The 4th and last Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting concluded in Chennai, with consensual adoption of an Outcome document, the Chennai High Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue/Ocean-based Economy. This document will be submitted to the Leaders for their consideration to be annexed to the G20 New Delhi Leader’s Declaration 2023. The Ministers also adopted the Outcome Document and the Chair’s Summary.
The Ministerial meeting, chaired by Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was attended by 41 Ministers or their deputies from various nations, and highlighted significant achievements and key takeaways centered around the priority areas under the Environment and Climate track – Land and Biodiversity, Blue Economy, Water Resource Management and Circular Economy.
The meeting witnessed proactive engagement from over 225 delegates representing G20 member countries, invitee countries and heads and representatives of 23 International organizations including UNEP, UNFCC, COP28 and UNCCD. The discussions revolved around critical challenges related to matters of climate and environment which are of utmost global importance.
In his video message to the delegates and the Ministers attending the 4th ECSWG and Environment and Climate Ministers meeting, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, expressed his confidence in the G20 countries joining hands to tackle the climate and environmental challenges in a holistic way.