The 4th Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting began in Chennai today, July 26.
The three-day meeting brings together around 300 delegates from G20 member countries, invitee countries, and several International Organisations, with a focus on finalising the Ministerial Outcome and the Presidency Documents.
The 4th ECSWG & Minister's Meeting will focus on three key areas – land restoration, circular economy, and blue economy. These topics will take centre stage during the meeting to address environmental and sustainability challenges. On the first day of the event, there will be two parallel sessions -: the Environment Track and the Climate Track. These sessions will delve into different aspects related to environmental and climate issues, with a focus on in-depth discussions about land degradation, biodiversity, and climate change.
The principles which will be finalised over the next two days are important to make the ocean based economy compliant with the concerns of climate change mitigation, adaption to climate change impacts, and interventions needed in the ocean based industries such as aquaculture and mining, etc. In the 4th ECSWG (Environmental Conservation and Sustainable Working Group), there will be participation from 19 member countries, including the European Union (EU). Additionally, nine guest countries will also be attending the event, making it a gathering of diverse nations with a shared interest in environmental conservation and sustainability.
Furthermore, 12 international organizations will be present at the event to contribute their expertise and insights. Among these organizations, there will be renowned bodies such as the UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), and the World Bank, among others.
The event will host 15 pavilions, each highlighting different initiatives and projects related to the meeting's core themes. Among these pavilions, one will be exclusively dedicated to LiFE and another pavilion will focus on Project Tiger, highlighting conservation efforts for this iconic species. The remaining 13 pavilions will be dedicated to showcasing various aspects of Handicrafts, which might encompass traditional craftsmanship, cultural heritage, sustainable practices, and economic opportunities in the handicrafts sector.
The highlight of the 4th ECSWG and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting will be the launch of the Resource Efficiency Circular Economy Industry Coalition on day 2 of the event. The coalition's objective is to unite nations, industries, and experts in their endeavour to propel the global circularity agenda forward. This initiative is poised to become a momentous achievement during the G20 India Presidency, representing a collective stride towards fostering on-the-ground efforts in resource efficiency and advancing circular economy principles. The 4th ECSWG and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting deliberations will end with the G20 Environment and Climate Ministers’ Meeting on Day 3, wherein the Outcome and the Presidency documents will be released.
