Profit And Sustainability Can Coexist — If We Make The Right Choices: Dr Rohan Dutta, Associate Professor, Anant School
Dr. Dutta also outlines new projects such as inexpensive air cleaners and passive coolers to enhance living conditions for vulnerable populations
In an interview with ResponsibleUs, Dr. Rohan Dutta, Associate Professor, Anant School for Climate Action, discussed how it is necessary to train executives and engineers on sustainability in order to fill the gap between regular industrial activity and mass-scale action on climate. He emphasized having environmental responsibility grounded at the lower levels so that individuals directly dealing with operations learn about the repercussions of their job and become changemakers. Dr. Dutta also outlined new projects such as inexpensive air cleaners and passive coolers to enhance living conditions for vulnerable populations and programs to recycle rare earth elements for clean energy technologies.
You have developed multiple programs aimed at addressing climate change awareness across different levels, from undergraduates to mid-career executives. Can you elaborate on the motivation behind creating these programs and how they aim to bridge the gap between daily industrial practices and broader climate action?
Our policy programme typically enrolls mid-career executives. We experimented with both top-down and bottom-up approaches and found that starting with the middle layer spreads awareness to both the top and bottom layers of organisations. With that in mind, we launched the executive program and later introduced the BTech program. This is because engineers — the ones running plants and handling daily operations — play a crucial role in implementing change.
From my experience, many engineers, without meaning any disrespect, don’t fully grasp how their actions impact the environment. They focus on running plants efficiently, increasing production rates, and maximizing profits, often unaware that certain practices contribute to larger environmental issues.
Then there are reports like ESG and sustainability reports, which are often prepared without understanding their influence on government policies and industry standards. It's not willful neglect but ignorance. Some fortunately are learning and doing something, but the numbers are still too low to make any significant impact.
That's why we initiated the climate change programme — to educate future engineers and climatologists so that they can learn about the issues beforehand. The idea is to make sure they know what climate change is, how it impacts humanity, and get them ready to be a solution provider.
When someone says they are already carbon negative, what does that imply?
The actual challenge is realising that climate change is the largest crisis for human civilisation. Current conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, are prioritised, but long-term climate change damage is not. Business is needed for the economy, but it must make industries sustainable. Profitability and sustainability go hand in hand so well if the appropriate technology is examined and people with the appropriate knowledge are leading this change.
Personal routines also come into the equation. We use cars, drive in air-conditioned offices, and print things out without even considering the price to the environment. Perhaps these routines cannot be altered entirely, but we can trend towards the use of greener materials. For example, paper has often been imported from far-off places, with an increased carbon footprint due to the transportation factor. Using locally manufactured paper would have a dramatic reduction in emissions.
The problem is that people are not aware of such alternatives. Sustainability is expensive and therefore is positioned as a premium product, out of affordability for many. Where economics places emphasis on costs, sustainability needs to be pragmatized and made accessible and not a luxury.
Decentralisation of industries and rural infrastructure investments can aid in how sustainability gets promoted in India?
Nowadays, rapid development and the use of fossil fuels have taken us away from consuming local resources. Take paper, for instance. It can be made from sustainable materials like bamboo, if cultivation is done responsibly to avoid overexploitation.
Urbanisation and centralization add to the problem. In India, most of the population is concentrated in about 10 to 12 major cities, creating immense pressure on these areas. Ideally, industries should be located closer to the demand — in nearby suburbs rather than faraway states. For example, if I live in Ahmedabad, industries could be set up in Sanand instead of Punjab, reducing transportation emissions and creating a more sustainable supply chain.
Government intervention is crucial. Unless policymakers recognize the importance of decentralising industry and promoting sustainable practices, meaningful change will be difficult. This idea isn’t new — even Gandhi advocated for economic policies focused on self-sufficiency and local empowerment.
However, while we claim to follow these principles, reality tells a different story. Villages still lack proper security, healthcare, and education, pushing people towards cities. I can’t stay in my village if it means depriving my children of a quality education. This forces migration and further fuels urban concentration.
At its core, India isn’t an industrial nation — it’s agriculture-dependent. Instead of chasing rapid industrialisation, we should invest in agriculture, improve rural infrastructure, and ensure sustainable practices. Only then can we create a more balanced and resilient economy.
How do you ensure students apply sustainability principles in their engineering projects from start to finish?
While engineering principles remain the same, we are focused on shifting mindsets — especially when implementing solutions. Passive systems are a great example, where we minimize carbon emissions right from the preparation stage, not just during operation.
Previously, emissions during solution development were overlooked. At our institute, students now assess environmental impact from the start. Are they emitting anything while preparing the solution? Are they disturbing the environment or using natural materials?
We’ve also introduced projects where students work on sustainable practices as part of their curriculum. This hands-on experience not only raises awareness but also drives innovation for greener solutions.
How can low-cost, sustainable solutions like your university DIY air filters and passive cooling systems improve living conditions for vulnerable communities?
This DIY solution can clean air in a room for six hours and is easy for any family to make. On an industrial scale, especially in textile industries where fabric waste is abundant, this method could be highly effective. With fast fashion on the rise, textile waste has grown significantly. Earlier, people owned just one shirt and one pair of jeans. Now, students wear new clothes all the time, adding to this growing waste.
Instead of discarding fabric waste, we could turn it into filters and donate them to migrant workers. These workers live and work in extremely unhealthy environments, facing high air pollution, extreme temperatures, and a lack of clean water. They leave their homes seeking livelihoods but end up sacrificing their health.
With these low-cost filters, their living conditions could improve significantly. For just ?250, an air purifier could run in a small room. Employers bringing these workers into cities could take responsibility for providing these filters, ensuring better air quality. It’s a simple, affordable solution that makes a meaningful difference.
Many of us can afford high-end air purifiers, but they cannot — and they deserve clean air too. Forcing anyone to live in such poor air quality isn’t just unfair but inhumane. Small actions like these could have a big impact, giving these workers a better chance at a healthier life.
Recently, someone asked, "Is it really a crime?" The reality is, we don’t realise what we’re breathing. It doesn’t just affect our lungs; it reaches our brains, causing long-term damage. Migrant workers don’t have the privilege to even think about these things. They’re the most vulnerable to environmental damage, and we need to consider their well-being too.
We are also working on sustainable, low-cost solutions in other areas. One project is a passive refrigeration system where we’ve applied nanomaterials to create special paint. This paint can cool rooms by up to 10 degrees — about 2 to 3 degrees cooler than commercial paints. We’re currently filing for an IP for this innovation.
Another project focuses on nighttime cooling systems, a form of passive refrigeration that sends radiation back into space to naturally reduce temperatures. We’re developing solar-powered desalination systems to provide clean drinking water in areas without access to fresh water. For example, in a village near Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, people spend around Rs 60 per day just to buy water. Our system uses only solar energy, eliminating the need for fossil fuels.
Additionally, we’re working on sewage treatment plants (STPs) that convert wastewater into usable water. In low-temperature regions like Ladakh, this could be particularly beneficial. We’re also exploring sustainable alternatives to traditional Portland cement. Our "green cement," made from recycled materials, significantly reduces carbon emissions during production.
These initiatives are meant to counteract pollution and environmental problems while enhancing the living standards of the worst-hit by climate change and pollution.
What is the potential of plasma gasification technology to convert complex waste streams to clean energy and reduce plastic-based emissions and pollution?
Anything waste material containing carbon — not merely organic matter like food waste or leaves but plastics as well — can be purified. Once metals are removed, the residue is turned into a gas, and we wish to utilize it in kitchens. Harmful gases produced during processing will be cleaned off for a product free from pollution. This reduces plastic-based emissions and pollution and generates useful energy.
The segregation of waste is the biggest problem, which leads to landfills of Himalayan scale. Our system does not require complex sorting, and hence the system operates more effectively.
How does your university’s approach to embedding behavioural science in the curriculum help students develop a deeper sense of environmental responsibility?
Take ammonia as another example. Industries often overlook the environmental impact of using a little more ammonia here and there. Even small amounts can harm the environment — and in high concentrations, inhaling it can be fatal. Unfortunately, this awareness is lacking. Environmental science is a mandatory course in universities across the country, but it’s treated as a formality. Students don’t take it seriously, and many teachers approach it the same way. It becomes a box-ticking exercise rather than something that instills responsibility.
What we have done differently is embed these issues into our teaching from day one. We repeatedly expose students to these problems, so they internalize them. When you hear something ten times, it sticks. Eventually, students start questioning their actions and thinking critically about sustainability.
We call this behavioural science. In our B.Tech programme, it’s a key element, ensuring students are constantly reminded of the environmental impact of their choices. This makes them more conscious and, over time, more driven to create solutions.
Our curriculum integrates technology and society throughout all six semesters. Students don’t just focus on technical subjects — they also explore visual arts, bringing their ideas to life through hands-on projects. This connection between the head, heart, and hands is a core part of our university’s philosophy.
How do your projects address the challenges of rare earth material recovery and sustainability in solar panels and EVs?
We also received solar panel parts from Visa Industries as part of their CSR efforts. These aren’t traditional rooftop panels; they’re integrated into the roof itself, creating a solid ceiling that reduces construction costs and provides solar energy at the same time. It’s easy to clean, has been working well for over a year and a half, and helps solve space challenges. This concept is especially promising for affordable housing and army barracks.
Regarding EVs, there’s a big debate. On the surface, they help reduce air pollution, but the lithium-ion batteries they rely on aren’t entirely sustainable. Extracting lithium requires mining, which has its own environmental costs. Recycling is often mentioned as a solution, but India is still importing lithium while only recently identifying domestic reserves.
The issue is more complex when you consider how electricity is generated. In countries like Norway, where almost all energy comes from renewables like hydroelectric power, EVs genuinely reduce emissions. But in India, about 60-80% of electricity still comes from coal. The efficiency of coal power plants is around 35%, and energy is further lost when charging batteries and converting power to mechanical energy in EVs. This results in a total efficiency of about 36%, while petrol cars operate at around 55% efficiency. Until India shifts to more renewable energy, the environmental benefit of EVs is limited. The long-term goal is carbon neutrality by 2070, but until then, the transition to EVs needs to be paired with cleaner power generation.
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