Delhi Declaration of G20: A Green Development Pact for Our Future

The recently concluded G20 summit in New Delhi witnessed the monumental Delhi Declaration – a testament to the shared vision of global leaders in the realm of sustainable development and climate change.

1. Holistic Growth and Development: The Declaration underscores the profound understanding that the prosperity of both present and future generations hinges on our current developmental strategies and policy decisions. The global leaders have therefore resolved to champion growth that is not only economically viable but also environmentally sustainable and inclusive.

2. Tackling the Climate Crisis: Climate change, an exigent global crisis, found significant emphasis in the Declaration. The leaders exhibited cognizance of its impacts, particularly on the most vulnerable sections of society and regions such as Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). To address this, the G20 nations reaffirmed their commitment to the objectives of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.

3. Strengthening the Paris Agreement Goals: There’s an alarming consensus that the global actions against climate change remain insufficient to achieve the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. These goals intend to limit global temperature rise to below 2°C, striving further to contain it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The G20 leaders, noting the revelations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), have resolved to redouble their efforts to restrict temperature escalation to 1.5°C.

4. National Roadmaps & Global Cooperation: To turn this vision into reality, the Declaration calls for an amalgamation of clear national strategies combined with international collaboration, especially in technology, finance, and sustainable consumption.

5. Updating Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): Countries have been urged to reevaluate and bolster their 2030 targets under NDCs by the end of 2023. These revisions should be reflective of individual national scenarios. The importance of the first global stocktake at COP28 in Dubai was also accentuated, aimed at amplifying climate action across multiple domains.

6. Vision for Net Zero Emissions: The G20 nations reiterated their steadfast commitment to attaining global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions or carbon neutrality by approximately mid-century. The pathway to this ambitious objective encompasses various strategies, including the Circular Carbon Economy and the exploration of efficient solutions tailored to individual national contexts.

The Delhi Declaration is more than just a document; it’s a beacon for our global community’s sustainable future. It recognizes the shared responsibility of both developed and developing nations in shaping a green, inclusive, and prosperous future for generations to come.