Event brought together policymakers, startups, corporates, academia, and civic bodies to foster actionable sustainability solutions
With 40 motions debated over 16 hours, the forum provided a dynamic platform for real-world problem-solving on UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs)
T-Hub, India’s leading innovation hub, successfully hosted the Sustainability Dialogue, the nation’s largest British Parliamentary debate dedicated to addressing critical sustainability challenges. The event brought together key stakeholders, including policymakers, startups, corporates, academia, and civic bodies, to engage in thought-provoking discussions and drive real-world solutions that align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
With 40 motions debated over an intensive 16-hour span, the forum provided a dynamic intellectual battleground where participants analyzed real-world sustainability challenges and proposed impactful solutions. The debates were structured around problem statements sourced from civic bodies, police authorities, and corporate stakeholders, ensuring that discussions were not just theoretical but rooted in practical, implementable strategies.
The concept of Sustainability Dialogue was pioneered by Santoshi Reddy Velagala, VP Finance, Legal & Compliance at T-Hub, ideated by Kamlesh Mohanty, President of Sustainability Dialogue as an initiative under the Legal Department of T-Hub. This initiative has emerged as a leading platform for sustainability-driven discourse and innovation. The event’s impact is set to extend beyond Hyderabad, with plans to replicate the format across multiple cities and globally.
India ranks 109th out of 166 countries on the 2024 SDG Index, with climate action (Goal 13), gender equality (Goal 5), and quality education (Goal 4) lagging significantly. While the country mandates 2% of corporate profits to be allocated to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), less than 25% of these funds are directed toward high-impact SDG initiatives. In 2022 alone, over ₹25,000 crores were spent on CSR, yet only a fraction contributed to scalable, transformative sustainability projects.The Sustainability Dialogue is a landmark initiative to bridge this gap by cultivating thought leadership, engaging stakeholders, and catalyzing real-world impact through multi-sector collaboration. The insights and solutions from this forum will be presented to government bodies, corporations, and leading institutions for implementation at scale.
The event saw participation from distinguished advisors, policymakers, leading startup founders, university representatives, and students from top institutions across India. The adjudication panel included renowned experts from government, academia, and corporate sectors, ensuring that the winning solutions had the potential for tangible impact.
Key debate motions included:
· This House Would require corporates to share critical patents with Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
· This House Believes That subsidies for electric vehicles should be replaced with investments in public transport infrastructure.
· This House Would impose social credit penalties for habitual honkers in India, similar to China’s traffic violation points system.
Reflecting on the event’s significance, Archana Suresh, Director, Telangana Social Impact Group (T-SIG), Dept of Industries, Government of Telangana, remarked, “ There is an urgent need to get stakeholders from different eco-systems together to talk on SDGs / Sustainable Development Goals, that resonate with them. That includes Corporate India, civil society organizations and the State Government. It was also heartening to see 150 youth from across the country participate in a British Parliamentary debate on 8 SDGs.”
Santoshi Reddy Velagala, VP – Finance, Legal & Compliance at T-Hub said- “The Sustainability Dialogue is more than just a debate; it is a platform for actionable change. By bringing together policymakers, corporates, startups, and academia, we are fostering a culture of innovation and accountability in sustainability. The discussions held today have the potential to translate into real-world impact, and T-Hub remains committed to driving collaborative efforts that address the most pressing sustainability challenges of our time.”
Kamlesh Mohanty, President, Sustainability Dialogue at T-Hub said- “Sustainability Dialogue was not just a debate—it was a catalyst for change. By bringing together the brightest minds from academia, startups, corporates, and policymakers, we have ignited action-driven conversations that will shape India's sustainability future. This is where rhetoric meets reality, and ideas turn into impact. The discussions will influence boardrooms, policy discussions, and real-world decisions that shape India’s sustainability future. The ecosystem shall stay tuned for more editions.”
Maheep Singh Thapar, Urban Planning Expert – MD, ADAPT Consultants said, “The Sustainability Dialogue conducted by T-Hub witnessed highly energetic participants from various schools and colleges, passionately debating and competing on critical issues related to sustainable development. Discussions covered current and future growth strategies from socio-economic, cultural, and environmental perspectives, addressing real-world challenges and captivating the jury, adjudicators, and audience throughout. This format and event structure promise to strengthen the intellectual capacity of youth and citizens, benefiting society and governance as a whole. A truly successful event.”
Jahnavi Vantaram, Vice President, Sustainability Dialogue at T-Hub added, The Sustainability Dialogue is will leave a lasting footprint in premier universities and multiple partnerships with corporates approaching sustainability as a social responsibility. By addressing the most pressing problem statements in each SDG, we are committed to identifying actionable solutions and building strategic plans that can be implemented today. Our goal is to engage with top talent, scout the most innovative ideas, enable a platform where the idea generator and idea implementer are working collectively to transform them into impactful projects that drive sustainable change.”
The event celebrated exceptional talent and critical thinking, with the following winners and adjudicators receiving top honors:
· Winning Team: Jigyasa Sharma and Abinaya Kumar from NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
· Adjudicators: Experts likeAaron Mirza, Rajarshi Paul, Srijit Talukdar, Ekant Hiranandani, Anirban Ghosh, Raj Chilakapati, Maheep Singh Thapar from across India to support with the adjudication of all debates.
The innovative solutions that emerged from Sustainability Dialogue will be presented to corporate leaders, government officials, and impact-driven organizations to ensure implementation. Additionally, a dedicated advisory board will oversee the validation and execution of high-potential proposals, ensuring their real-world impact.
Supported By Industry Leaders
The event’s success was made possible through the support of key sponsors, including:
· Global Tree (Academia Sponsor)
· Brews and Blends (F&B Sponsor)
· Switcheko (Kit Sponsor)
