IIM Bangalore to host Climate Innovation Summit 2026; 'Global Green Icon' Santosh Kumar to address
Bengaluru, May 18
The Supply Chain Management Centre at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, in collaboration with Net Zero Think, is set to host the Climate Innovation Summit 2026, a two-day aimed at accelerating India's transition towards Net Zero in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The summit will bring together policymakers, scientists, climate innovators, industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and academicians to deliberate on scalable and actionable solutions for sustainable development and climate resilience.
Former Rajya Sabha MP Joginipalli Santosh Kumar, Chairman of the Igniting Minds Organisation, whose massive citizen-led environmental movement is the Green India Challenge, will be among the distinguished speakers at the Climate Innovation Summit 2026, scheduled to be held on May 28-29, at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore campus.
According to an official press note, Kumar is scheduled to address the summit on the theme, "Rethinking Climate Federalism: Rewriting Policy, Practice and Innovation for Local Action"
His session is expected to focus on "Community-led climate governance, ecological restoration models from the global south, citizen-driven afforestation movements and the Nature-based climate resilience strategies."
Kumar's participation comes at a time when his environmental leadership is receiving increasing international recognition.
Recently honoured as the "Global Green Icon" at the World Climate Leaders Conclave held at the House of Lords, British Parliament, London, he has emerged as one of India's leading voices in grassroots environmental action and large-scale afforestation.
Through the Green India Challenge, he has mobilised millions of citizens across India in tree plantation, ecological restoration, and sustainability initiatives, creating one of the most recognised citizen-led environmental movements in the country.
The summit will also feature several prominent speakers, including G. Satheesh Reddy, former Chairman of DRDO and member of the National Security Advisory Board; Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Air Force and Gaganyatri with ISRO, along with Rajeev Tripathi, Manoj Kumar Singh, Krushna Chandra Panigrahy, Vibha Dhawan, and Erik Solheim.
The summit agenda will focus on critical sectors driving India's low-carbon transition, including renewable energy, green hydrogen, sustainable infrastructure, AI-driven climate solutions, climate finance, carbon markets, forestry, and climate innovation ecosystems.
A unique highlight of the summit is the "One Participant, One Tree Initiative", under which one tree will be planted in honour of every registered delegate, reinforcing the summit's commitment to creating a lasting environmental legacy beyond discussions and policy frameworks.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Kumar stated, "Climate action can no longer remain confined to policy documents and international negotiations alone. The future depends on empowering local communities, strengthening ecological governance at the grassroots, and creating people-driven climate movements. India has the opportunity to lead the world by demonstrating how local action can create global impact."
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, I'm tired of these summits where everyone talks but nothing changes on ground. Santosh Kumar's Green India Challenge has planted crores of trees, that's real work. But we need more than tree planting - what about the air quality in Bengaluru that's getting worse every year? The summit should also focus on urban climate resilience, not just forests. Let's see if any concrete policies come out this time 🤔
As someone who studied sustainability in the US, it's heartening to see IIM Bangalore taking a lead. The lineup is impressive - former DRDO chief, an ISRO astronaut, and now Santosh Kumar with his grassroots credibility. The "Climate Federalism" theme is exactly what we need - India's states have vastly different climate challenges, from Himalayan glacial melt to coastal erosion. Let's hope the summit produces actionable frameworks, not just photo ops.
Good initiative, but I'm skeptical about the practical impact. IIMs are great at churning out consultants who write reports, but actual climate action requires massive infrastructure changes. The "One Tree Per Participant" is a token gesture unless they maintain those trees for years. Remember all the saplings that died in previous drives? Still, having someone like Santosh Kumar who's actually mobilized millions is a step in the right direction. Hope the discussions translate into real projects for Karnataka's Western Ghats 🌱
This is exactly the kind of partnership India needs - academic excellence at IIMs combined with grassroots movements like Santosh Kumar's Green India Challenge. The focus on climate finance, carbon markets, and AI-driven solutions shows they're thinking holistically. From what I've seen in the UK, such summits can actually drive VC funding into climate tech startups. Let's hope Bengaluru's Innovation ecosystem steps up alongside 🌍
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