On 26th June 2006, Barry Gardiner MP, Minister for the Environment and The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) hosted an agenda-setting meeting on climate change. At the event, British Parliamentarians, business representatives and experts, interacted on the role played by the world's fastest growing economy in driving forward the low-carbon economy of the future.

The importance of this debate was emphasised by Stephen Pound MP, Chairman of Labour Friends of India, who commented "We believe that engagement with Indian business is extremely important if we are going to make progress on issues concerning the environment internationally. "

"Not only is this is a view vigorously espoused by UK government but is driven by the knowledge that as India's industrial power increases, she must also be seen to be balancing the effects of this growth with steps to mitigate the effects of economic expansion on the climate. As friends of India, we are encouraged that India is using her increasing influence on the international stage, and the opportunities afforded under the Kyoto Protocol to be at the forefront of research under the Clean Development Mechanism option."

Mr Pound continued, "Although India is not party to any specific commitments to reduce emissions, she is committed to undertaking voluntary projects and it is this commitment which we welcome. We also welcome the immense opportunity that this poses to India's business leaders, and urge them to continue embracing the challenge of helping to turn the government's long-term goals into a short-term reality."

Mr KB Shankar, Head of South Asian Banking at HSBC Bank spoke of the role that Indian business has to play in India's efforts to tackle climate change. He said "Corporates, by incorporating the environmental agenda in their decision making process, can encourage innovation and take many small steps to change human behaviour in their personnel and customers', highlighting the influence that business can have on the public's attitude to their environmental obligations."

Mr Shankar highlighted that HSBC became the first global bank to achieve carbon neutrality and two weeks ago was named as the winner of the FT Sustainable Banking Awards in recognition of its leadership in merging social, environmental and business objectives.

The CII delegation comprised:

Mr R Seshasayee
President, CII
Managing Director, Ashok Leyland Ltd. & Director - Hinduja Group India Ltd.

Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal
Vice President, CII
Co-Chair Indo-British Partnership &
Chairman and Group Managing Director Bharti Enterprises

Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S.S Mehta PVSM, AVSM and Bar, VSM
Director General

Dr Jamshed J Irani
Past President, CII & Director Tata Sons Ltd.

Mr Rajive Kaul
Past President, CII & Chairman Nicco Corporation Ltd.

Mr N Kumar
Past President, CII & Vice Chairman, The Sanmar Group

Mr Sunil Kant Munjal
Past President, CII & Chairman, Hero Corporate Service Ltd.

Mr Bobby Bedi
Managing Director, Kaleidoscope Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.

Dr Anand Burman
Vice Chairman, Dabur India Ltd

Mr Prashant Jhawar
Vice Chairman, Usha Martin Ltd

Ms Naina Lal Kidwai
Country Head & CEO, HSBC Ltd.

Mr Atul Kirloskar
Chairman and Managing Director, Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd.

Mr Anjan Lahiri
Executive Vice President, MindTree Consulting Pvt. Ltd., London

Mr Deepak Premnarayen
Chairman, ICS Infrastructure

Mr Analjit Singh
Chairman, Max (India) Ltd.

Mr Phiroz Adi Vandrevala
Executive Vice President, Tata Consultancy Services

Mr Ajay Khanna
Chief Executive Officer
India Brand Equity Foundation & Deputy Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry

Mr Mohit Sarobar
Resident Director - United Kingdom, Confederation of Indian Industry

Ms Supriya Banerji
Head - Policy Group, Confederation of Indian Industry

Ms Ratika Jain
Director, Confederation of Indian Industry