The third Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting held under India’s G20 presidency concluded with a pledge to promote meaningful accomplishments through a consensus-driven approach
The third meeting of the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) under India's G20 presidency finished today in Mumbai.
141 delegates from G20 countries and 10 invitee countries attended the three-day meeting. Representatives from 14 international and regional groups also participated in the three-day deliberations.
The ECSWG's three priorities were to stop land degradation, promote the circular economy, and boost the blue economy. All meetings concentrated on one of these three subjects. On Day 1 of the meeting, the 3rd ECSWG focused on Blue Economy and was supported by two side events: the Mega Beach Clean Up Event and the Ocean 20 Dialogue.
The Mega Beach Clean Up Event at Juhu in Mumbai was a success, with 20 countries and 37 Indian beaches from coastal states and union territories participating. The massive drive to sensitise people and raise awareness aligns with the Prime Minister's message on 'Swachhta' and 'Jan Bhagidari' and emphasises the significance of the 'Lifestyle for Environment' (LiFE) concept and the importance of individual actions in combating the threat of marine pollution. The message carried out was that the beach cleaning event was not just a symbol of sustainable coastal management and ocean economy, but is also very intimately related to the greater issue of marine pollution.
Nearly 16,000 eager volunteers took part in the event in India.
The Ocean 20 Dialogue brought together international experts, innovators, community representatives, policymakers, and industry leaders to facilitate discussions on emerging science-technology-innovation-driven solutions, challenges associated with effective and inclusive policy and governance, and avenues for establishing finance mechanisms to support national and regional Blue Economy endeavours.
The second day began with an inaugural address by Kapil M Patil, Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, who congratulated the Working Group on the resounding success of the Mega Beach Clean Up Event and praised the ECSWG's work on climate change and environmental issues. Following this, Leena Nandan, G20 India Chair and Secretary, MoEFCC, delivered the day's opening remarks, thanking the delegates for participating enthusiastically in the first two ECSWG meetings. She noted that countries' participation had followed a constructive procedure, making the conversations thus far worthwhile.
She also urged the G20 countries to continue participating in the Communique discussion in order to achieve inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive outcomes as the Working Group approaches the end of the proceedings under the India Presidency.
The main agenda item for the third ECSWG meeting was extensive discussions on the draft Ministerial Communique, which included constructive exchanges and deliberations on priority themes. Picking up on the thread from the Indian Presidency's Focus Group Discussions held over the previous three weeks across all three thematic areas, the discussions were held with a firm resolve to be collaborative and inclusive. The outcome texts were debated line by line, and member countries offered their distinct points of view.
The third ECSWG meeting concluded in a discussion mode on the Communique, which will be further deliberated on and refined in the virtual meetings scheduled over the next few weeks in preparation for the fourth and final ECSWG meeting, which will be held in Chennai from July 26th to 27th, 2023, with the Minister's meeting on July 28th, 2023.