Comments on: Meeting the sustainability challenge? http://www.vineetnayar.com/meeting-the-sustainability-challenge%e2%80%a6/ In search of New Leaders Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:14:49 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Varun Anand http://www.vineetnayar.com/meeting-the-sustainability-challenge%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1182 Varun Anand Tue, 27 May 2008 19:30:02 +0000 http://vineet.hclblogs.com/?p=52#comment-1182 That was a real quality interview. The debate around the green issue has been pondering for quite some time. I think this was a rock solid response from an industry heavyweight like HCL , as to how it understands its responsibility and is contributing its part effectively. That was a real quality interview. The debate around the green issue has been pondering for quite some time. I think this was a rock solid response from an industry heavyweight like HCL , as to how it understands its responsibility and is contributing its part effectively.

]]> By: Venkatesh Sridhar http://www.vineetnayar.com/meeting-the-sustainability-challenge%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-1180 Venkatesh Sridhar Mon, 19 May 2008 07:01:06 +0000 http://vineet.hclblogs.com/?p=52#comment-1180 Hi Vineet, I believe that there has been a lot of talk about CSR and so on, but I am amazed that no one talks about ISR - Individual Social Responsibility. I believe that as an Individual I contribute more to Carbon Emissions than say a company. But, all this brouhaha about CSR and the subsequent hype makes me think of a classic oxymoron. Because, the IT companies are not the major contributors to this but they are companies like Oil Refineries, Automobile manufacturers, Chemicals and other such factories. And yet you see no one asking them to do anything. Like you pointed out, it has all been talk and no walk. You spoke about Automobile companies creating better and more fuel efficient cars but that again is dependent on an individual's choice as a consumer to have a highly luxurious/powerful car. Especially in countries like India where the speed limit of a vehicle is actually the limit to which you can push your vehicle and considering the crappy roads, how many people would like to go for a greener car - considering the capital cost. I believe a more saner and more penetrative strategy would be for Government to <strong>incentivize production of such cars and more importantly incentivize the purchase of such cars. </strong>My question to you is thus this - Do you think it is easier for everyone to just blame 'bad old' businesses rather than look inwards? Looking forward to hearing from you on the same. (I know that's a fat chance but still no harm in waiting for a reply) Regards, Venkatesh Sridhar http://www.venkateshsridhar.com Hi Vineet,
I believe that there has been a lot of talk about CSR and so on, but I am amazed that no one talks about ISR – Individual Social Responsibility. I believe that as an Individual I contribute more to Carbon Emissions than say a company. But, all this brouhaha about CSR and the subsequent hype makes me think of a classic oxymoron.

Because, the IT companies are not the major contributors to this but they are companies like Oil Refineries, Automobile manufacturers, Chemicals and other such factories. And yet you see no one asking them to do anything. Like you pointed out, it has all been talk and no walk.

You spoke about Automobile companies creating better and more fuel efficient cars but that again is dependent on an individual’s choice as a consumer to have a highly luxurious/powerful car. Especially in countries like India where the speed limit of a vehicle is actually the limit to which you can push your vehicle and considering the crappy roads, how many people would like to go for a greener car – considering the capital cost.

I believe a more saner and more penetrative strategy would be for Government to incentivize production of such cars and more importantly incentivize the purchase of such cars.

My question to you is thus this – Do you think it is easier for everyone to just blame ‘bad old’ businesses rather than look inwards?

Looking forward to hearing from you on the same. (I know that’s a fat chance but still no harm in waiting for a reply)

Regards,

Venkatesh Sridhar
http://www.venkateshsridhar.com

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