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G20 Summit Highlights: Climate Change, Millets, ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ In Focus

A look at the key takeaways from the G20 Summit that happened in the national capital of New Delhi from September 9 to September 10
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G20 Summit Highlights: Climate Change, Millets, ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ In Focus

New Delhi: As curtains came down on the G20 Summit, the two-day mega conclave of world leaders under India’s G20 Presidency in the national capital of New Delhi from September 9 to 10, we bring to you some of the highlights from the event that resonates the idea of a Swasth and Healthier India.

Here’s a look at the key takeaways from the G20 Summit and what the world leaders said:

1. PM Narendra Modi Calls For Global Effort On Climate Change At G20 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the pressing need for global cooperation to combat climate change and fund the transition to sustainable energy systems. Speaking at the G20 Leaders’ Summit’s first session, PM Modi underscored the monumental financial requirements for an inclusive energy transition and said,

Keeping in mind the challenge of climate change, energy transition is a significant need of the 21st century world. Trillions of dollars are required for an inclusive energy transition. Naturally, developed countries play a very crucial role in this.

The prime minister also lauded the G20’s adoption of the ‘Green Development Pact’, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable and green growth. Prime Minister Modi also proposed a shift towards a more positive approach known as “Green Credit”, he urged G20 countries to initiate work on a ‘Green Credit Initiative’ to promote positive environmental efforts and encourage constructive initiatives. The programme aims to create a market-based mechanism for incentivising “voluntary environmental actions” by individuals, urban local bodies, communities and the private sector. Under this initiative, incentives will be given to individuals, private sectors, small scale industries, cooperatives, for environmental actions.

Also Read: Food and Agriculture Organisation Launches Action Plan For Ambitious Climate Strategy

2. Launch of Global Biofuel Alliance Announced

At the G20 Summit, India announced the launch of the Global Biofuel Alliance and urged G20 nations to join the initiative with a plea to take ethanol blending with petrol globally to 20 per cent. According to the G20 Delhi Declaration, the members stated:

Recognize the importance of sustainable biofuels in our zero and low- emission development strategies, and note the setting up of a Global Biofuels Alliance.

The Alliance intends to expedite the global uptake of biofuels through facilitating technology advancements, intensifying utilization of sustainable biofuels, shaping robust standard setting and certification through the participation of a wide spectrum of stakeholders. The alliance will also act as a central repository of knowledge and an expert hub.

The G20 member countries also agreed on the need to increase the investment in renewable energy and also agreed to phase out the subsidies on fossil fuels in the medium term and stressed their commitment to phasing out unabated coal power (the use of coal without any technologies to substantially reduce its CO2 emissions). However, they have not given any timeline for phasing out unabated coal power.

Also Read: India Brings Food Safety Net Programs To Forefront Effectively Under G20 Presidency: Agriculture Ministry

3. G20 Satellite Mission for Environment and Climate Observation Proposed

With the aim to provide climate and weather data to countries, India also proposed to launch a G20 Satellite Mission for Environment and Climate Observation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the suggestion at the G20 Leaders’ Summit at the Bharat Mandapam international convention centre in the presence of world leaders including US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa among others. PM Modi said the G20 satellite mission would be beneficial for all of humanity just as the data obtained from India’s successful Chandrayaan moon mission. He said,

The climate and weather data obtained from this will be shared with all the countries, especially the countries of the Global South. India invites all G-20 countries to join this initiative.

Also Read: “Climate Crisis Is Spiralling Out Of Control,” Says UN Chief, Urges G20 Nations To Keep “1.5 Degree Goal Alive”

4. UK PM Rishi Sunak Announced USD 2Bn Green Climate Fund

At the G20 Summit, one of the major declarations was made by United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he announced a record climate aid commitment. According to the British High Commission in India, the UK will provide USD 2 billion to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) which is the biggest single funding commitment the UK has made to help the world tackle climate change, which was established by 194 countries following the Copenhagen Accord at COP15.

At the G20 Summit UK PM Sunak has called on leaders to work together ahead of the COP28 Summit to both reduce their countries’ own carbon emissions and support vulnerable economies to deal with the consequences of climate change.
Addressing G20 leaders, PM Sunak said,

The UK is stepping up and delivering on our climate commitments, both by decarbonising our own economy and supporting the world’s most vulnerable to deal with the impact of climate change. This is the kind of leadership that the world rightly expects from G20 countries. And this government will continue to lead by example in making the UK, and the world, more prosperous and secure.

Also Read: Current Climate Policies Not Enough To Meet Paris Targets: Lancet Study

5. G20 Leaders Lauded PM Modi’s Initiatives To Combat Climate Change

Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said,

India’s vision of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ is a beacon, which infuses hope for humanity — with inclusivity, equity and prosperity for humanity that touches all of us. Grateful to G20 for understanding the need to include more people in the grouping.

The Japanese prime minister voiced support to the LiFE initiative, noting that it aims at ensuring individual behaviour changes for the environment. He also appreciated the India-led research of millets and acknowledged its importance.

At one of the meetings, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina lauded Modi’s circular economy approach and said her country is also adopting it. Whereas, President of the Union of Comoros and African Union Chairperson Azali Assoumani thanked India for its efforts in fighting climate change.

Also Read: Time To Act: Union Minister Meenakashi Lekhi Calls For Immediate Action On Climate Change

6. Tree Plantation Drive By G20 Leaders

To mark the end of two-day G20 Summit in the national capital, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led G20 leaders in a symbolic tree plantation ceremony at the Bharat Mandapam convention centre. It was a collective effort to nurture environmental consciousness.

7. India’s Superfood ‘Millets’ Dominated The G20 Summit Menu

A bouquet of millets-based vegetarian cuisine was served to world leaders who had converged in India for the G20 summit. The dishes that were on the menu included items like the Avocado and Pearl Millet Salad as well as Jowar and Jackfruit Haleem.

The reason for Millet dominating the G20 Summit menu was also the fact that 2023 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of the Millet, following a proposal by India, which wants to position itself as a global hub for Millet. Millets are known as the most secure crops as they are resilient and climate-adaptable in both hot and drought prone environments. India produces all the nine commonly known millets viz. Sorghum, Pearl Millet, Finger Millet, Foxtail Millet, Proso Millet, Little Millet, Barnyard Millet, Browntop Millet and Kodo Millet.

Also Read: G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting Adopts ‘Outcome Document’ With Focus On Food Security, Nutrition For All

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 – theLGBTQ 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 currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) 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, fightmalnutrition, 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 likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.

Related Topics:
G20 PM Modi Sustainability Swasth India
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