The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) today launched the TERI ESG Academy, a first-of-its-kind centre of excellence designed to promote sustainability leadership and accelerate the adoption of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices across the Global South. The announcement was made during a High-Level Roundtable on Climate Finance, ESG and Carbon Markets in the Global South, organised by TERI in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat as part of London Climate Action Week 2026.
The launch took place in the presence of distinguished leaders, including Ambassador Tanmaya Lal, Deputy Secretary-General, The Commonwealth Secretariat; Mr Suresh Yadav, Senior Director, Climate Change & Oceans Directorate, The Commonwealth Secretariat; Ms Malini Mehra, CEO, Globe Legislators; Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI; Dr Dipankar Saharia, Senior Director, TERI; and Dr Amit Kumar Thakur, Associate Director & CSR Head, TERI.
The launch is a step towards TERI's commitment to building the institutional capacities, technical expertise, and leadership needed to support countries and organisations in navigating the rapidly evolving sustainability landscape. Envisioned as a collaborative knowledge platform, the Academy will bring together policymakers, businesses, financial institutions, researchers, and young professionals to bridge the gap between sustainability policy and implementation through practical learning, applied research, and executive capacity building. The academy will provide integrated ESG solutions—through research, advisory, reporting, strategy development, and capacity-building programs—that help governments, businesses, financial institutions, and communities mainstream ESG into decision-making and operations.
Launching the Academy, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, said that while countries across the Global South have demonstrated increasing ambition through climate commitments and sustainable development strategies, translating these ambitions into measurable outcomes requires stronger institutions, skilled professionals, innovative financing mechanisms, and trusted sustainability frameworks. She noted that the TERI ESG Academy has been established to equip leaders with the knowledge and capabilities needed to drive this transition while encouraging collaboration between governments, industry, academia, and financial institutions.
The launch was preceded by a Roundtable that convened senior representatives from governments, multilateral organisations & financial institutions including Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, Chitembo Kawimbe Chunga – Head of Adaptation at the Climate Investment Funds (CIF), Graham A.N. Wright – Co-Chair and Group Managing Director, Microsave Consulting, Hubert Gutsa – Founder and Managing Director of Scalar Internationale. The panel deliberated on practical pathways for mobilising climate finance, strengthening ESG integration, advancing carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, and developing bankable climate project pipelines for the Global South.
