Emphasizing on coordinated action for sustainable development, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Thursday said the climate change phenomenon is deeply unfair as its negative impacts are more severely felt by the poor and vulnerable, especially in the developing countries where they contributed least to it. Yadav attended the G20 Joint Environment and Climate Ministers Meeting (JECMM) held in Bali, Indonesia. Speaking on the concluding day of the G20 meeting, the Union Minister underlined the need to work together for stronger recovery and resilience across the globe, leaving no one behind, especially the most vulnerable sections of society. He reminded us that this is at the heart of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Yadav stated that sustainable recovery should also lead towards Sustainable Development Goals.
In his address, the Minister said, “While climate change is a global phenomenon, its negative impacts are more severely felt by the poor and vulnerable, especially in developing countries. There is high dependence on natural resources, but the capacity to cope with climate variability and extremes is limited. The climate change phenomenon is deeply unfair. Those who contributed least to it from developing countries will be most severely hit by the impact of global warming.”
He said any initiative to address the contemporary environmental challenge should therefore be on the basis of equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in light of the national circumstances and priorities, he said.
Yadav informed the gathering that India will assume the G20 Presidency from December 1, 2022 culminating in the G20 summit in 2023. During the G20 Presidency, as with the Indonesian Presidency, there will be meetings, side events, workshops, seminars, and site visits in various cities across India.
Yadav told the gathering that while addressing the World Leaders Summit at COP 26 in November 2021, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a new mantra for sustainable development that is LIFE-Lifestyle For Environment.
“LiFE as a global movement is needed today to move away from mindless and destructive consumption to mindful and deliberate usage,” he said. “India’s efforts towards clean energy and energy security, low carbon and efficient industrial growth, sustainable agriculture and low carbon living affirm our commitment to a transformative shift towards a sustainable lifestyle for all,” Yadav added.
The Union Minister further said that there is a need to redefine prosperity to ensure an affordable, servable, and sustainable lifestyle for all.