New Delhi: Delegates deliberated on ways of working jointly to solve the energy challenges collectively to achieve carbon emission net-zero goals for environment protection and sustainability at the G20 conference on ‘Materials for Sustainable Energy’ on 2nd March at Ranchi.

Dr S Chandrasekhar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST) and RIIG Chair, said that many G20 nations including India, have enormous minerals and materials wealth that is required to be sustainably used for meeting our energy requirements.

Highlighting the theme of the G20 under India’s Presidency - ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future,’ Dr N Kalaiselvi, Secretary, DSIR and DG, CSIR said it underlines the need for the entire world to come together and focus on sustainable energy so that we can have one global future with net zero emissions.

As G20 delegates from Indonesia and Brazil, the other two troika countries, reiterated the importance of the conference, delegates from several countries called upon the G20 nations to join hands for furthering research and developing technological solutions in sustainable energy storage, distribution and management.

Various facets of ‘Materials for Sustainable Energy’ were discussed under three sessions -- 21st century challenges related to energy materials and devices, solar energy utilisation and photovoltaic technology, and materials and processes for green energy.

A total 21 foreign delegates from 16 G20 member countries, invited guest countries and international organisations participated in the conference along with about 40 Indian experts. The Conference was coordinated by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi.

Following this, the conference on ‘Materials for Sustainable Energy’ in Ranchi, three more RIIG events will be held in Dibrugarh (Assam), Dharamshala (HP) and Diu on the themes ‘Circular-bio-economy’, ‘Eco-Innovations for Energy Transition’ and ‘Scientific Challenges and Opportunities towards Achieving a Sustainable Blue Economy’ respectively. /BI/