On September 16, 2020 The Environment Ministerial Meeting (EMM) of the G20 Countries took place through video conference. The G20 EMM took place as part of the Sherpa Track for the G20 Leaders Summit, it was hosted through a video conference under the Presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Global Initiative to Reduce Land Degradation and Coral Program:
A Global Initiative to Reduce Land Degradation and Coral Program and two other documents related to managing emissions and climate change adaptations were launched in the meeting.
Coral Reef:
i.The Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform is an initiative aimed at creating a global Research and Development program to advance research, innovation and capacity building in all dimensions of coral reef conservation, restoration and adaption.
ii.It is also committed to strengthen ongoing efforts made to enhance coral reefs.
iii.Coral Reefs are underwater ecosystems which protect the coastlines from storms, erosions. They are referred to as “Rainforests of the sea”.
Land Degradation:
i.The initiative on reducing land degradations will strengthen the implementation of existing frameworks to prevent, halt and reverse land degradation within the G20 member states and globally too.
ii.It will take into account the possible implications on achievement of other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will follow the principle of doing no harm.
iii.Land degradation refers to the processes that negatively affect land’s natural functions of water, energy, recycling which lead to decline in land productivity. It can be a natural or human-induced process.
G20 EMM:
i.The Consultations for the Annual G20 meeting took place in three tracks. The Government discussions took place under Finance and Sherpa Tracks, whereas the Civil Society organizations through Engagement Groups.
ii.The Sherpa (personal representative of a head of state or government who prepares an international summit) Track included meetings of Ministers, senior officials and focuses on socio economic issues such as agriculture, anti-corruptions, climate, digital economy, education, employment, energy, environment, health, tourism, trade and investment.
India’s Representative:
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Prakash Javadekar represented India and highlighted the steps taken to protect environment, forest, wildlife, pollution and climate change.
i.He highlighted the efforts made by the National Coastal Mission Programme to protect and sustain coral reefs in the country.
ii.He also shared the efforts made by India towards neutrality in Land Degradation, and attainment of global goals of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
iii.India is also taking steps to meet the Paris Agreement Goals, which aims to reduce the hazardous Greenhouse Gas Emissions.
Recent Related News:
i.On April 26, 2020, the group of 20 (G20) launched “Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator”, an international initiative to accelerate development, production, and access to health tools needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
ii.On March 26, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in an extraordinary “Virtual Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit”which was hosted by Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud through video conference.
About G20:
Members – 19 Countries and European Union(Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States).
Chairman (2020) – Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (Saudi Arabia)
Theme of 2020 G20 Riyadh Summit – “Realizing Opportunities of the 21st Century for All”
