Dr. Arvind Kumar, President, India Water Foundation
The G20 recently held Ministerial Meetings at the end of July, 2021. Italy currently holds the Presidency of the G20. Italy’s Presidency’s agenda rotates around three pillars- People Planet and Prosperity. The G20 will culminate in Rome on October 30th and 31st, 2021, in the Leaders’ Summit. Over the course of the year long Presidency, there will be many events that will take place, from institutional meetings which consist of ministerial meetings and a final summit, to special events that are dedicated to the main issues of the global agenda, such as health, environment, women’s empowerment, research and innovation and anti-corruption.
India at the G20 Ministerial Meetings
India virtually participated in the Ministerial Meetings. At the Environment Ministerial Meeting, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav urged the G20 that they must respond to the call of science for urgent global climate action in this decade. The minister informed that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has exhibited exemplary resolve by achieving its voluntary commitment of reducing emission intensity. He also emphasized the need to cut emissions while also keeping in mind the Paris Agreement, which emphasised on respective historical responsibilities, delivery of promised climate finance and technologies at low cost keeping in perspective per capita emissions, differences in per capita GDP and the unfinished agenda for sustainable development. Minister Yadav said that the fight against climate change can be accelerated only when there is enough financial and technological support to developing nations. Yadav spoke about India’s Urban Climate actions and also stated that India remains steadfast in its commitments to join and lead efforts to combat climate change within the multilaterally agreed convention and it’s Paris Agreement.[1]
At the G20 Energy and Climate Joint Ministerial Meeting, Union Minister of Power and new and Renewable Energy, R K Singh addressed the meeting virtually. He urged the G20 nations which have per capita GHG emissions higher than to world average to bring down their emissions on par with the world average which will vacate the carbon space to some extent and support the developmental aspirations of the developing nations. Mr. Singh appraised the delegated about the progress that India has made towards its NDC targets while staying committed to meeting its climate goals under the Paris Agreement. Against the targeted emission reduction of 33-35 % by 2030, India has already achieved emission reduction of 28% over 2005 levels and at this pace, it is all set to exceed its NDC commitments before 2030, the minster spoke. The minister also stated that the installed capacity in India from renewables is way above the commitments made under the Paris Agreement. The Minister encouraged the G20 nations to take immediate steps in this direction so that the world community stays on the right track to leave a better planet for our future generations.[2]
At the G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting, Minister of state (MoS) for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi addressed participants of the meeting and presented India’s perspective on the topic ‘Culture and Creative Sectors as drivers for growth’. Smt Lekhi stressed on the significance of culture and creative sectors in providing employment and economic growth. She emphasized that culture and creative sectors can drive growth through generating employment, reducing inequalities, promoting development in a sustainable manner and providing distinct identity to people. Culture also has potential to give more opportunities to women, youth and to local communities which have very rich and diverse cultural traditions and practices. They can also help to promote environmentally friendly production and consumption practices such as the production of handlooms, handicrafts and khadi etc. and its importance and relevance for India.[3]
Smt Lekhi also highlighted the many schemes taken by the Government of India to develop the culture and creative sectors like the One District One Product scheme of Government of Uttar Pradesh, Tourism circuits, promotion of Yoga and Ayurveda etc. She also emphasized that there should be a need for international dialogue and collaboration to tackle common issues connected to the cultural and creative sectors and to suitably inform and adapt public policies. She reiterated India’s commitment to international cultural cooperation and collaboration in efforts to support and facilitate the cultural and creative sectors of societies.
The G20 Ministerial Meeting on Environment, Climate and Energy
The G20 Ministerial Meeting on Environment, Climate and Energy took place in Naples on 22nd and 23rd July, 2021. UN Secretary-General António Guterres spoke at theMeeting saying that the world urgently needs a clear and unambiguous commitment to the 1.5 degree goal of the Paris Agreement from all G20 nations. There is no pathway to this goal without the leadership of the G20. This signal is desperately needed by the billions of people already on the frontlines of the climate crisis and by markets, investors and industry who require certainty that a net zero climate resilient future is inevitable. The delegates discussed many topics like combating climate change, accelerating ecological transition, making financial flows in accordance with the Paris Agreement, building smart cities etc. For the first time, the G20 adopted a ‘Joint Final Communiqué’ which will help to contribute to the G20 Countries mission to fight climate change and ensure a clean and inclusive green transition. [4]
The document is based on three macro areas-
- Biodiversity: The document contains ways on using nature based solutions for restoring ecosystems and protecting nature, protection against soil degradation, protection of water resources, oceans and seas including the prevention and reduction of marine plastic litter.
- Efficient use of resources and circular economy: G20 vision on circular economy with a focus on sustainable textiles and fashion, circular cities, education and training. The G20 for the first time recognizes results of the recent IPBES and IPCC report on the link between biodiversity and climate change.
- Sustainable finance: The document focuses on specific financing needs for the protection and restoration of ecosystems as a contribution to the G20 work on the future shape of the global financial system.[5]
G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting
The first G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting was held in Rome on 29th and 30th July, 2021, where the group of the world’s largest economies agreed for the first time that culture is a major engine for sustainable socio-economic recovery in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. This led to the adoption of the “Rome Declaration of the G20 Culture Ministers”. The declaration on Culture recognizes that culture has intrinsic value but also plays an essential role for the regeneration of our economies and our societies, which have been heavily affected by the pandemic.[6]
At the meeting, Italy took steps to permanently integrate culture into the G20 agenda, including formalizing the Culture Working Group to build consensus among Members that contributes to the G20 Meeting of Ministers of Culture and the G20 Summit of Heads of State and Government. The declaration includes five key priorities which are- The protection of Cultural heritage; Culture and climate change; Culture and education; Cultural creative industries; Culture in the digital transformation[7].
Third Meeting of the Development Working Group
The two-day long meeting which took place on July 27th and 28th was the third meeting of the Development Working Group (DWG). It gave the G20 members the opportunity to discuss the outcomes of the Ministerial Sessions which were held at the end of June and the state of play on the key priority areas in the field of sustainable development, including: 1) Financing for Sustainable Development, 2) Territorial Development and SDG Localisation and 3) The 2021 Rome Update and the Accountability process.
The Third Meeting of the Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG)
On 27 July 2021, the third meeting of the Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) was held online. The meeting was divided into two sessions. During the first session, the Group discussed the first draft of the Sustainable Finance Synthesis Report. The SFWG delegates analyzed the recommendations proposed by the Co-chairs and the Presidency regarding the three deliverables for 2021: improving the comparability, compatibility, and interoperability of approaches to align investments with sustainability goals; overcoming information challenges by improving sustainability reporting and disclosure; and enhancing the role of International Financial Institutions in supporting the goals of the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030. During the second session, the Group examined the G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap, which will be submitted to Ministers and Governors ahead of their October meeting and will guide future G20 work on climate change and sustainable finance.
Outcomes
The Ministerial Meetings of the G20 reaffirms the essential role of culture for the sustainable development of our societies and the need to promote and protect it, particularly in the context of the global pandemic, along with the ‘Joint Final Communiqué’ which will help to contribute to the G20 Countries mission to fight climate change and ensure a clean and inclusive green transition. The G20 Meetings were acknowledged as a decisive step in the right direction. This landmark meeting will now be followed by the Summit of the G20 Heads of State and Government that is going to be held in Rome on October 30th and 31st, 2021. The summit will include participants from the Members of the G20, guest from countries, and representatives of major International and Regional Organizations, along with the Ministers of Economy and Finance that are traditionally invited to attend the event and the Summit will be chaired by President of the Council of Ministers.
[1] https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2021/jul/23/momentum-of-climate-action-can-be-expedited-when-there-is-enough-financial-support-bhupender-yadav-2334467.html
[2] https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=1738317
[3] https://www.mea.gov.in/press-releases.htm?dtl/34090/G20_Culture_Ministers_Meeting_hosted_by_Italy
[4] https://www.g20.org/the-g20-climate-and-energy-ministerial-meeting-adopts-a-joint-communique.html
[5] https://www.g20.org/the-g20-environment-ministers-approved-a-joint-communique.html
[6] https://www.g20.org/the-g20-on-culture-adopts-the-rome-declaration.html
[7] https://en.unesco.org/news/g20-agrees-first-declaration-culture
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