Climate change is no longer an environmental or development concern; it has become a business and economic risk, said Srinivasulu, chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, during his keynote at the CII Karnataka ESG Summit 2026. He urged that climate intelligence must become part of business intelligence, with climate considerations integrated into boardroom decisions alongside land, labour, capital and finance.
The summit, themed “Building Climate-Resilient and Competitive Businesses: From ESG Commitment to Action,” brought together industry leaders, policymakers, sustainability experts, technology providers and academics to discuss emerging trends, challenges and practical solutions shaping the ESG landscape.
Kamal Bali, former chairman of CII Southern Region and Managing Director of Volvo Group, noted that ESG is moving from aspiration to execution, with resilience as the real business imperative. He highlighted that climate change, geopolitical shifts, energy security, supply chain disruptions and technological change are interconnected challenges that require businesses to build adaptive capabilities to stay competitive. He added that resilience must be embedded across products, supply chains, people and partnerships, making sustainability a core business strategy.
Vijaykrishnan Venkatesan, chair of the 4th Edition of the CII Karnataka ESG Summit 2026 and Managing Director of Kennametal India Ltd, said ESG has evolved from a compliance requirement into a foundation for long‑term business sustainability, competitiveness and growth. Guruprasad Mudlapur, chairman of CII Karnataka State Council and Managing Director of Bosch Ltd, echoed that ESG can no longer remain a separate sustainability function; it must be embedded in boardroom decisions and everyday practices. He emphasized that as businesses navigate climate risks, supply‑chain realignments and geopolitical uncertainties, resilience is critical to long‑term growth, and that ESG is now an opportunity agenda creating new markets, technologies and business models.
