03
Jun 2025
2:45 PM to 4:15 PM
Drama Workshop
Mayoor Private School, 42th St, Al Wathba South, Abu Dhabi- UAE
From vanishing rainforests to fragile marine ecosystems, biodiversity loss is accelerating at an
unprecedented pace. The crisis is no longer distant,
it is unfolding in real time across our natural habitats and urban cityscapes.
As climate change intensifies and habitats degrade, how can we respond with
urgency, imagination, and collaboration?
Avid Learning’s acclaimed Sustainability
NOW series returns with a multidisciplinary conversation that brings
together diverse perspectives from the frontlines of conservation and climate
action. The session will explore how environmental degradation is being
addressed through scientific research, field-based conservation, policy reform,
and community-driven initiatives. It will examine the current state of
ecosystems, and how they are being reshaped by biodiversity loss, land-use
change, and the accelerating impacts of climate change. From protecting species
and habitats to advancing climate finance and resilience, the discussion will
highlight strategies for inclusive leadership and cross-sector collaboration in
shaping more integrated approaches to environmental stewardship and long-term
sustainability.
Join us as we bridge science and society
to uncover bold ideas and practical pathways toward environmental
sustainability.
Dr. Anish Andheria is the President & CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Trust (WCT) that works across 23 Indian States and catalyses path-breaking conservation action. He is a member of the State Board of Wildlife of Maharashtra and the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority. He is also part of the Elephant Task Force of Madhya Pradesh. He has been awarded the prestigious Carl Zeiss Conservation Award in 2008 and the UAA-Institute of Chemical Technology Distinguished Alumnus Award 2017. He is an Independent Director of WCS-India and a member of the Advisory Committee of BNP Paribas India Foundation. A professional wildlife photographer of repute, he has captured some of the remotest ecosystems of India. He has co-authored two books on Indian wildlife and has contributed to several other books and publications. A natural communicator, he is one of India's leading motivational speakers, and has introduced thousands of young people to the joys of nature and the rationale for nature conservation.
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Shaunak Modi is a conservationist and wildlife enthusiast who co-founded the Coastal Conservation Foundation (CCF). His interests lie in citizen science and identifying research-based solutions for wildlife conservation. At CCF, Shaunak manages the Marine Life of Mumbai and Marine Life of Goa projects, and serves as the principal investigator of the Coastal Cetaceans of the MMR project. Prior to his work at CCF, Shaunak founded his own company, Naturenama, in the wilderness travel industry.
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Mahesh Sankaran is a community and ecosystem ecologist whose research focuses on understanding how climate change impacts the distribution, structure and functioning of tropical ecosystems globally, with a focus on savannas and grasslands, and more recently, forests. He is particularly interested in applying this knowledge to the restoration of degraded lands in a changing climate. He has also contributed to shaping international policy on climate change, biodiversity and land through his work with the IPCC and IPBES assessments on land degradation, climate change and biodiversity. He was awarded the Infosys Prize for the Life Sciences in 2021 and has been elected to the Indian Academy of Sciences and the Indian National Science Academy.
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Shloka Nath is the CEO of the India Climate Collaborative, a non-profit focused on mobilising philanthropic capital to accelerate climate action in India. The ICC connects funders to high-impact solutions that restore our planet and build a healthy and equitable future for all, while continuing to help India meet its development goals.Prior to this, she led the Sustainability and Policy & Advocacy portfolios at the Tata Trusts and was the Managing Partner of Sankhya Women Impact Funds. She is currently a Trustee at the CSMVS, the Vice President of the Bombay Natural History Society, a board member of IIT Madras’ Energy Consortium, and Climate Catalyst, a member of Alliance magazine’s Editorial Advisory Board, and a member of the Advisory Board to IUCN’s Nature-based Recovery initiative, among numerous other positions. She is also the author of the book, “Hidden India: Journey to Where the Wild Things Are” (April 2018), a compendium of photographs and writing about Indian wildlife and landscapes.
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Aaran Patel works in climate change philanthropy and policy as the Executive Director of Climate at The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation, which has been involved in climate change mitigation for 30 years. He is climate and conservation advisor to Godrej Enterprises Group, and has also consulted on climate with organisations in the development, private and public sectors. He is the co-founder of Earth Focus Kanha, working on landscape restoration through nature-based livelihoods and contextual education with forest-dwelling communities. Aaran is a Master in Public Policy graduate from the Harvard Kennedy School.
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A compelling call to action that explores the urgent threats to biodiversity, the science and stewardship needed for systemic change, and the hope that lies in reimagining our bond with nature.
Where Climate Meets Life — Biodiversity in the Balance
Climate change is not just a tale of rising temperatures or melting glaciers. It is also a story of vanishing songs of birds, disrupted migrations, bleached corals, and collapsing ecosystems. At its heart, climate change is a biodiversity crisis.The natural world is not just a backdrop to human life—it is the intricate web that sustains it. From coral reefs to mountain forests, every ecosystem plays a critical role in regulating the planet’s climate and ensuring food and water security. Yet today, we stand amid an alarming collapse: scientists are calling it the sixth mass extinction.
Human activities—unregulated development, intensive agriculture, pollution, and fossil fuel dependence—have accelerated biodiversity loss and ecological degradation. These aren’t distant crises; they manifest in urban flooding, crop failure, air pollution, and disappearing wildlife even in our own backyards. Biodiversity conservation is no longer a moral choice—it’s foundational to climate resilience, health, and economic stability.
What we can do now:
● Switch to clean energy and reduce fossil fuel reliance
● Support reforestation and habitat restoration projects
● Curb single-use plastics and reduce personal carbon footprints
● Push for stronger laws against illegal wildlife trade
● Adopt conscious consumption and sustainable diets
Science,
Stewardship, and Systemic Change
Protecting biodiversity and climate systems demands solutions that are informed,
inclusive, and immediate. Across India and the globe, researchers and
grassroots leaders are charting new ways forward—from ecological field stations
studying migration patterns to AI-assisted forest monitoring and
climate-adaptive farming methods.
Community-led restoration projects in degraded lands, mangrove conservation by fisherfolk, and seed-saving movements in rural India all exemplify how indigenous knowledge and local stewardship can complement scientific tools. Climate finance and policy reforms must follow suit—translating into real support for communities on the ground, especially those living in or near biodiversity hotspots.
Key steps forward:
● Strengthen and enforce environmental policy and green infrastructure planning
● Foster citizen science initiatives that make data collection participatory
● Encourage regenerative farming, crop diversity, and sustainable irrigation
● Prioritize biodiversity in business models and ESG frameworks
● Support climate education and gender-inclusive environmental leadership
The way forward lies in collective, systems-oriented change—one that listens to scientists and storytellers, rural communities and urban innovators alike.
Towards Hope –
Reimagining Our Relationship with Nature
Beyond science and strategy, there lies a deeper shift we must make—rethinking
our relationship with the natural world. For centuries, industrial societies
have treated nature as a resource to be extracted, altered, and controlled. But
ancient traditions and contemporary climate movements alike remind us: we are
not separate from nature; we are part of it.
Living with nature means creating cities that breathe—through green corridors, rain gardens, and urban biodiversity. It means embracing circular economies that minimise waste and reimagine growth. It means embedding climate and ecological literacy into education, art, and media to nurture new cultural values.
Q&A sessions and real-life case studies show that when people feel connected—to a local river, a community forest, or a tree on their street—they are more likely to act with care and responsibility. Empathy becomes the foundation for action.
