Environment degradation and its recent changes have been a great matter of concern for governments and experts worldwide. Fulfilling the agendas on the Paris Agreement is being put to the forefront to tackle the effects of climate change in the present and the time to come. In line with these, climate and environment turned out to be one of the major points of discussion with the world leaders over the G20 summit held this year.
Held in Rome, the G20 has for the first time identified sustainable and responsible consumption and production, along with the provision of finance and technology as “critical enablers” for achieving climate goals of keeping 1.5 degrees within reach. Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the session as “fruitful” as world leaders elaborated on issues of global importance such as fighting the pandemic, improving health infrastructure, boosting economic cooperation , and furthering innovation. The ‘Rome Declaration’ was adopted and the countries agreed that the COVID-19 immunisation is a global public good.
Earlier this year, the UN’s main climate change monitoring body, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said that the world needs extraordinary steps immediately to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels as pledged at the historic 2015 Paris COP meet, but was not adequate to actually address the issue. The current status of emissions places the planet on a trajectory of a temperature rise of about 2.7 degrees Celsius by the end of this century and we need to establish “net zero” emissions by the end of 2050 to avoid this.
India has achieved some key successes at the G20 summit, with Government sources saying that India along with other developing countries was able to introduce language on what actions need to be taken, including by developed nations, to achieve climate and energy-specific goals which are in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of promoting the mantra of sustainable lifestyles all over the world. Sustainable consumption and responsible production patterns are coming from SDG 12, and are aimed at encouraging developed countries to reduce their luxurious energy-intensive lifestyles. Also, in another big win for the country, India pushed and obtained a commitment from G20 for improving livelihoods for small and marginal farmers.
PM Modi departed for Glasglow and will be joined by more than 120 Heads of Government and Heads of State at the World Leaders’ Summit (WLS) of the 26th Conference of Parties (COP26) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) – which is also beginning on October 31, where he would “share India’s excellent track record on climate action and our achievements.”
