Chandran Nair is the Founder and CEO of The Global Institute For Tomorrow (GIFT). GIFT is dedicated to advancing an understanding of the impacts of globalization and the role of business in society through thought leadership and positive action to effect change. Prior to starting GIFT, Chandran was Asia Pacific Chairman of UK based industry leader Environmental Resources Management (ERM). He has strongly advocated a more sustainable approach to development in Asia, and has helped governments and corporations instil these principles into their key decision-making process.
Chandran serves on the Governance for Sustainability Global Agenda Council of the World Economic Forum, and is a regular speaker and panelist at the World Economic Forum, the APEC CEO Summit and conferences organized by the UN and OECD. His first book, “Consumptionomics: Asia’s Role in Reshaping Capitalism and Saving the Planet”, was published in December 2010, and it was named one of the top 50 Breakthrough Capitalism books in 2012 and one of The Globalist’s top ten books of 2011.
Chandran will delivered a talk for YCW HK entitled “No Asian Century,” in which Chandran presented his case that the Western model of consumption-led economic growth cannot be replicated in Asia. He argues that 6 billion Asians in 2050 cannot and should not aspire to live like the West. Instead, Chandran offered an alternative paradigm and argued that economic policy needs to be realigned to avoid the catastrophic outcomes that could result from the relentless promotion of a consumption-led growth model in Asia. His book Consumptionomics calls for bans on some forms of consumption, re-pricing of resources, and for the state to play the all important role.
Photo credit: Anatol Kotte
