G20 (Group of 20) Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth for the year 2019 was held at Karuizawa Prince Hotel (Karuizawa Town, Nagano), Japan on June 15-16, 2019. The G20 Ministers met together to discuss energy transitions and global environment towards sustainable growth. The Ministerial Meeting was co-chaired by Yoshiaki Harada, Minister of the Environment, Japan and Hiroshige Seko Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.
Participants of G20
- The ministers from the countries Argentine Republic, Commonwealth of Australia, Federative Republic of Brazil, Canada, The People’s Republic of China, French Republic, Federal Republic of Germany, India, Republic of Indonesia, Italian Republic, Japan, United Mexican States, Republic of Korea, The Republic of South Africa, Russian Federation, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Turkey, The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America and European Union participated in the event.
- Guests were invited from Finland, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, The Netherlands and Vietnam.
- iii. Invited guest International Organizations were Asian Development Bank (ADB), Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Bank (WB), World Economic Forum (WEF), Business 20 (B20), Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), International Energy Agency (IEA), International Energy Forum (IEF), International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation (IPEEC), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), Sustainable Energy for All (Se4all) and World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).
Indian Delegation
The Indian delegation at the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth was represented by Shri RK Singh, Minister of State for Power and New & Renewable Energy and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.
- The Minister highlighted the achievements made by India in household electrification and providing energy access to all. He pointed out various energy efficiency programs such as Perform Achieve Trade (PAT), Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) for All (UJALA), Standard & Labelling, Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) and reiterated India’s commitment for greener and healthier planet.
- The progressive steps towards the achievement of the target to fulfill the commitment made in Paris Agreement on Climate Change were also mentioned.
- India’s achievements in power and Renewable Energy sectors got appreciation at the Ministerial meet.
- On the sidelines of the meeting, the minister held bilateral meetings with the Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Mr.Fatih Birol and discussed cooperation between India and IEA.
- The Minister also had bilateral meetings with Ms. Therese Coffey, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, UK, Mr. Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Economy, Trade & Industry, Japan and Russian Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr Anton Inyutsin.
Outcomes of the Meeting
Ministers and Representatives exchanged views on the key themes of “Accelerating the Virtuous Cycle of Environmental Protection and Economic Growth by Innovation”, “Resource Efficiency Marine Plastic Litter” and “Adaptation and Resilient Infrastructure including Ecosystem-based approaches”. The following important things were adopted:
- The official communiqué and other annexed documents.
- G20 Karuizawa Innovation Action Plan on Energy Transitions and Global Environment for Sustainable Growth,
- G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter
- G20 Action Agenda on Adaptation and Resilient Infrastructure
Reports on Energy Sessions
The following reports on energy sessions were released during the meeting:
- Technology Innovation to Accelerate Energy Transitions.
- The Future of Hydrogen.
- Securing Investments in Low Carbon Power Generation Sources.
- Accelerating Energy Efficiency Progress in G20 Economies.
- Solutions to Integrate High Shares of Variable Renewable Energy.
- Demand and Supply Potential of Hydrogen Energy in East Asia.
- An update report on Recent Progress in Reform of Inefficient Fossil fuel Subsidies that Encourage Wasteful Consumption was also released.
G20 agrees Marine Plastic Pollution Deal
G20 economies agreed a deal to reduce plastic waste that is choking the seas. Japan proposed “a workable framework” on how to deal with ocean trash in emerging and less developed countries. It added that the steps would be voluntary and progress would be reported once a year. The agreed framework was the first framework to reduce plastic pollution in the ocean. Japan has also planned to host a follow-up meeting to review the efforts at the G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogue in November 2019.
About Japan:
♦ Capital: Tokyo
♦ Currency: Japanese Yen
♦ Prime Minister: Shinzo Abe