India uniquely positioned to champion aspirations of Global South: Puri at G20 meet

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs & Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri said that India is demonstrating that economy and ecology are not at odds with each other, but in fact, fundamentally intertwined, an official statement said, adding, “India is uniquely positioned to champion the aspirations of the Global South’.

“The Working Group can be the catalyst for the G20 countries to adopt the core tenets of the LiFE movement and promote the uptake of sustainable living at a global scale,” Puri said while virtually addressing the first meeting of the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group under India’s G20 Presidency at Bengaluru on Friday. Union Minister virtually welcomed delegates from G20 countries, guest countries, international organisations and other esteemed dignitaries.

Puri expressed his solidarity with the people of Turkey in their grief and deep difficulty. “He said that India commiserates Turkey’s loss, and will continue to extend all possible humanitarian and medical support in this time of need and said that the outpouring of support to Turkey from people and leaders across the world is a powerful reminder of the shared humanity that connects us all,” an official said.

“He said that it is in that same spirit that all the delegates have assembled to promote the universal sense of oneness that is enunciated in this year’s G20 theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future,” adding, “that, now, more than ever, it is imperative that we come together and commit to an inclusive, ambitious and action-oriented agenda that promotes well-being and prosperity,” it added.

According to Union Minister Puri, the repercussions of decreasing biodiversity and the ecosystem are growing costs and complexity in all aspects of life. Addressing the interconnected issues of climate change and biodiversity loss necessitates a determined and calibrated global effort. This will necessitate determined and foresighted leadership from the G20 nations, which account for 85% of global GDP, 75% of global commerce, and two-thirds of global population. “The Global South, in particular, looks to the G-20 conversation for an immediate agreement that avoids both a climate crisis and a financial crisis for poor countries,” Puri said in an official statement.