G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration adopted, opens roadmap to advance SDG goals, green development and women’s empowerment

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced the adoption of the New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration, saying that the consensus-based document was the result of the hard work of the Sherpas and ministers who had worked hard behind the scenes.
“I have received good news. Due to the hard work of our team, consensus has been built on New Delhi G20 Leaders’ Summit Declaration. My proposal is to adopt this leadership declaration. I announce to adopt this declaration. On this occasion, I congratulate my Sherpa, ministers, who worked hard for it and made it possible,” he said.
The adoption of the declaration was welcomed with thumping of desks.

Addressing a joint media conference, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar summed up key features of the Declaration, which he said were meant to advance Sustainable Development Goals, based on an action plan.

“The declaration the leaders have agreed on today, focuses on promoting strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth. It seeks to accelerate progress on SDGs and has come up with an action plan accordingly,” the minister said.
“It envisages a green development pact for a sustainable future, it endorses high-level principles on lifestyle for sustainable development, voluntary principles of hydrogen, the Chennai principles for a sustainable resilient blue economy and the Deccan principles on food security and nutrition among others,” he added.
He said the message of India’s presidency is ‘One Earth, One Family and we share One Future’ and the country has “consciously sought to make this G20 as inclusive and broad-based as possible”.
“It’s witnessing the participation of its 20 member states, nine invitee states and 14 international organisations. It is a matter of particular satisfaction for us that the African Union is a permanent member,” he said.
The minister said that transformative and inclusive role of technology has been highlighted with a focus on digital public infrastructure.

Jaishankar stressed that G20 isn’t the platform to resolve geopolitical and security issues, but recognised their impact on the global economy. In particular they focused on Ukraine war.

He added that the leaders condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and recognized that it constitutes one of the more serious threats to international peace and security,

Indian officials at the press conferences highlighted that the “women-led development” was one of the defining features of the adopted document.  “The biggest achievement is what we have achieved on women-led development,” India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant said.

Kant added that the declaration has a “huge focus on gender-inclusive climate action”.

He added that there is a “big focus on women’s food security, nutrition and well-being. And we’ve created a new working group on empowerment of women, which Brazil will carry forward…”

He also pointed out that the Declaration was based on a resounding consensus. “There are 83 paras in all and all 83 paras have a 100% consensus. People, peace and prosperity have 100 per cent acceptance. All countries have supported, without a single footnote with 100% unanimity. This presidency has a huge India narrative, huge India footprint. Every single country has come together to focus on green development.”

Among the key takeaways from the summit was what PM Modi unveiled what he called an “important and historic agreement” on connectivity. He pointed to the development of a new route that would link India, West Asia and Europe to spur economic integration. The announcement was made at a “special event” that was co-chaired by US President Joe Biden and had in its presence Saudi Arbia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Sultan, President of the United Arab Emirates, Mohamed bin Zayed among a galaxy of European leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The G-20 summit also saw the launch of a Global Biofuels Alliance as an instrument of sustainable energy security. Prime Minister Modi, US President Biden, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, Argentina’s President… and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were among the top leaders inaugurating the event.

Also Read: Mission accomplished — African Union becomes G20 Permanent Member under India’s Presidency