From February 9-11, 2023, the First G20 (Group of Twenty) Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting was held in Bengaluru, Karnataka under India’s G20 Presidency.
- It was led by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India.
Participants:
Delegates from 29 Countries
Highlights:
i.All G20 countries committed to work towards the objective of the following three priority areas
- Arresting Land Degradation, Accelerating Ecosystem Restoration and Enriching Biodiversity
- Promoting a Sustainable and Climate Resilient Blue Economy
- Encouraging Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy
ii.Discussions were held on the creation of circular economies in various sectors including steel and biowaste.
iii.India intends to address matters of environment, sustainability and climate change through an action-oriented and consensus driven approach.
- ECSWG will also work in close collaboration with other G20 key working groups to address these matters.
iv.G20 Secretariat, Ms Eenam Gambhir, made a presentation on the proposed High-Level Principles on LiFE (Lifestyles for Environment)and the Green Development Pact as potential deliverables, being steered by the Development Working Group.
v.A session focusing on theme of ‘Sustainable and Climate Resilient Blue Economy’ was held which covered issues including marine litter, conservation and enhancement of coastal and marine ecosystems and marine spatial planning.
- Indian Presidency will publish the 5th report on actions against marine plastic litter under the G20 Framework for Marine Plastic Litter, in collaboration with Japan.
vi.India presented the inception report of the technical study on ‘Accelerating the transition to Sustainable & Climate Resilient Blue Economy’ covering all G20 Countries and provided inputs for development of high-level principles on ‘Sustainable and Climate Resilient Blue Economy’.
vii.Delegates expressed support for actions for sustainable use of ocean resources, prevention of pollution and littering and for protection and enhancement of biodiversity.
Announcements:
i.India Presidency plans to convene an Ocean 20 dialogue to facilitate detailed discussion on important aspects on Blue Economy.
ii.The Indian Presidency also announced a coordinated beach cleaning event to be conducted on May 21, 2023 on the sidelines of the Ocean 20 dialogue.
iii.The discussions during this meeting will be taken forward at the 2nd ECSWG meeting, which is scheduled on 27-29th March, 2023 at Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Key Points:
i.A side event focusing on sharing of best practices for ecosystem restoration of forest fire and mining affected area was held.
ii.A visit to the Bannerghatta National Park and Kalkere Arboretum in Bengaluru was also held to showcase the forest ecosystems of Karnataka, ecosystem restoration and ecotourism models, and wildlife protection.
Recent Related News:
i.The Central Government has approved the final and first Sovereign Green Bonds (SGrB) Framework of India on the lines of the Union Budget FY23 announcement, and as a part of Government of India’s (GoI) overall market borrowings in 2022-23 to issue SGrB for mobilising resources for green projects.
ii.MoEF&CC and the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia, signed an MoU regarding the reintroduction of tigers in Cambodia for Cooperation in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Wildlife Management.
About Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC):
Union Minister– Bhupender Yadav
Minister of State– Ashwini Kumar Choubey
Secretary– Leena Nandan
