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Jagdeep Dhankhar to inaugurate the World Sustainable Development Summit 2024 in New Delhi
Mumbai: The World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) will be inaugurated by the vice president of India, Jagdeep Dhankhar on 7 February, 2024. Joining him at the inaugural ceremony will be esteemed guests, including the prime minister of Guyana, H.E. Brigadier (Retd) Mark Phillips, and Bhupender Yadav, minister of environment, forest, and climate change, Government of India. ministers from Spain, Kiribati and Fiji are expected to join. Pioneering conversations that drive global ambitions and actions at all levels, the 23rd edition of WSDS will be held from 7-9 February 2024, at the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
The annual flagship multi-stakeholder event organized by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) since 2001, WSDS is the only independently convened international summit on sustainable development and environment based in the Global South. WSDS 2024 will be convened under the umbrella theme of ‘Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice’.
Addressing media at a curtain raiser event, TERI director general Dr Vibha Dhawan underscored, “As we get ready for the 23rd edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit, I look forward to thought-provoking discussions, innovative solutions, and a profound exploration of the pivotal role played by visionary leaders in the advancement of sustainable development on a global scale. TERI is privileged to lead this dialogue, cultivating groundbreaking solutions and strategies for a future that is both sustainable and equitable.”
“Regardless of whether a country is developed or developing, it is imperative for the world to acknowledge that climate change is not merely a reality but a shared one. As the world grapples with adverse effects of climate change, transitioning towards cleaner energy and adaptation measures become a priority,” she added.
Speaking on the occasion, former diplomat and TERI distinguished fellow Manjeev Singh Puri said, “WSDS is an excellent platform for exchange of ideas, knowledge, and best practices, propelling us towards the realization of SDGs and the Paris Agreement objectives through enlightened and collaboratively guided endeavours. WSDS, led by TERI, is charting a course towards a future where sustainability and equity converge, crafting a compelling narrative for the well-being of our planet.”
Highlighting the pivotal role of WSDS in advancing discussions on sustainable development and climate action, WSDS curator and TERI Sr fellow Dr Shailly Kedia emphasised, “The world has crossed the half-way point for implementation of the sustainable development goals which are severely off-track. The challenges associated with climate change and sustainable development are complex and interconnected and require visionary leadership. Time for climate action and sustainable development is running out, hence, leadership by various stakeholders at all levels is key. Polycrisis demands polycentric leadership. In this context, the World Sustainable Development Summit 2024 will be held under the umbrella theme of Leadership for Sustainable Development and Climate Justice.”
Considering the outcomes on loss and damage, global goal on adaptation, climate finance and the mandate for just transitions at COP28, WSDS will see diverse perspectives on climate justice from leaders of the small island developing states, Latin America, South Asia, and developed countries. WSDS 2024 will highlight several crucial themes, each contributing to a comprehensive discussion on sustainable development. These themes encompass nature and ecosystems, integrating sustainable development, addressing the energy trilemma, climate action, adaptation and resilience, and sustainable consumption and lifestyles. Collectively, these themes form the backbone of the summit, providing a comprehensive framework for addressing the multifaceted aspects of sustainable development.
The discussions with the global leaders are expected to create with an ambition of a more sustainable and equitable world for present and future generations.
MAM
Madison World to launch AI platform M BrAIn for media planning
Agency group invests about $1 million as it shifts to AI driven growth planning.
MUMBAI: If media planning once ran on spreadsheets and gut instinct, the next chapter may run on algorithms and curiosity. Madison World is preparing to roll out the first version of its proprietary artificial intelligence platform Madison M BrAIn in early April, as the independent agency group accelerates its transition toward AI driven planning and product led media services.
The platform, expected to involve an investment of around $1 million, is designed to reshape how the agency approaches strategy by combining internal knowledge, external data sources and advanced AI models into a single intelligence ecosystem.
According to Madison Media, OOH and Hiveminds partner and group CEO Ajit Varghese the initiative forms part of a larger structural rethink within the organisation. “Traditionally agencies built frameworks around media planning and allocation. We are redesigning that structure into what we call a Growth Planning System (GPS),” Varghese said.
The shift reflects a growing belief that effective media strategy must begin earlier in the decision making process. Instead of jumping directly to channel allocation, planners must first decode the market itself identifying consumer barriers, purchase triggers and the core challenges facing a brand.
Once those insights are mapped, agencies can build clearer growth agendas for clients and design media strategies that connect more closely with business outcomes.
To support that approach, Madison has built Madison M BrAIn as what it describes as a human AI cognitive ecosystem. Acting as a central intelligence hub, the platform aggregates proprietary insights alongside external data sources and large language models, enabling planners to access deeper market intelligence before building campaign strategies.
Varghese said one of the core objectives is to democratise knowledge across the organisation. “In the past, this level of understanding was largely available to senior leaders or experienced strategists. With Madison M BrAIn, even a junior planner should be able to access the same intelligence and approach clients with a far more informed perspective,” he said.
The agency has already implemented the new planning philosophy internally and completed three months of testing for the AI platform, with early trials showing encouraging results in terms of learning capability and system performance.
While the first version relied on global large language models, Madison is now developing its own proprietary Small Language Model (SLM) to serve as the core of the M BrAIn ecosystem.
“The SLM will be able to read global LLMs, but the LLMs cannot read the SLM,” Varghese explained. “That ensures all the intelligence we build remains within the Madison ecosystem and strengthens our proprietary knowledge base.”
The first version of Madison M BrAIn is expected to go live in early April, with a more refined version targeted by the end of June. Over time, the platform will integrate additional external data streams and APIs including consumer insight platforms, social listening tools and client datasets.
These integrations are expected to enhance the system’s learning capability and enable it to generate increasingly sophisticated strategic recommendations.
Although the platform is currently being deployed for internal use, Madison sees potential for it to evolve into a licensable product in the future.
“At the moment, our focus is to stabilise and strengthen M BrAIn internally. But over time there is potential for this to become a product that could be licensed externally,” Varghese said.
The AI platform is also part of a wider technology transformation underway at the agency group. Alongside M BrAIn, Madison is building a broader digital infrastructure called the Catalyst operating system, which aims to integrate operational processes, data and product platforms into a unified ecosystem.
This broader technology stack could require an additional $1 million to $1.5 million investment over time, though spending will be phased and reviewed regularly.
“We are evaluating progress every three months and prioritising the most critical capabilities first,” Varghese said.
Madison expects the full AI and operating ecosystem to be fully functional within 12 to 18 months, positioning the agency to combine human strategy with machine intelligence as the advertising industry enters its next data driven phase.
