TERI Unveils Corporate Sustainability Leadership Programme 2026 Focused on ESG, AI, and Carbon Markets

Three-month hybrid certification programme aims to equip professionals with future-ready sustainability, ESG and climate leadership capabilities.

New Delhi, June 17, 2026: Building on the success of its Executive ESG Certification Programme conducted in 2025, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) today launched the second cohort of its flagship Corporate Sustainability Leadership Programme – “Navigating ESG, AI & Carbon Markets”, a three-month hybrid certification programme designed to equip professionals with the skills and knowledge needed to lead sustainability transformation in an increasingly complex business environment.

Held at TERI Headquarters, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, the launch brought together leaders from academia, government, industry, and media to discuss the growing importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, emerging technologies, and carbon markets in shaping the future of sustainable business.

The programme is being delivered through a strategic collaboration between TERI (Knowledge & Academic Partner), National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) (Government & Knowledge Partner), Firstpost (Media & Outreach Partner), and Zenora (Conceptualizer & Curator).

Opening the session, Dr Amit Kumar Thakur, Associate Director, TERI, highlighted the urgent need for capacity building and leadership development to help organizations navigate evolving sustainability expectations, regulatory frameworks and market opportunities. Dr Thakur noted, “ESG potential in the global market is governed by reporting frameworks such as GRI and border taxonomy mechanisms such as CBAM, which makes ESG a necessity rather than just a compliance.”

Welcoming the participants, Dr Vibha Dhawan, Director General, TERI, highlighted the necessity of strengthening sustainability competencies across sectors and reaffirmed TERI’s commitment to fostering informed leadership for sustainable development. “Sustainability does not mean expensive, it means, cleaner. TERI has 52 years of experience in sustainability and has strong expertise in climate action and energy modelling,” Dr Dhawan highlighted.

Delivering the special address, Dr Mohammad Rihan, Director General, NISE, spoke about the growing convergence between clean energy, sustainability reporting, and responsible business practices, while emphasizing the importance of institutional partnerships in advancing India's sustainability agenda. Dr Rihan observed, “ESG reporting often becomes a cost-versus-compliance issue but solar addresses many of these issues as it provides instant results through replacing fossil-based energy with cleaner and greener energy.”

Adding to the perspective, Mr Pankaj Chandra, Founder & CEO, Zenora, reflected on the programme’s evolution and the growing demand among professionals for practical, future-oriented ESG learning that bridges strategy, innovation and implementation. Mr Chandra said, “ESG for me, is a spirit of sustainability and a business strategy for discussion.”

Addressing the role of media in accelerating sustainability awareness, Ms Gursshheen Gahllen, Anchor & Producer, Firstpost, highlighted the importance of informed public discourse and responsible storytelling in advancing ESG adoption and impact. “Sustainability starts from here, through trainings and courses focused on direct issues and trends,” she remarked.

A detailed overview of the programme was presented by Dr Shruti Sharma Rana, Programme Director & Associate Professor, TERI School of Advanced Studies (TERI SAS), who outlined the curriculum, learning journey, and expected outcomes for participants.

The programme aims to combine global sustainability frameworks with practical industry applications and emerging themes such as Artificial Intelligence and Carbon Markets. Designed for corporate professionals, sustainability practitioners, business leaders, and decision-makers, it seeks to equip participants with actionable knowledge and leadership capabilities to integrate sustainability into core business strategy.

Key focus areas include ESG reporting and disclosure frameworks, greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, net-zero strategies, carbon finance mechanisms, AI-enabled sustainability solutions, and leadership for sustainable business transformation.

The event also featured reflections from participants of the inaugural cohort, who shared insights from their learning journey and discussed how the programme had helped strengthen sustainability practices within their organizations.

Concluding the session, Dr Dipankar Saharia, Senior Director, TERI, thanked the partners, speakers and participants for their continued support in advancing sustainability leadership and fostering a community of professionals committed to driving meaningful change. Dr Saharia said, “Clean energy has taken a new dimension, it is a necessity and a way to a sustainable lifestyle.”

As ESG considerations become increasingly central to corporate decision-making, the Corporate Sustainability Leadership Programme promises to create a new generation of leaders capable of navigating sustainability challenges while unlocking opportunities for innovation, resilience, and long-term value creation.