New Delhi: “We have no time to lose. Challenges stretch as far as the eye can see. The climate crisis is worsening dramatically – but the collective response is lacking in ambition, credibility, and urgency,” said United Nations General Secretary Antonio Guterres, who is currently in India to attend the G20 Summit in national capital Delhi. Mr Guterres held a press conference where he raised issues ranging from climate to war and poverty. While addressing the media, he said, “Poverty, hunger, and inequalities are growing – but global solidarity is missing in action. I have come to the G20 with a simple but urgent appeal: we cannot go on like this. We must come together and act together for the common good. G20 leaders must show leadership in two priority areas.”
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The two focus areas are climate and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Talking about the leadership on climate, Mr Guterres said,
The climate crisis is spiralling out of control. But G20 countries are in control. Together, G20 countries are responsible for 80 per cent of global emissions. Half-measures will not prevent full climate breakdown.
What does leadership mean? Mr Guterres explained it as:
- Keeping the 1.5 degree goal alive.
- Rebuilding trust based on climate justice.
- And advancing a just and equitable transition to a green economy.
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He added,
I have put forward a Climate Solidarity Pact – in which big emitters make extra efforts to cut emissions; and wealthier countries support emerging economies to achieve this. And earlier this year, I presented a plan to super-charge these efforts through an Acceleration Agenda. It calls on developed countries to reach net-zero as close as possible to 2040, and emerging economies as close as possible to 2050. Phase out coal by 2030 in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and by 2040 in all others.
Mr Guterres called to end all licensing or funding of new fossil fuel projects. And, asked to bring affordable electricity to all while reaching net-zero electricity by 2035 (in developed countries) and 2040 elsewhere.
Mr Guterres also talked about the role of developed countries towards developing countries when it comes to mitigating climate change. He said,
Leadership also means finally delivering on commitments to developing countries – by the developed world, including by meeting the $100 billion goal, doubling adaptation finance, replenishing the Green Climate Fund, and operationalizing the loss and damage fund created in the last COP.
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17 SDGs of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development were adopted by the world leaders in 2015 at an historic UN summit. They officially came into force on January 1, 2016, with the aim of leaving no one behind. The 17 goals are interconnected and are to be achieved by 2030. Urging G20 nations to show leadership in saving the SDGS, Mr Guterres shared the concrete measures that would yield immediate results:
- An SDG Stimulus of at least $500 billion per year.
- An effective debt workout mechanism to support payment suspensions, longer lending terms and lower rates on fairer terms to developing countries in distress.
- A meaningful capitalization and change in the business model of Multilateral Development Banks to be able to massively leverage private finance at a reasonable cost to developing countries.
- A more substantive rechannelling of unused Special Drawing Rights to increase liquidity where it is needed most.
- And a shift in subsidies – away from fossil fuel to more sustainable and productive uses.
The UN Chief believes these actions would catalyse SDG progress and assist developing economies in investing in key transitions across energy, food systems, digital, education, health, decent jobs and social protection.
He signed off with a message of unity,
All of this is within reach – but it will take all hands. No nation, no region, no group – not even the G20 – can do it alone. We must act together as one family to save our one earth and safeguard our one future.
NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – the LGBTQ population, indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fight malnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health, adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.
