Co-organized by World Bank, and Policy Research Institute (PRI), Ministry of Finance
Co-organized by World Bank, and Policy Research Institute (PRI), Ministry of Finance
India has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the peak of the 2nd wave in May-June this year, daily numbers of new infections and deaths exceeded 400,000 and 7,000. Fortunately, those numbers have declined significantly. Consequently, the Country has started turning its attention to recovery while keeping its eyes on the possible 3rd wave predicted this fall.
India is the 3rd largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emitter behind China and the US. Because of its large population (1.37 billion), its emissions are likely to grow and accelerate global climate change significantly. At the same time, India also suffers from climate change, such as powerful storms, dangerous cyclones, and devastating floods, which have caused many deaths and casualties and destroyed countless houses and infrastructure. Therefore, the impact of India's actions will be substantial both globally and nationally.
Can India's recovery and growth path be green to mitigate climate changes? Can the Country effectively adapt to protect its citizens and economy from the negative impact of climate change? How can the global community support India's green recovery and growth?
1pm-2:30pm, Wed, December 1, 2021 in Japan Standard Time
Opening Remarks
Hironori Kawauchi
Executive Vice President, Policy Research Institute (PRI), Ministry of Finance
Keynote Presentation
Junaid Kamal Ahmad
Country Director for India, World Bank
Presentation material: Supporting India's Recovery and Growth: Can It Be Green? (PDF)
Comments
Shujiro Urata
Professor Emeritus, Waseda University
Junaid Ahmad is the Country Director for the World Bank in India. He joined the World Bank’s Delhi office on 1 September 2016.
Junaid, a Bangladeshi national, was formerly the Chief of Staff to World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. He joined the World Bank in 1991 as a Young Professional and worked on infrastructure development in Africa and Eastern Europe. He has since held several management positions, leading the Bank’s program in diverse regions including Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as in India and South Asia.
Prior to joining the President’s office in January 2016, Junaid was the Senior Director for the Water Global Practice, a position he held since the creation of the Global Practices in July 2014. In this role, Junaid has built a strong and collaborative Global Practice and has brought a strong track record of management and leadership in the area of service delivery and international partnerships, combining intellectual and analytical rigor with strategic operational focus. Junaid has championed the Practice’s focus on water and the economy, and emphasized institutions and resilience in water management.
Junaid spent 10 years in the field, first as the Deputy Resident Representative and Principal Economist in Johannesburg, and then as Regional Team Leader of the Water and Sanitation Program in New Delhi. In 2004, he was a team member of the World Development Report (WDR): Making Services Work for Poor People. From 2004-2008, he was the Sector Manager for Social Development in South Asia Region and subsequently for Urban Water & Sanitation before taking on the latter responsibility for the Africa Region in 2010. He was also the Director for Sustainable Development in the Middle East and North Africa Region, a position he held from 2012-2014.
He holds a PhD in Applied Economics from Stanford University, an MPA from Harvard University, and a BA in Economics from Brown University.
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