Global Change Program, Jadavpur University in collaboration with The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and University of Stavanger, Norway organized a seminar on 'Future Ready Cities - An Experience Sharing with Norway' on 17th December 2018 at Hyatt Regency, Kolkata.

The programme aimed to create a forum of exchanging best practices on City Management towards Sustainability. Without an actionable urban strategy, cities face the prospect of increasing congestion and pollution, inadequate and unreliable energy, lack of basic public services and poor environmental management. Clear links between climate resilience and economic prosperity are prompting cities around the world to embed sustainable principles into their city strategies. Managing sustainability is now one of the most significant issues in present context. Global trends of urbanisation, digitisation and sustainability affect both business and individuals. Integrated city solutions together with emerging technology and innovative business models such as circular economy will bring about a transformational change.

Shri Debashis Sen, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Information Technology & Electronics, Government of West Bengal & Chairman and Managing Director, Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited and Chairman, Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority shared his vision on "Preparedness of New Town as a future ready city". The Inaugural Session also included "Future cities - Strategies and best practices" by Prof. Mohsen Assadi, University of Stavanger Norwegian Coordinator, Indo-Norwegian Cooperation and UTFORSK Program; "Brief overview of Indo-Norwegian Cooperation" by Prof. Sudipta De, Jadavpur University Indian Coordinator, Indo-Norwegian Cooperation and UTFORSK Program and "Fostering partnerships for a future ready city" by Mr. Ambarish Dasgupta, Former President The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The following session included "Planning for future ready cities" by Dr. Arnab Jana, Assistant Professor, Centre of Urban Science and Engineering,(C-USE), IIT Bombay; "Energy for future ready cities" by Prof. Santanu Bandyopadhyay, Professor, Department of Energy Science and Engineering, IIT, Bombay; "The built environment for a future ready city" by Ar. Shakuntala Ghosh, Partner and Principal Architect, Ghosh, Bose and Associates Architects ; "Resource utilization for a future ready city" by Mr. Ajeya Bandyopadhyay, Partner, Infrastructure, Government and Healthcare, KPMG (India).

The concluding session included "E-Mobility" by Dr. Saptarshi Ghosh, Vice President - Technology (Li-Ion) Research & Development, Exide Industries Limited; Waste management for a future ready city by Mr. Jayabrata Mukherjee, Managing Director, GP Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd; "Role of ICT for future cities" by Ms. Kasturi Bhattacharjee, Senior Director, Asia Sattelite Pre-sales, BTEB IoT DSM,Ericsson India Global Services Pvt. Ltd and "Behavioral response" by Mr. Amitava Shome, General Manager (Special Projects), CESC Limited.