In this episode of Brewed for Change, host Ritika from Green Frontier Capital engages in a conversation with Varad Pande, a BCG partner specializing in climate, sustainability, and social impact. Varad shares his deeply personal journey into the climate sphere, starting with early influences from the Chipko movement in his native Uttarakhand, to academic awakenings at Cambridge, and pivotal career moments that included a significant pay cut to join India's environment ministry in 2009. He discusses his involvement with various global and domestic initiatives aimed at combating climate change, highlighting the importance of India's role in the global discourse and the necessity for a balanced approach between mitigation and adaptation. Varad emphasizes the critical role of various stakeholders, including the private sector and VCs, in addressing climate change and espouses a collaborative approach to foster innovation and drive meaningful action. The conversation also delves into the significance of adopting bottom-up strategies alongside top-down policy interventions to ensure resilient, inclusive, and sustainable growth.
