New Delhi, February 22: Emphasising that environment is not just a global problem, but the personal and collective responsibility of each and every individual, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a message shared at the inaugural session of the 22nd edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) here on Wednesday, noted that “the way forward is through collectiveness rather than selectiveness.”
“Environment conservation is a commitment and not compulsion for India,” observed the Prime Minister, while underscoring the transition towards renewable and alternate sources of energy, and the adoption of technology and innovation measures to find solutions to urban challenges.
“We have adopted a multi-dimensional approach to chart a long-term roadmap for sustainable and environment friendly lifestyle,” he added.
However, the COP28-President designate, Sultan Al Jaber of the UAE, in his keynote address, noted that the theme of this edition of the WSDS is “a call to action” and will be central to the agenda of the UAE COP.
“We will aim to unite all parties around inclusive and transformational progress. The goal of keeping 1.5 degree Celsius alive is just non-negotiable. It is also clear we cannot continue business-as-usual. We need a true, comprehensive paradigm shift in our approach to mitigation, adaptation, finance, and loss and damage,” said Al Jaber.
Observing that India is on its way to becoming the third largest economy, he asserted that India’s sustainable development is critical not just for the country, but the world.
He added that the UAE will explore opportunities of partnership with India in its high growth, low carbon pathway.
“As India takes forward the presidency of G20, the UAE supports India’s focus on transformative actions for cleaner, greener and bluer future with just and sustainable development for all,” Al Jaber said.
He also appealed civil society, indigenous peoples, the private sector, governments, women and youth to unite around a COP of Action and a COP for All. Sultan Al Jaber concluded his address on high note by saying, “let’s remember that the world makes progress through partnership, not polarization.”
“Let’s make the #world better place for all by #partnership , not by the #polarisation”, Special envoy on #Climatechange and #Cop28 President designate,Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said. #WSDS2023 .#Act4Earth @UAEembassyIndia @UAENews @IndembAbuDhabi @UAETradeOffice @AfricaWnn @cop28uae pic.twitter.com/eVA1gEHnfw
— Dr. Shahid Siddiqui (@shahidsiddiqui) February 22, 2023
At World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), a Columbia University professor -Jeffrey D Sachs also highlighted the alarming situation. He said, “We are here not to warn about future , rather we are amidst the crisis encountering everyday in the form of draught , flood and other natural disaster”.
In a panel discussion, professor was critical about the United States of America’s Policy. He also blamed USA for putting UKRAINE in unnecessary war with Russia.
In his address in the Opening Session of the Summit, Jeffrey D Sachs, Professor, The Earth Institute at Columbia University, also emphasized the criticality of India holding the G20 Presidency this year. “We have four years in a row of countries representing the voice of the real world at the head of the G20. Indonesia last year, India this year, Brazil next year and South Africa the year after. Please understand you have the power to make change. Please understand the BRICS countries now are larger than G7 economies. The world is in your hands, please take care of it. We are in the thick of the battle,” he said.
State Counsellor to the Prime Minister of Romania, Laszlo Borbely simplified the challenges of attaining sustainable development and compared it with Rubik’s Cube. He said, “the climate and sustainable development are like a Rubik’s Cube, uncles we fix it correctly you can’t achieve its desired goal.” Laszlo Borbely also emphasised on the importance of Civil Societies, education and Community network.
At the inaugural address of the three-day summit, being held on the theme of ‘Mainstreaming Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience for Collective Action’ by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Guyana’s Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo also made a clarion call to significantly focus on the principles of equity and justice at forums such as the G20 and the COPs.
Dr. Jagdeo, who is also a former two-term President of Guyana, architect of the country’s Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS), and Champion of the Earth, said it is time the world strikes a balance between the search for solutions and the need to exploit forest resources for personal livelihood and national development.
“Clearly, the case is made that forest is important for climate solutions,” he told the gathering. He emphasised, however, that even with this known fact, the forest is not reflected in global discussions in a manner that truly highlights the advantages of preservation and the need for incentives to be given to those countries that have forests to preserve.
He said as long as people and countries continue to rely on forests for betterment then the developed world must find ways to out-compete alternate use of the forest.
In earnest, the Guyanese Vice President believes the best way to do so is by creating a system that offers incentives for the preservation of forests.
22nd edition of the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) inaugural day was also graced by the presence of Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa and the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav.
In his address at WSDS, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav also noted that combating climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation transcend political considerations and is a shared global challenge. “India is contributing significantly to be a part of the solution,” he said.
India’s taking over the G20 Presidency has brought global attention to the discourse around sustainable development, especially in the UN critical decade of action, he noted.
Observing that the G20 is critical to finding climate solutions, G20 Sherpa- Amitabh Kant said, “It has the majority of the world’s GDP, economic output, exports, emissions and historical emissions. It is critical to finding climate solutions.” The G20 Sherpa pointed out that “new instruments like blended finance and, credit enhancement” are needed to enable a green transition. Unless the financial agencies are structured to finance for both Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and climate finance, it will not be possible to get long-term financing, he observed.
-Dr. M Shahid Siddiqui (PhD), Follow via Twitter @shahidsiddiqui
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