participating each year to grow the summit. The remarkable response we have received this year is commendable, and we aspire to elevate it to a national level in the coming years.”

Speaking about the severity of the global e-waste problem, Mr. Darrin Farrant, Director of the United Nations Information Centre, said that e-waste is a growing problem all around the globe and it is only getting worse. Piles of discarded computers, phones, televisions, and other technology are creating mountains of toxic waste. The UN is bringing countries, producers, and consumers together to try to beat back the tide of waste worldwide and make our use of electronics more sustainable.

Likewise, Mr. Arijit Talapatra, CEO of TECNO Mobiles stressed the collective responsibility of managing e-waste. He said, ” At the heart of TECNO’s mission is the steady commitment to ‘Stop at Nothing,’ dedicated to delivering best-in-class technology while catering to the diverse needs of our customers while being mindful of our responsibility towards the planet. We are proud to contribute to the Youth Eco Summit and our long-standing meaningful association with the Bajaj Foundation. Together, we recognize the vital importance of supporting sustainability. We are glad to be able to connect with the young students and recognize that reaching out to the youth is a necessity, as they represent the future. We believe in constant evolution and education, and that all small steps matter. This special intervention represents a pivotal step in our mission to make a positive impact on people’s lives and the environment.”

India, as the world’s third-largest producer of e-waste, faces a critical challenge with electronic waste surging from 700,000 tonnes in FY18 to 1.6 million tonnes in FY22. The first Youth Eco Summit served as a powerful platform for empowering young minds with knowledge to actively contribute to sustainable e-waste management, ecological restoration, and environmental impact.