Delhi, 28 November 2012: In the follow up to COP11 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) hosted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), Government of India, in October 2012, WBCSD ran a train-the-trainer session on the links between business and biodiversity in Delhi, India, on 21-23 November.
With funding support from the British High Commission New Delhi, WBCSD customized the global Business Ecosystems Training(BET) materials with India-specific case studies and policy examples. This tailored training material, with accompanying facilitator notes, will soon be available for free download, for any company or trainer to use with industry in India.
The 14 trainers, from organizations including CII, IUCN, LEAD India, TERI and TERI BCSD, as well as from group companies in India, spent two days learning how to deliver the BET. They received training on business-ecosystems trends, tools and case studies, as well as innovative training techniques. On the third day, representatives from companies in India joined the trainers to be taken through BET Module 1, about Understanding the links between ecosystem services and business.
Mr Mangesh Gupte, Head CSR, ACC Ltd, who joined on the third day said: "Recognizing the dependence of business and human life on ecosystems, is not merely the task of company top management. The BET train-the-trainer program has added to capabilities in India, to train managers at all levels within companies. I am sure this will create a critical mass of Business Ecosystem-literate managers, and the top management of companies will have a stronger confidence in implementing ecosystems-related sustainability actions, relying upon the strength of this critical mass of managers across companies."
Ms Rachel Brass, First Secretary Energy and Climate Change, British High Commission-DFID India, states: "For businesses in the UK and India alike, taking into account the natural environment is crucial to sustainable business planning. If you get it right, it's win-win: profit margins rise, ecosystems benefit and business practices become sustainable. The UK government wants to make sure this is fully understood, which is why we are pleased to have supported WBCSD's important train-the-trainer programme in India."
Following the BET train-the-trainer sessions, from early 2013 onwards, BET will be available to all companies in India wishing to better understand their ecosystems impacts and dependencies. Any company wishing to receive the list of qualified trainers or know more Business Ecosystems Training in India should contact Caroline Twigg or Violaine Berger.
