Indian President, Droupadi Murmu, has said that the G20 is an ideal platform for discussing and finding solutions to the “most pressing” problems, such as global warming and climate change, which disproportionately affect the poor.
According to the President, following a series of initiatives in recent years to transform all aspects of governance and unleash people’s creative energies, the world has begun to look at India with a new sense of respect.
“Our interventions in various world forums have started making a positive difference. The respect that India has earned on the world stage has resulted in new opportunities as well as responsibilities,” she said.
President Murmu said that India holds the Group of 20 (G20) presidency this year, which is an opportunity to promote democracy and multilateralism and the right forum for shaping a better world and a better future.
“Under India’s leadership, I am sure, G20 will be able to further enhance its efforts to build a more equitable and sustainable world order,” she said.
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The President said that G20 represents about two-thirds of the world population and around 85 per cent of the global GDP, and it is an ideal forum to discuss and find solutions for global challenges.
“To my mind, global warming and climate change are the most pressing among them. Global temperatures are rising and incidents of extreme weather are increasing… Unfortunately, the poor bear the brunt of global warming more than others,” she said.
She noted that India is faced with the dilemma of lifting more and more people out of poverty which is possible through economic growth but that also comes from fossil fuels and that one of the solutions to the conundrum is promoting the use of alternative energy sources.
“India has taken a commendable lead in this direction by giving a policy push to solar energy and electric vehicles,”she said. “At the global level, however, emerging economies need a helping hand from advanced nations in the form of technology transfer and financial support,”.
Murmu, who is the first President of the tribal community, said to balance development and the environment, we have to look at the ancient traditions with a new perspective.
“We need to reconsider our basic priorities,”she said. “The scientific aspects of traditional life values have to be understood. We must, once again, rekindle that respect for nature and humility before the vast universe,”.
This story was adapted from Business Standard.
