أبوظبي في 4 يوليو /وام/ أكد معالي الدكتور سلطان أحمد الجابر، وزير الصناعة والتكنولوجيا المتقدمة والرئيس المعيَّن لـ "Cop 28" أن إطلاق مشروع تحديث الاستراتيجية الوطنية للطاقة 2050 والاستراتيجية الوطنية للهيدروجين يشكل خطوة رائدة تؤكد التزام دولة الإمارات الراسخ باتخاذ إجراءات عمليّة ووضع سياسات داعمة لتحقيق التنمية الاقتصادية والاجتماعية المستدامة بالتزامن مع تعزيز جهود العمل المناخي وخفض الانبعاثات والحد من تداعيات تغير المناخ.
وقال معاليه في تصريح بمناسبة الإعلان عن مشروع تحديث استراتيجية الامارات للطاقة 2050، والاستراتيجية الوطنية للهيدروجين إن إطلاق كل من مشروع تحديث استراتيجية الإمارات للطاقة 2050، والاستراتيجية الوطنية للهيدروجين، يشكل نموذجاً لتضافر جهود جميع الجهات الوطنية المعنية لتحقيق التقدم المنشود في مجالات التنمية المستدامة والعمل المناخي وأمن الطاقة، موضحاً أن هذه الجهود تقدم نموذجاً يمكن الاقتداء به في مختلف أنحاء العالم.
وأضاف معاليه أنه بفضل رؤية وتوجيهات القيادة، عززت دولة الإمارات قدرتها الإنتاجية للطاقة المتجددة خلال العقد الماضي أكثر من أي دولة أخرى في العالم، كما تستهدف زيادة هذه القدرة أكثر من ثلاث مرات لتبلغ 14.2 غيغاواط بحلول عام 2030، وتطمح الدولة أن تصبح منتِجاً رائداً للهيدروجين منخفض الكربون بحلول عام 2031. وكان لشركة أبوظبي لطاقة المستقبل "مصدر" دور رائد في هذه الجهود وفي نشر حلول الطاقة المتجددة محلياً وإقليمياً وعالمياً.
كما أكد معاليه أنه خلال الاستعداد لاستضافة ورئاسة مؤتمر "Cop28" ستركز دولة الإمارات على القيام بدور فاعل لتسريع خفض انبعاثات الكربون من الاقتصاد العالمي مستفيدةً من خبرتها العميقة في قطاعي الطاقة والهيدروجين، وأن تحقيق أهداف المناخ والاستدامة تتطلب زيادة القدرة الإنتاجية العالمية للطاقة المتجددة ثلاث مرات بحلول 2030 إلى جانب مضاعفة إنتاج الهيدروجين.
وأوضح معالي الدكتور سلطان الجابر أهمية التركيز على تحقيق انتقال منطقي وعملي وتدريجي وعادل ومدروس في قطاع الطاقة بالتزامن مع ضمان أمن الطاقة وإمكانية الحصول عليها بتكلفة مناسبة، مشدداً على أن رئاسة "Cop28" ستركز على الاستجابة للحصيلة العالمية للتقدم في تنفيذ أهداف اتفاقية باريس بطريقة عملية وفعالة، وبما يحقق تقدم جذري ونقلة نوعية في العمل المناخي وذلك عن طريق السعي إلى إشراك كافة الأطراف المعنية لتقديم خطط عمل تحتوي الجميع وتدفع نحو المضي قُدماً في الاتجاه الصحيح لتحقيق الأهداف المناخية والانتقال من مرحلة الخطوات التدريجية إلى تحقيق تقدم جذري ونقلة نوعية في العمل المناخي لتلبية احتياجات البشرية في كل مكان.
وأكد معاليه أن رؤية القيادة في دولة الإمارات تركز دائماً على أن التنمية المستدامة هي جزء لا يتجزأ من نهج الدولة وأن أفضل طريقة لمواجهة تداعيات تغير المناخ هي العمل بثبات وتفاؤل لتحويل التحديات إلى فرص للنمو الاقتصادي والاجتماعي، عبر وضع الاستراتيجيات والسياسات المناسبة، ومدّ جسور التواصل والتعاون وبناء الشراكات للوصول إلى نتائج تحقق أعلى الطموحات.
Dr Al Jaber called the G77 – with 80% of the global population – as an essential forum for the Global South to deliver a united voice on the critical issue of climate change….reports Asian Lite News
COP28 will deliver a plan of action that is both ambitious and practical, focused on results that address the needs of the Global South, said Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, COP28 President-Delegate and UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.
Al Jaber delivered a virtual address at the meeting of G77 + China Ministers and High Authorities of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, held in Havana, on Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Development, where he reiterated the need to reform climate finance and international financial institutions (IFIs).
“With 80% of the global population, the G77 provides an essential forum for the Global South to deliver a united voice on the critical issue of climate change. That voice is all the more important now in light of the impacts ─ which are being felt the most in the Global South,” Dr. Al Jaber said.
COP28 will deliver a plan of action that is both ambitious and practical, “focused on results that address the needs of the Global South,” the President-Designate stated, adding that COP28 will, “fast track a just energy transition that triples renewables, doubles hydrogen production, and increases energy efficiency while phasing down the use of fossil fuels,” he continued. “We must safeguard energy affordability, accessibility and security, while maintaining socio economic development.”
COP28 will produce a “plan of action that reignites momentum on each of the pillars of climate action, from mitigation to adaptation, finance and loss and damage,” the President-Designate stated, adding that on adaptation, “We need to double finance to $40 billion and allow for a truly global early warning system ─ built on the best technologies.”
He reminded the gathering, “The single largest obstacle to success is finance ─ and the COP28 Presidency is committed to addressing this issue in a real way.”
“There are encouraging signs that the long overdue $100-billion-dollar pledge will be fulfilled,” he stated, yet cautioning, “IFIs and MDBs are not distributing concessional finance anywhere near quickly enough. Climate finance needs to be more available, more accessible, and more affordable.”
Dr. Al Jaber told the audience that COP28 will work to lower the level of risk, mobilizing “the private sector ─ unlocking trillions of dollars in climate finance.”
For the first time, COP28 “will address the impacts of climate change and livelihoods by putting food, health and nature at the heart of COP,” Dr. Al Jaber said, reminding the assembled dignitaries that at COP27, “The unity of the G77 was critical to delivering a historic outcome on Loss & Damage. Indeed, G77 countries can help us on each of the priority areas by pushing for unity and solidarity throughout the negotiations.”
Further elaborating on the upcoming event, Dr. Al Jaber said, “COP28 will be the first COP to host a G77 summit. We urge you to use this platform to shape ambitious outcomes and accelerated action.”
The President-Designate went on to say the COP28 will need G77’s help to deliver “a bold and transformative response to the Global Stocktake. To conclude the Global Goal on Adaptation. To accelerate a balanced and just energy transition. And to finally deliver the scale and scope of climate finance that is needed for concrete results.”
He concluded his remarks with a call to unite, act, and deliver, “Let us work together to pave the way towards an inclusive, sustainable, and resilient future for all.”
‘UAE firmly committed to achieving net zero’
Al Jaber said that the launch of the updated version of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the development of the National Hydrogen Strategy, constitutes a pioneering step that affirms the UAE’s commitment to taking practical measures and developing supportive policies to achieve sustainable economic and social development, in conjunction with strengthening climate action efforts, reducing emissions and mitigating the repercussions of climate change.
In his statements, Dr. Al Jaber emphasised that the announcement of the updated version of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the development of the National Hydrogen Strategy constitutes a model for the concerted efforts of all concerned national authorities to achieve the desired progress in the areas of sustainable development, climate action and energy security, explaining that these efforts provide a model that can be emulated in various parts of the world.
“Over the last decade, the UAE has increased renewable energy capacity more than any other country in the world, and by 2030 aims to more than triple this capacity again to reach a total of 14.2 GW. By building on our expertise in the energy sector and exporting hydrogen, the UAE will play a critical role in speeding up the decarbonisation of the global economy. The UAE also aspires to become a leading producer of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031,” the COP28 President-Designate noted.
Masdar is already a global leader in deploying renewable energy solutions and I welcome the ambition to turn the UAE into a leading producer of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031, he added.
Concluded a productive meeting of BRICS Foreign Ministers.(Photo credit: @DrSJaishankar)
India asserts that in the changing multipolar world, old ways cannot address new situations…reports Asian Lite News
Delivering on its promise of voicing the concerns of the developing countries in international forums, India has urged fellow BRICS nations, including Russia, China and South Africa, to approach key contemporary issues seriously, constructively and collectively.
Amplifying the voice of the Global South at BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted that the gathering must send out a strong message that the world is multipolar, is rebalancing, and that old ways cannot address new situations.
“This responsibility is even greater as we contemplate the devastating after effects of the Covid pandemic, the stresses arising from conflict, and the economic distress of the Global South. They underline the deep shortcomings of the current international architecture which does not reflect today’s politics, economics, demographics or indeed aspirations,” said Jaishankar.
India has been hailed as a leader among developing countries, a strong development partner and a major proponent of South-South cooperation by several nations from the Caribbean, Africa and the Pacific Ocean.
Last month, during the third Forum for India–Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit held at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, the Pacific island countries promised to rally behind India’s leadership at various global forums saying that they are “victims of global powerplay” and see India as their flag bearer on the global stage.
“You are the voice that can offer our issues at the highest as advanced economies discuss matters relating to economy, commerce, trade and geopolitics. We want you to be an advocate for us. As you sit in those meetings and continue to fight for the rights of small emerging nations and emerging economies,” said PNG Prime Minister James Marape as PM Narendra Modi listened intently.
In Cape Town on Thursday, Jaishankar once again took forward the message from developing countries, saying that the recent experiences impacting health, energy and food security have exposed the fragility because economic concentration that leaves too many nations at the mercy of too few remains at the heart of all problems.
“India undertook the Voice of the Global South exercise to place these issues before the G20. We urge that BRICS give it particular consideration and promote the economic decentralization that is so essential to political democratization,” he said in his opening remarks at the meeting.
New Delhi has long been spotlighting the pressing need for reforms in the global governance multilateral architecture, including the long-standing reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
“For two decades, we have heard calls for reform of multilateral institutions, only to be continuously disappointed. It is therefore, imperative that BRICS Members demonstrate sincerity in regard to reforming global decision making, including that of the UN Security Council,” remarked Jaishankar.
The Joint Statement issued after the meeting reaffirmed the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries so that it can adequately respond to global challenges.
India’s efforts to drive South-South cooperation and build a truly multipolar world order which is more responsive to the aspirations of developing countries will only increase in the coming weeks as it hosts the G20 Leaders’ Summit for the first time in September.
At the very beginning of its ongoing G20 Presidency, PM Modi made it clear that it will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented with a focus on collective action and keeping up with its Presidency motto of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and the theme ‘One Earth. One Family. One Future’.
Call for UNSC reforms
The Ministers expressed concern about the use of unilateral coercive measures, which are incompatible with the principles of the Charter of the UN and produce negative effects notably in the developing world. They reiterated their commitment to enhancing and improving global governance by promoting a more agile, effective, efficient, representative and accountable international and multilateral system. The Ministers recalled UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 75/1 and reiterated the call for reforms of the principal organs of the United Nations. They recommitted to instil new life in the discussions on the reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) and continue the work to revitalise the General Assembly and strengthen the Economic and Social Council.
They reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the framework of BRICS cooperation under the three pillars of political and security, economic and financial, and cultural and people-to-people cooperation upholding the BRICS spirit featuring mutual respect and understanding, equality, solidarity, openness, inclusiveness, and consensus.
The Ministers reiterated their commitment to strengthening multilateralism and upholding international law, including the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations (UN) as its indispensable cornerstone, and the central role of the UN in an international system in which sovereign states cooperate to maintain peace and security, advance sustainable development, ensure the promotion and protection of democracy, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, and promoting cooperation based on the spirit of solidarity, mutual respect, justice and equality.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted that the BRICS gathering must send out a strong message that the world is multipolar, is rebalancing, and that old ways cannot address new situations, reports Ateet Sharma
Delivering on its promise of voicing the concerns of the developing countries in international forums, India has urged fellow BRICS nations, including Russia, China and South Africa, to approach key contemporary issues seriously, constructively and collectively.
Friends of BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting.
Amplifying the voice of the Global South at Thursday’s BRICS foreign ministers meeting in Cape Town, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar asserted that the gathering must send out a strong message that the world is multipolar, is rebalancing, and that old ways cannot address new situations.
“This responsibility is even greater as we contemplate the devastating after effects of the Covid pandemic, the stresses arising from conflict, and the economic distress of the Global South. They underline the deep shortcomings of the current international architecture which does not reflect today’s politics, economics, demographics or indeed aspirations,” said Jaishankar.
India has been hailed as a leader among developing countries, a strong development partner and a major proponent of South-South cooperation by several nations from the Caribbean, Africa and the Pacific Ocean.
Last month, during the third Forum for India–Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit held at Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, the Pacific island countries promised to rally behind India’s leadership at various global forums saying that they are “victims of global powerplay” and see India as their flag bearer on the global stage.
“You are the voice that can offer our issues at the highest as advanced economies discuss matters relating to economy, commerce, trade and geopolitics. We want you to be an advocate for us. As you sit in those meetings and continue to fight for the rights of small emerging nations and emerging economies,” said PNG Prime Minister James Marape as PM Narendra Modi listened intently.
In Cape Town on Thursday, Jaishankar once again took forward the message from developing countries, saying that the recent experiences impacting health, energy and food security have exposed the fragility because economic concentration that leaves too many nations at the mercy of too few remains at the heart of all problems.
“India undertook the Voice of the Global South exercise to place these issues before the G20. We urge that BRICS give it particular consideration and promote the economic decentralization that is so essential to political democratization,” he said in his opening remarks at the meeting.
New Delhi has long been spotlighting the pressing need for reforms in the global governance multilateral architecture, including the long-standing reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
“For two decades, we have heard calls for reform of multilateral institutions, only to be continuously disappointed. It is therefore, imperative that BRICS Members demonstrate sincerity in regard to reforming global decision making, including that of the UN Security Council,” remarked Jaishankar.
The Joint Statement issued after the meeting reaffirmed the need for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more representative, effective and efficient, and to increase the representation of developing countries so that it can adequately respond to global challenges.
India’s efforts to drive South-South cooperation and build a truly multipolar world order which is more responsive to the aspirations of developing countries will only increase in the coming weeks as it hosts the G20 Leaders’ Summit for the first time in September.
At the very beginning of its ongoing G20 Presidency, PM Modi made it clear that it will be inclusive, ambitious, decisive and action-oriented with a focus on collective action and keeping up with its Presidency motto of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and the theme ‘One Earth. One Family. One Future’.
India’s voice as current president of the G-20 and the SCO had additional resonance at the G-& meet, more so as India seeks to represent the voice of the Global South in the G-20 and inscribe the concerns of the developing countries on its agenda, writes Kanwal Sibal
The G-7 summit to which India was invited provided New Delhi a platform to express its views on the challenging issues confronting the international community today. India has been invited to earlier G-7 summits too but on this occasion India’s voice as current president of the G-20 and the SCO had additional resonance, more so as India seeks to represent the voice of the Global South in the G-20 and inscribe the concerns of the developing countries on its agenda. In their briefings on the invitation extended to India the Japanese put emphasis on creating a synergy between the G-7 and the G-20.
India’s voice on its own has now more credibility in G-7 and other groupings when global issues are discussed. On climate change and related issues of environment and energy, India has moved away from its earlier defensive posture, and on the back of its own internal and external initiatives, PM Modi could with confidence recall to the leaders present that India had created global institutional mechanisms to address these issues, such as Mission Life, International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Mission Hydrogen, Biofuel Alliance, and the Big Cat Alliance.
He also conveyed that India was moving swiftly towards its goal of Net Zero by 2070, implicitly rejecting the thrust of the G-7 communiqué that the “major economies” should move towards Net Zero by 2050. For credibility, he mentioned that India’s vast railway network was slated to become Net Zero by 2030 and the current installed capacity of renewable energy in India of about 168.9 GW, and expected to rise exponentially in the future.
PM Modi also threw back the responsibility on the G-7 to do their part to meet the Climate Change and associated challenges by providing technology transfer and affordable financing to the countries in need without which, he said starkly, “our discussion will be futile” with “no change on the ground”.
In a bid to build an important link between the G-20 and the G-7 agenda, Modi, in another G7 session, took up the cause of the Global South on global food security by calling for building an inclusive food system that focuses on the world’s most vulnerable people, especially marginal farmers, strengthening global fertilizer supply chains by removing the political obstacles in them, a new model of natural farming, taking digital technology to farmers around in the world, separating organic food from a fashion statement and commerce and connecting it with nutrition and health, and preventing food wastage. With India having taken the successful initiative to have the UN declare 2023 as the International Year of Millets, he reminded the leaders present that millets addressed simultaneously the challenges of nutrition, climate change, water conservation and food security.
Recalling by implication the failure of the G-7 to assume a cooperative leadership role in combating Covid 19, Modi drew attention to the reality that availability of vaccine and medicines during the pandemic was linked to politics instead of human welfare. He proposed the establishment of resilient healthcare systems, with traditional medicine playing its part in creating “holistic healthcare,” with the mobility of doctors and nurses as a priority, with India’s strengths in this field no doubt in mind.
The other messages Modi conveyed were changing the development model inspired by consumerism, focusing on development, technology and democracy together, and progress made by India in women-led development. With the obsession in the West about transgenders, Modi mentioned that India had made a law to ensure the rights of transgender persons, with a railway station in India run entirely by them.
Prime Minister Modi’s bilateral meeting with President Zelensky attracted unnecessarily high media interest in India. The G-7 has studiously provided Zelensky every possible national and international platform to promote him personally. Inviting him to Hiroshima was expected, especially as Japan has lately become very outspoken in condemning Russia for its military intervention in Ukraine, to the extent of galvanizing support for G-7’s position even from African countries, many of whom have refused to condemn Russia.
It was not only appropriate but diplomatically necessary for Modi to meet Zelensky, as not meeting him would have eroded India’s balancing strategy. India has diplomatic ties with Ukraine, obtained its help in evacuating Indian students when the conflict erupted, and has provided humanitarian aid to the country. India cannot take a position that dialogue and diplomacy, not a military win, is required to end the conflict, and then refuse to have a dialogue with Ukraine. More so as India has been called to play some sort of a mediatory role to end the conflict by some voices at the international level.
PM Modi had even before he reached Hiroshima told a Japanese news outlet in an interview that India’s position on the Ukraine conflict was clear and unchanged, giving advance notice that India will not yield to any pressure at the G-7 meeting. In his meeting with Zelensky, while recognising that the Russia-Ukraine issue was a major one impacting the entire world, and that he understood the pain and sufferings of war felt by the Ukrainian people, and that he would personally do everything that is possible to end the conflict, Modi artfully circumscribed its scope for India by saying that he did not see it “as a political or economic issue” (more, significantly, not even a military one) but “an issue of human values”.
At the joint meeting of the G-7 leaders and the invitees with Zelensky, Modi reiterated the same position, adding that “from the very beginning, we have maintained that dialogue and diplomacy is the only way” and that “we will make every possible effort to contribute, in whatever way India can, for resolving this situation”. He was addressing his message to the G-7 leaders and Zelensky in view of their strategy to rule out dialogue and diplomacy for the time being, continue arming Ukraine with increasingly lethal weapons to enable its armed forces to launch a successful military counter offensive that would compel Russia to negotiate.
Modi made the point that in “today’s inter-connected world, crises in any one region affect all the countries”, and that “the developing countries, which have limited resources, are the worst affected” with a food, fuel, and fertilizer crisis. He boldly broadened his critique by asking why we are “facing the need to discuss matters of peace and stability in distinct forums”, and not the UN “which was established with the very purpose of establishing peace”, and failing even until now to agree on the “definition of terrorism”. An introspection would make it clear that “the institutions created in the last century are not in line with the system of the twenty-first century” and “do not reflect the realities of the present”. The UN, he said need reform and had to become “the voice of the Global South. Otherwise, we will just keep talking about ending conflict. UN and Security Council will become just a talk shop”- a blunt but valid observation.
The Prime Minister called for all countries to respect the UN Charter, international law and sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries and oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo (can also be read as an indirect swipe at China). He evoked Buddha’s teachings to the gathered leaders to the effect that “enmity does not calm enmity. Enmity is pacified by affinity”. Eventually, all water off the duck’s back as at the Hiroshima summit an additional arms package of US$ 375 million and unwavering support for Ukraine was announced by the US.
(Kanwal Sibal is India’s former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to Russia. Views expressed are personal and exclusive to India Narrative)
Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. (Photo:Xinhua/IANS)
PM Fumio Kishida will leave next week on the first multicountry trip to Africa by a Japanese leader since 2014.
The Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima is just a month away and in a bid to compete against China and Russia for influence in Africa, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is all set to embark on a multi-country trip, reported Nikkei Asia.
PM Kishida will leave next week on the first multicountry trip to Africa by a Japanese leader since 2014. His four stops – Egypt, Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique – are all part of the Global South, a loosely defined collection of over 100 developing nations. The valuable natural resources acquired by many Global South countries, and their general diplomatic aversion to the United States, have brought overtures from Russia and China to Tokyo’s alarm.
Kishida has told his aides that Chinese President Xi Jinping and senior Chinese officials “have been going all over Africa and Latin America,” adding, “At this rate, we’ll lose to them,” as per Nikkei Asia.
Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang made a visit to Egypt in January, a month after Xi met with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in Saudi Arabia.
Last year alone Kenya’s trade with China spiked 27 per cent, and polling there shows positive views of Beijing soaring to 82 per cent from 58 per cent in 2021.
According to China’s official Xinhua News Agency, In Mozambique, a resource-abundant place, a Chinese-backed liquefied natural gas project began production in November. And Ghana’s finance minister paid a visit to China last month to discuss debt restructuring after its default in December, read a report published in Nikkei Asia.
Support from the Global South will be crucial to the G7’s efforts to isolate China and Russia.
G7 foreign ministers, in a statement after their meeting this week, stressed reinforcing an “international order based on the rule of law,” calling out Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s negligence of international law in the East and South China seas.
But what G7 lacks is the economic dominance it once had. Members that accounted for more than 60 per cent of the global gross domestic product from the 1970s to the 1990s now have shares of less than 50 per cent.
Tokyo’s new outreach efforts go beyond Africa. Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan’s Foreign Minister, is planning a trip to Latin America later this month.
Peru and Chile are both members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement to which China has applied. Hayashi is expected to argue that new members must adhere to the CPTPP’s high degree of trade liberalisation, according to Nikkei Asia.
Japan seeks to strengthen ties with the Global South by providing finance, training, and other assistance to nations dealing with high energy costs, food shortages, and climate change, while also conveying Tokyo’s positions on the Ukraine crisis and the geopolitical situation in East Asia.
Japan announced plans last month to provide development assistance based on the needs of recipients, Nikkei Asia reported. (ANI)
New York, Feb 15 (ANI): India's Permanent Ambassador to United Nations Ruchira Kamboj speaks at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on Climate change, in New York on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, raises concern over the uncertain global economic outlook, inflationary pressures at ECOSOC Forum…reports Asian Lite News
India, during its G-20 Presidency, is amplifying the voice and concerns of the Global South and developing countries, the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj said.
Speaking at ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development 2023, Kamboj said, “The Voice of the Global South Summit held in January 2023, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was attended by 125 countries, including 18 at Heads of State/Government level and others at the Ministerial level.” Furthermore, Kamboj said, during India’s ongoing Presidency, participation from Africa is the highest ever, which includes South Africa (G20 Member), Mauritius, Egypt, Nigeria, AU Chair – Comoros, and the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africa’s Development (AUDA-NEPAD)”.
India’s G20 Presidency reached its 100th event on 17 April with the Meeting of the Agricultural Chief Scientists in Varanasi. “Following the spirit of ‘One Earth One Family One Future’, India is committed to forging consensus through the G20 process to find solutions to global challenges,” Kamboj added.
Kamboj further raised concern over the uncertain global economic outlook, inflationary pressures, debt distress, uneven recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, lack of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the adverse effects of climate change, and geopolitical conflicts and said that these have impacted the Global South the most.
“The developmental initiatives of the Global South, in particular the implementation of the 2030 agenda and the SDG targets, are facing serious challenges. There is a growing recognition of the urgent need to address these issues, including by strengthening multilateral coordination to tackle debt distress in low-income and vulnerable middle-income countries effectively,” she said.
The Indian envoy urged for a supportive international economic environment and multilateral trading regime, financially viable, transparent, and sustainable investment flows aligned with national priorities, and a strengthened framework for the transfer of technology is fundamental.
“We also need to ensure stable trade flows to address the multiple global crises, inter alia, of food, energy and finance, as well as enhancing food security and nutrition. We must enhance the sustainability and resilience of supply chains that foster the sustainable integration of developing countries,” she said.
Kamboj also called for urgent reform of the international financial architecture, including MDB reform.
“The lack of representation of vulnerable and developing countries in formal decision-making processes will determine the legitimacy and relevance of MDBs in the coming decades. The G20 under India’s Presidency has prioritized MDB reform, including through the recently constituted expert group on strengthening MDBs, and the need for them to evolve to address the increase in demand on their lending resources, knowledge support, and for catalysing private investment,” she said.
Kamboj also laid emphasis on strengthening multilateral collaboration among creditors to address the deteriorating debt situation, and to ensure transparency and equality in treatment of all creditors in the debt restructuring efforts.
“India has co-chaired a Sovereign Debt Roundtable with the IMF and World Bank on the margins of the Spring Meetings recently to discuss debt sustainability and debt restructuring challenges and ways to address them, including the G20 Common Framework,” Kamboj said.
She reiterated that climate finance and progress on the SDGs are two sides of the same coin. Timely and adequate resources for climate finance, including exploring innovative financing is important.
“There is a need to set a New Collective Quantified Goal from a floor of USD 100 billion per year, prioritizing the needs of developing countries. The COP27 decision on funding arrangements for responding to loss and damage, and the COP15 decision on the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund must be implemented expeditiously,” she added.
Within the G20, India has proposed Digital Public Infrastructure and Digital Skilling as key priority areas to realize potential, and harness the opportunities of the digital economy.
Science, technology and innovation can play a key role in bridging current SDG gaps and in harnessing the needed resources for scaling up economically. Digital technology can be a key tool for inclusion, advance governance, better service delivery and promote inclusion of all sections of society.
During its G-20 Presidency, India is also amplifying the voice and concerns of the Global South and developing countries, Indian ambassador to UN @IndiaUNNewYork@ruchirakamboj at ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development 2023.pic.twitter.com/4jzi07FlVw
“Development cooperation must draw investments in digital infrastructure, digital skills training, and digital literacy,” said Kamboj.
Meanwhile, G20 Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa of India said India’s G20 presidency of India aimed for inclusive, resilient and sustainable growth, Amitabh Kant, G20 Sherpa of India said at the Distinguished Public Lecture entitled: ‘India’s Presidency of G20: The Way Forward’.
Amitabh Kant dwelt on a wide ranging overview outlining India’s political and development narratives, key priorities, initiatives to reshape and reconfigure the world and how India is planning to execute the meetings for G20 ahead of the Leaders’ Summit in September 2023.
“G20 is important because it comprises about 85 per cent of the global GDP and about 78 per cent of the global trade, 90 per cent of the patents in the world and nearly two-thirds of the global population. The G20 Presidency moves from one country to another every year and different countries have different perspectives and priorities. It is very important to study, examine and analyse this as G20 is essentially an economic group for development and growth.” (ANI)
G20 Foreign Ministers said the need for revitalized multilateralism to adequately address contemporary global challenges of the 21st Century…reports Asian Lite News
The G20 Foreign Ministers meeting held here on Thursday was a resounding success with the outcome document reflecting the concern of developing countries and global south and the G20 countries talking about other issues of global import including terrorism and reliable supply chains.
G20 countries condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations as they noted the growing threat from the misuse of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes and pitched for a more inclusive and reinvigorated multilateralism and reform.
Overall 40 delegations, including of 13 international organisations, participated in the meeting. Nine guest countries participating at the level of Foreign Ministers were Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the United Arab Emirates.
The G20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Delhi was one of the largest such gathering hosted by any G20 presidency.
The Outcome Document at the end of the G20 Foreign Ministers meeting held in Delhi said supply chains of both food and agricultural products including fertilizers should be kept reliable, open and transparent.
It said G20 Foreign Ministers met in New Delhi on March 1 and 2 at a time when the world faces multi-dimensional challenges ranging from insufficient progress towards Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, to economic slowdown, debt distress, uneven pandemic recovery, growing poverty and inequality, food and energy insecurity and global supply chain disruptions, aggravated by geo-political tensions and conflicts.
“Meeting under India’s G20 Presidency, with the theme ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – ‘One Earth. One Family. One Future’, the G20 Foreign Ministers deliberated upon current global challenges. They brought focus on strengthening multilateralism, food and energy security, ambitious climate and environmental action, deepening cooperation on sustainable development, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, global health, global talent pool, humanitarian assistance and disaster risk reduction, as well as gender equality and women’s empowerment,” the Outcome document said.
It said the global order has undergone dramatic changes since the Second World War due to economic growth and prosperity, decolonization, demographic dividends, technological achievements, emergence of new economic powers and deeper international cooperation.
“The United Nations must be responsive to the entire membership, faithful to its founding purposes and principles of its Charter and adapted to carrying out its mandate. In this context, we recall the Declaration on the Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the United Nations (UNGA 75/1) which reaffirmed that our challenges are inter-connected and can only be addressed through reinvigorated multilateralism, reforms and international cooperation,” it said.
G20 Foreign Ministers said the need for revitalized multilateralism to adequately address contemporary global challenges of the 21st Century, and to make global governance more representative, effective, transparent and accountable, has been voiced at multiple fora.
“In this context, a more inclusive and reinvigorated multilateralism and reform aimed at implementing the 2030 agenda is essential. We will step up efforts to make a meaningful contribution for the success of the SDG Summit in September 2023, COP28 in December 2023, and the Summit of the Future in 2024. We are supportive of further deepening cooperation between the G20 and regional partners, including African partners,” it said.
The meeting recalled the Bali Leaders’ Declaration where leaders had reaffirmed that the rules-based, non-discriminatory, free, fair, open, inclusive, equitable, sustainable and transparent multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core, is indispensable to advancing our shared objectives of inclusive growth, innovation, job creation and sustainable development in an open and interconnected world as well as to supporting the resilience and recovery of a global economy under strain due to Covid-19 and global supply chain disruption.
The document said the G20 countries are deeply concerned by the challenges to global food security exacerbated by current conflicts and tensions.
“Promoting the availability, accessibility, affordability, sustainability, equity and transparent flow of food and agricultural products including fertilizers in all corners of the globe, to fight hunger and malnutrition, is the need of the hour. Supply chains of both food and agricultural products including fertilizers should be kept reliable, open and transparent.
“Promoting efficient, sustainable, inclusive and resilient agriculture and food systems is necessary to address the vulnerabilities of the developing countries. Support for increased cooperation in areas like agrobiodiversity, minimizing food loss and waste, improving soil health, climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture, connecting local, regional and international markets, and strengthening Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS), as well as promoting healthy diets and nutritious foods is essential.
“Systems that underlie food security such as water and fertilizers, should be bolstered to ensure sustainable agriculture and durable and climate-resilient solutions. We reiterate our support for open, transparent, inclusive, predictable, and non-discriminatory agricultural trade based on WTO rules,” the document said.
It underlined the importance of full, timely, improved and continued implementation by all relevant stakeholders of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the Memorandum of Understanding between Russia and the UN Secretariat, that was brokered by Turkiye and the UN on July 22, 2022 as a package, to reduce global food insecurity and to enable unimpeded flows of more food and fertilizers to developing countries in need.
#G20India Chair’s Summary & Outcome Document following the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, New Delhi.
Referring to energy security, the document said undisrupted, sustainable, and resilient supply chains are important to ensure affordable, reliable and sustainable access to energy for all.
“Strengthening sustainable supply chains as well as circular approaches and promoting inclusive investments are necessary to meet growing energy demand.”
On climate change and biodiversity, the Foreign Ministers reaffirmed the steadfast commitments of their leaders, in pursuit of the objective of UNFCCC, to tackle climate change by strengthening the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement and its temperature goal, reflecting equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in light of different national circumstances. “We recall and further urge developed countries to fulfil their commitments to deliver on the goal of jointly mobilizing USD 100 billion per year urgently by 2020 and through to 2025 in the context of meaningful mitigation action and transparency on implementation. We also support continued deliberations on an ambitious new collective quantified goal of climate finance from a floor of USD 100 billion per year taking into account the needs and priorities of developing countries, that helps in fulfilling the objective of the UNFCCC and implementation of the Paris Agreement. We commit to strengthen actions to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.”
The document said that the threat of future pandemics is very real and the G20 countries must work collectively to institutionalize and operationalize the multi-sectoral actions needed for health emergencies prevention, preparedness, and response.
“As demonstrated by the Covid-19 pandemic, we are at a critical stage in global health. Strengthening key aspects of global health architecture, with the leading and coordination role of the WHO, including our support for the process to negotiate and adopt a new pandemic instrument/accord and amendments to the International Health Regulations (2005), support for the Pandemic Fund, improving digital health, and working together with relevant international, regional and local organizations, is necessary.,” it said.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who addressed a press conference after the meeting, said bulk of the issues which concern the Global South, the developing countries, there was considerable meeting of minds.
“And a considerable meeting of minds has been captured by the Outcome document. If we had a perfect meeting of minds of all issues and captured it fully then obviously it would have been a collective statement,” he said.
Jaishankar said that the Chair Summary outlined the concerns of the Global South and “it is just on two paragraphs that were not able to get everybody on the same page.”
Answering a query on the impact of Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar said it is impacting the global south.
“Of course, it is. It is not something new. In fact, India has been saying this very strongly for pretty much close to a year that this is affecting… In fact, today, in my own session, I actually used the word saying for much of the global south, this is a make-or-break issue that the cost of fuel, the cost of food, the cost of fertilizer…The availability of fertilizer which means next year’s food. These are all extremely pressing issues,” he said.
“If you see, some of the countries who were already struggling with debt, who were already impacted by the pandemic. For them, the knock-on effects of this conflict coming on top of that. It is a matter of very, very deep concern for us. Which is why we kept focus in this meeting on the concerns of the global south. We feel these are the most vulnerable countries. It is not credible to talk about the future of the global economy and the multilateral order if we are not able to really address and focus on the issues of those who are most in need,” Jaishankar added.
He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his remarks had said that G20 countries also had a responsibility towards those not in the room
“There were five important points in the Prime Minister’s address. One, he noted that multilateralism is in crisis today. And, in terms of preventing future wars and fostering international cooperation which were two primary tasks it had failed. The second point he made was that it is important to give a voice to the global south because world was sinking … a lot of countries actually regressing on their sustainable goals pathway were witnessing challenging debts,” he said .
“The third point he made was that the discussions which we were beginning at that time. He recognised that these discussions were affected by the geopolitical tensions of the day but asked us all as foreign ministers to remember that we had a responsibility for those who are not in the room. And therefore, he urged that we draw inspiration from India’s civilisation ethos and focus not on what divides us but on what unites us,” he added.
Jaishankar reiterated PM Modi’s concerns about the challenges that the participating countries should address which included the impact of the pandemic, the lives lost in natural disasters, the breakdown of global supply chains, debt and financial crisis.
He said that G20 group have individually and collectively an obligation to contribute to international growth and prosperity, adding that these can be implemented through sustainable partnerships and goodwill initiatives. (ANI)
The virtual forum has provided valuable inputs from the Global South that could facilitate India’s ambition to steer the G20 2023 summit in Delhi successfully…reports Asian Lite News
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday met with the Permanent Representatives from the Global South of the United Nations.
The representatives were from Barbados, Gambia, Kazakhstan, Mali, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, St Lucia and Tonga. “A good interaction with Permanent Representatives from the Global South representing Barbados, Gambia, Kazakhstan, Mali, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, St Lucia and Tonga at United Nations,” tweeted Jaishankar.
He appreciated their comments on India’s leadership at the UN and for Vaccine Maitri and wished them an enriching Incredible India experience!
“Appreciate their comments on India’s leadership at the UN and for Vaccine Maitri. Wishing them an enriching Incredible India experience!” he tweeted.
Vaccine Maitri is a humanitarian drive embarked on by the Indian administration to furnish COVID-19 antiviral injections to nations around the globe. Indian administration has commenced delivering injections since January 20, 2021.
The term ‘Global South’ began by loosely referring to those countries that were left out of the industrialisation era and had a conflict of ideology with the capitalist and communist countries, accentuated by the Cold War.
It includes countries that are mostly in Asia, Africa and South America.
‘Global South’ is significant because of its large population, rich cultures, and abundant natural resources.
Understanding the Global South is important for addressing global issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
Many countries in the Global South still struggle with poverty and economic inequality, which can make it difficult to implement development initiatives.
In the recently held Voice of the Global South 2023 Summit – “Unity of Voice, Unity of Purpose” – India attempted to add another note to the chorus of the global order.
The virtual forum has provided valuable inputs from the Global South that could facilitate India’s ambition to steer the G20 2023 summit in Delhi successfully.
The forum is also about India reconnecting with a global group of nations that had fallen off the Indian foreign policy radar since the end of the Cold War.
Over the last three decades, Indian diplomacy’s focus has been on reordering its great power relations, bringing stability to the neighbourhood and developing regional institutions in the extended neighbourhood. (ANI)
