Initiatives Launched on G20 EMM

• 17 Sep 2020

Why in News

Recently, the G20 Environment Ministers Meeting (EMM) has taken place under the Presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• Global initiatives to reduce Land Degradation and Coral Reef Programme and two documents on climate change, related to managing emissions and climate change adaptations under the G20 in 2020, have been launched.
• G20 EMM, 2019 saw an agreement on adopting a new implementation framework for actions to tackle the issue of marine plastic waste on a global scale.

Key Points

• Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation:
  
  • It aims to strengthen the implementation of existing frameworks to prevent, halt, and reverse land degradation within G20 member states.
    
    • The Scientific Conceptual Framework for Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), developed by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), provides a scientific foundation for understanding, implementing and monitoring land degradation.
  • Globally, it aims to take into account possible implications on the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-13: Climate Action, SDG-14: Life below Water, SDG-15: Life on Land) and adhere to the principle of doing no harm.
• Global Coral Reef Research and Development Accelerator Platform:
  
  • It is an innovative action-oriented initiative aimed at creating a global research and development programme to advance research, innovation and capacity building in all facets of coral reef conservation, restoration and adaptation.
  • It will strengthen ongoing efforts and commitments made to enhance coral reefs conservation and stop their further degradation.
    
    • Limiting global average temperature and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase, in line with the Paris Agreement, provides the only chance for the survival of coral reefs globally.
• India’s Stand:
  
  • India intends to take measures to enhance coral reef conservation under the National Coastal Mission Programme.
    
    • The proposed mission under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) will address the impact of climate change on coastal and marine ecosystems.
    • It will include all phases of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Project.
  • India has also put efforts towards achieving land degradation neutrality and towards the attainment of global goals of climate change mitigation and adaptation.
    
    • The Indian government sees schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, Soil Health Card Scheme and Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana as tools to tackle the problem of land degradation.
  • India is committed to working with G20 nations for a better world and is taking adequate action to meet the Paris Agreement and its climate commitments.
  • It was emphasised that equity, common but differentiated responsibilities, finance and technology partnerships are the key pillars to tackle the problem of climate change.

Paris Agreement

• It was adopted by 195 parties at the UN climate conference "COP 21" held in Paris in 2015 with an aim to reduce the hazardous greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
• Objective: To prevent an increase in global average temperature and keep it well below 2 degrees Celsius.
• It emphasised that global GHG emissions must fall 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.
• 19 members of the G20, except the USA which has pulled out of it, have voiced their commitment to the full implementation of the deal.

G20

• It is an informal group of 19 countries and the European Union (EU), with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
• Headquarters: It operates as a forum and not as an organisation. Therefore, it does not have any permanent secretariat or management and administrative structure.
• Members: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the USA, and the EU.

Source: PIB