BIPF’s IDEATE 2024 Conference Calls For Community-Driven Climate Resilience

Bhubaneswar: Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF), in partnership with Dasra, conducted IDEATE 2024, the annual conference of Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF).

Themed ‘Utkal Udyam: Community-Centric Development for Climate Resilience,’ the conference urged policymakers and industry leaders across segments to address pressing challenges of climate change and explore transformative strategies that can empower grassroots communities for climate adaptation.

BPF’s Trustee and Founder CEO Shaifalika Panda emphasised the importance of inclusive collaboration in building climate-resilient communities during her welcome address.

“By working together, we can co-create solutions to amplify our impact, pool our resources, and drive systemic change. Recognising the tremendous potential within our communities and empowering them is not just an option but essential to building resilience towards climate change,” she said.

Benjamin Sovacool, Director, Boston University for Global Sustainability, highlighted the need for local knowledge integration while delivering the special address.

“Communities in Asia are leading the way in piloting new and innovative forms of nature-based, institutional, and informational climate adaptation that will help protect people for decades to come. The best of these efforts harness communities themselves as critical agents of change,” said Sovacool.

A panel discussion titled ‘Harnessing Grassroots Knowledge for Climate Resilience’ was held in which Rainmatter Foundation CEO Samir Shisodia outlined the need to build a collaborative ecosystem.

“We have lost sight of the big picture by focusing extensively on the various multidimensional aspects. Building a collaborative ecosystem is not a choice, but essential for climate action,” Shisodia stated.

Jarnail Singh, MacArthur Foundation’s Deputy Director (India) underlined the importance of localisation.

“State-based strategies play a crucial role in combating climate change, driving localized solutions that are both sustainable and impactful,” he observed.

Other panelists included Devjit Mittra, Programmes Director, Socratus Foundation; Padma Shri Sabarmatee, Co-Founder, SAMBHAV; Tanaya Patnaik, Director, Sambad Group (Eastern Media Ltd).

Parnasha Banerjee, Director, ClimateRISE, Dasra moderated the panel discussion.

A fireside chat featuring Head of Office-Odisha, UNDP India Dr Abha Mishra, Director of Mahila Housing Trust Bijal Brahmbhatt and climate champion Madhusmita Parida examined ways of creating an ecosystem with women at the core, coming together to scale up climate action.