IIMV Brings Global Experts Together for International Conclave on Green Economy
The International Conclave on Green Economy 2026 at the Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam, brought together academicians, policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers from across the globe.
Organised by the Inter-disciplinary Decision Sciences & Analytics Lab (IDeAL Lab), the two-day conclave, held on June 6-7, is centred around the theme, “Navigating the Green Transition: Economic, Policy, and Technological Pathways.”
Established in 2021, the IDeAL was envisioned by Prof. Chandrasekhar M, Director IIM Visakhapatnam during the COVID-19 period, recognising the need for a Centre of Excellence that could foster international collaboration and interdisciplinary research. The initiatives and partnerships emerging from the lab today stand as a testament to IIM Visakhapatnam’s continued commitment to sustainability.
The inaugural keynote address was delivered by Shri Baisnab Charan Pradhan, Hon’ble High Commissioner of India to Sierra Leone on “Green Growth in the Age of Climate Uncertainty.” He spoke on the hazards of fossil fuels and climate change, the UNFCCC and COP frameworks, India’s green economy journey since 2014, flagship green initiatives, and the country’s growing leadership in global climate governance through initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Global Biofuels Alliance. He also highlighted key challenges before India, including energy storage limitations and grid integration complexities.
Shri Prudhvitej Immadi IAS, Chairman & Managing Director, AP Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) delivered keynote address on “Greening the Grid: Opportunities and Challenges.” He spoke on the growing importance of power grids and how distribution utilities measure, forecast, and plan energy requirements. He highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s vision of becoming a green energy hub for the country, while discussing clean technologies, telemetry data, transmission costs, affordability. He also spoke about the opportunities in battery storage, grid management tools, and the role of smarter grids in enabling the green transition.
The inaugural session also featured remarks by distinguished collaborators and faculty members, including Prof. Ravi Vatrapu Director, DEAL, School of Information Technology Management, Toronto Metropolitan University, Prof. Abid Hussain, Department of Digitalization, Copenhagen Business School, Prof. Shivshanker Singh Patel, Head, IDeAL Lab, Prof. Kaveri Krishnan, Dean (Administration), and Prof. Amit Shankar, Dean (Research), IIM Visakhapatnam.
A distinguished panel discussion on “Digital Public Infrastructure for Climate Governance” featured Prof. Vijay Sekhar C., Vice Chancellor, JK Lakshmipat University; Prof. P. R. S. Sarma, Dean (Building & Works), IIM Visakhapatnam; and Mr. Vivek Vardhan, Director & CTO, G2V Solar. The session was moderated by Prof. Ravi Vatrapu.
The panel discussion on focused on the importance of modelling, analysis, and data-driven decision-making in climate governance. The panellists discussed the need for India-specific models, generation of reliable and verifiable data to avoid greenwashing, decentralised power generation, DISCOM monitoring, and the role of Digital Public Infrastructure, SDGs, and life cycle assessment in advancing sustainable development.
Another panel discussion titled “Public Policy for Just Green Transition” brought together Prof. Monica Singhania, Professor, University of Delhi; Mr.Venkat Rao Nekkanti, MD & CEO of Nekkanti Seafoods, and Prof. Vijaya Bhaskar Marisetty, Dean (Academics), IIM Visakhapatnam. The session was be moderated by Prof. Shivshanker Singh Patel.
The second panel discussion focused on green jobs and the importance of stakeholders across the value chain sharing the burden of transition and role of AI. The panellists further spoke on the need for bio-fiscal accounting, carbon credit markets, global policy frameworks, and the relationship between sustainability and GDP growth.
The conclave also witnessed the unveiling of the proceedings featuring research abstracts across sustainability, policy, economics, and technological innovation. The event featured paper presentations, and an Industry Showcase, fostering dialogue between academia, industry, and policymakers on sustainable and technology-driven green transitions.
During the valedictory session, the conference chairs reflected on the success of the conclave and announced plans to make the initiative an annual platform for such dialogue and collaboration.
