Representing India at the G20 Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa on Thursday, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav urged the international community to unite for a sustainable and equitable future. Extending gratitude to the host nation, he lauded the South African Presidency’s theme of “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.”
In his address, Yadav highlighted India’s climate leadership, noting that as the Paris Agreement marks its 10th anniversary, many countries – including India – have made significant progress in meeting or even exceeding their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) ahead of schedule.
The Minister called on the G20 nations to serve as a bridge between ambition and implementation in global climate action. Stressing the principle of “Common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”, Yadav said, “Finance to developing countries to meet vital environmental challenges needs to be honoured as an onerous duty rather than a mere promise. Equality is not a privilege – it is a right.”
He emphasised that respecting every nation’s contribution and enhancing their capacity is crucial for achieving shared climate goals.
Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message at last year’s G20 Summit, Yadav underlined the importance of combining traditional wisdom with cutting-edge innovation. “Ecosystem-based solutions and futuristic technologies must converge to create a sustainable future. Knowledge sharing, capacity building, and technology co-development and transfer will play a significant role in attaining sustainability,” he said.
Yadav advocated for a “whole-of-society” approach, stressing that individual behavioural change through pro-planet lifestyle choices is essential to achieving meaningful outcomes. He commended the South African Presidency for adopting a people-centric, holistic and collaborative approach to global environmental challenges.