‘Climate Action with Gender Equality at Its Core’: All About the G20 Delhi Declaration | Highlights

The G20 summit adopted the New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration on Saturday, even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said it was a significant victory for India’s presidency that came amid increasing tensions and divergent views over the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Under the theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (The World is One Family), world leaders declared “we are One Earth, One Family, and we share One Future” on the first day of the grand event.

The prime minister, while announcing the adoption of the declaration with full consensus, highlighted the leveraging of technology by India to bring a positive difference in the lives of people. He also spoke on how to collectively think about empowering fellow humans and making the planet more inclusive as well as sustainable.

The declaration’s preamble stated that this was a “defining moment in history where the decisions we make now will determine the future of our people and our planet” and committed to addressing global challenges.

“G20 cooperation is essential in determining the course the world takes. Headwinds to global economic growth and stability persist. Years of cascading challenges and crises have reversed gains in the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions continue to increase, with climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, drought, land degradation and desertification threatening lives and livelihoods. Rising commodity prices, including food and energy prices are contributing to cost of living pressures,” the declaration stated.

It said the world faced challenges like poverty and inequality, climate change, pandemics and conflicts, disproportionately affecting women and children as well as the most vulnerable.

“We affirm that no country should have to choose between fighting poverty and fighting for our planet. We will pursue development models that implement sustainable, inclusive and just transitions globally, while leaving no one behind,” it added.

Here are the 12 broad goals that leaders of the G20, which is a global forum for international economic cooperation, committed to:

1. Accelerate strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth
2. Accelerate the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
3. Pursue low GHG/carbon emissions, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable development pathways by championing an integrated and inclusive approach. “We will urgently accelerate our actions to address development and climate challenges, promote Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE), and conserve biodiversity, forests and oceans,” the declaration stated.
4. Improve access to medical countermeasures and facilitate more supplies and production capacities in developing countries to prepare better for future health emergencies
5. Promote resilient growth by urgently and effectively addressing debt vulnerabilities in developing countries
6. Scale up financing from all sources for accelerating progress on SDGs
7. Accelerate efforts and enhance resources towards achieving the Paris Agreement, including its temperature goal
8. Pursue reforms for better, bigger and more effective multilateral development banks (MDB) to address global challenges to maximise developmental impact
9. Improve access to digital services and digital public infrastructure, and leverage digital transformation opportunities to boost sustainable and inclusive growth
10. Promote sustainable, quality, healthy, safe and gainful employment
11. Close gender gaps and promote the full, equal, effective and meaningful participation of women in the economy as decision-makers
12. Better integrate the perspectives of developing countries, including LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS, into future G20 agenda and strengthen the voice of developing countries in global decision making.

‘Today’s era must not be of war’

World leaders noted with concern the adverse impact of wars and conflicts around the world, especially in context of the war in Ukraine. The declaration included Prime Minister Modi’s words of advice to President Vladimir Putin during their discussion of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: ‘Today’s era must not be of war’.

“Reaffirming that the G20 is the premier forum for international economic cooperation, and recognising that while the G20 is not the platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues, we acknowledge that these issues can have significant consequences for the global economy. We highlighted the human suffering and negative added impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation and growth, which has complicated the policy environment for countries, especially developing and least developed countries still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic disruption that has derailed progress towards the SDGs. There were different views and assessments of the situation,” the declaration stated.

Overall, leaders of G20 stressed on the importance of sustaining food and energy security, cessation of military destruction or other attacks on relevant infrastructure. But, at its core, the Delhi Declaration committed to accelerating climate action coupled with gender equality.

“We also expressed deep concern about the adverse impact that conflicts have on the security of civilians, thereby exacerbating existing socio-economic fragilities and vulnerabilities and hindering an effective humanitarian response. We call on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty, international humanitarian law, and the multilateral system that safeguards peace and stability. The peaceful resolution of conflicts, and efforts to address crises as well as diplomacy and dialogue are critical. We will unite in our endeavour to address the adverse impact of the war on the global economy and welcome all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a comprehensive, just, and durable peace in Ukraine that will uphold all the purposes and principles of the UN Charter…” it stated.

Here are some highlights from the Delhi Declaration, which was achieved with a full consensus and without any footnote:

• Climate action with gender equality: The G20 bloc has decided to accelerate climate action with gender equality at its core. The forum acknowledged the disproportionate impact of climate change on all women and girls. In the G20 declaration, the countries supported increase of women’s participation, partnership, decision-making and leadership in climate change mitigation and adaptation, and disaster risk reduction strategies and policy frameworks on environmental issues. G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said they have set up a new working group on empowerment of women, and Brazil will take it forward during its presidency.
• Crypto framework: G20 leaders decided on swift implementation of the reporting framework for crypto assets, saying a significant number of member countries want information exchange on such non-financial assets to start by 2027. The Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) or template is being developed to ensure that such non-financial assets are not used by tax evaders to conceal their unaccounted wealth. “We call for the swift implementation of the Crypto Asset Reporting Framework and amendments to the CRS. We ask the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes to identify an appropriate and coordinated timeline to commence exchanges by relevant jurisdictions,” said the declaration. Briefing reporters after the summit, union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the G20 countries have made substantial progress on the two-pillar solution. “Work has happened on exchange of information on immovable property transactions between countries. There is a launch of the pilot programme of the South Asia academy for tax and financial crime investigation in collaboration with the OECD,” she said. Under the global tax deal, about 140 countries, including India, have agreed to an overhaul of global tax norms to ensure that multinationals pay taxes wherever they operate and at a minimum of 15 percent rate.
• Denying safe havens to terror groups: The G20 condemned terrorism in all its forms and called for strengthening of efforts to increase the effectiveness of international cooperation to deny terrorist groups safe haven, freedom of operations as well as financial, material or political support. The declaration said all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed. They also pledged to support the increasing resource needs of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and regional bodies in its style. “We condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including those on the basis of xenophobia, racism and other forms of intolerance, or in the name of religion or belief, recognising the commitment of all religions to peace. It constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,” the declaration stated. Addressing a press briefing, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said the G20 leaders also addressed the subject of countering terrorism and money laundering.
• Phasedown of coal power: The G20 committed to speed up efforts to phase down unabated coal power in line with national circumstances and uphold their 2009 promise made in Pittsburgh to eliminate and rationalise inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. “We will increase our efforts to implement the commitment made in 2009 in Pittsburgh to phase-out and rationalise, over the medium term, inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption and commit to achieve this objective, while providing targeted support for the poorest and the most vulnerable,” the declaration read.
• Trade, investment as engine of growth: The member countries agreed to support policies that would enable trade and investment to serve as an engine of growth and prosperity for all. According to the Delhi Declaration, a rules-based, non-discriminatory, fair, open, inclusive, equitable, sustainable and transparent multilateral trading system, with WTO (World Trade Organisation) at its core, is indispensable. The leaders renewed their commitment to ensure a level-playing field and fair competition by discouraging protectionism and market distorting practices, to foster a favourable trade and investment environment for all. “We reiterate the need to pursue WTO reform to improve all its functions through an inclusive member-driven process, and remain committed to conducting discussions with a view to having a fully and well-functioning dispute settlement system accessible to all members by 2024,” it added.
• Fiscal structural policies: The G20 reiterated the need for well-calibrated monetary, fiscal, financial, and structural policies to promote growth, reduce inequalities and maintain macroeconomic and financial stability. The leaders also stressed that central banks remain strongly committed to achieving price stability in line with their mandates, as per the declaration. Noting that global economic growth is below its long-run average and remains uneven, the declaration said the uncertainty around the outlook remains high. With notable tightening in global financial conditions, which could worsen debt vulnerabilities, persistent inflation and geo-economic tensions, the balance of risks remains tilted to the downside. The G20 leaders said they will use macroprudential policies, where required, to safeguard against downside risks.

(With PTI inputs)