Every Drop Counts - Uday Khemka on India, Innovation, and Impact

In the latest episode of Sustainability Talks, Managing Partner Rob Genieser sits down with Uday Khemka, a passionate climate advocate, renewable energy entrepreneur, and one of India’s most thoughtful voices on sustainable development. This powerful conversation explores the urgent challenges and bold opportunities at the intersection of climate change, finance, and innovation.

With nearly 30 years of entrepreneurial and investment experience across emerging markets, Uday has been at the forefront of sustainable energy transformation, particularly in India.

As the founder of SUN New Energy Holdings and a key partner in SUN Mobility, Uday has been instrumental in advancing renewable energy, energy storage, and electric mobility infrastructure. His climate leadership extends beyond business - as Vice Chairman of The Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation, he has focused on climate change mitigation for three decades, dating back to the first COP in Rio in 1992.

At a time when we're seeing significant political shifts away from climate priorities, Uday's insights on how Europe, India, and other emerging economies are stepping into leadership roles in climate innovation are particularly valuable. His global perspective offers a timely look at how regions beyond the US are seizing the opportunity to lead the next wave of climate solutions and investments.

Educated at Eton, Cambridge, and Harvard Business School (where he graduated with distinction as a Baker Scholar), Uday brings a rare combination of business acumen, policy expertise, and philanthropic vision to the climate challenge. He has advised sovereign and pension institutions on climate finance since 2004 and serves as a Senior Climate Advisor to the Institutional Investors Roundtable, representing over $13 trillion in assets.

Chapters:

00:00 Uday's Journey into Climate Advocacy

07:00 Reflections on COP Meetings and Their Evolution

09:49 The Role of the Global South in Climate Finance

12:50 The Impact of U.S. Leadership on Climate Initiatives

15:51 Grassroots Philanthropy and Systemic Change

18:52 The Intersection of Business and Climate Solutions

22:11 The Role of Academic Institutions in Climate Research

24:47 Entrepreneurship as a Catalyst for Change

35:21 Innovations in the Green Economy

40:41 Electric Mobility and Sustainable Solutions

43:12 Overcoming Resistance to Change

44:33 Optimism in Climate Solutions

47:29 The Future of AI and Sustainability