India Supports Ecosystem-Based Approaches to Address Interconnected Global Challenges

India's Union Minister for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, delivered the country's statement at the G20 Climate and Environmental Sustainability Working Group Ministerial Meeting in Cape Town, South Africa. The Minister emphasized the importance of ecosystem-based approaches, participatory implementation, and landscape-level conservation models in addressing biodiversity conservation and land degradation. He also highlighted India's efforts in land restoration as an economic and ecological opportunity and stressed the need for cooperative capacity-building and voluntary approaches to address global challenges.

Key Takeaways:

• India supports ecosystem-based approaches, participatory implementation, and landscape-level conservation models to address biodiversity conservation and land degradation.
• The country welcomes recognition of land restoration as an economic and ecological opportunity and emphasizes the need for co-developed, non-restrictive technology transfer and a G20 knowledge and Solution Exchange Platform.
• India appreciates the strong emphasis on the circular economy in Chemicals and Waste Management and highlights its Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks as scalable models.
• The Minister emphasizes the need for global frameworks for the management of chemicals to remain voluntary and nationally determined to avoid undue burden on SMEs and developing economies.
• India supports integrating climate and development while upholding equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities in Climate Change and Just Transitions.
• The country endorses cooperative capacity-building in Air Quality but cautions against a one-size-fits-all approach.
• India supports Marine Spatial Planning to ensure sustainable development, including biodiversity conservation, and voluntary approaches to address Abandoned and Lost Fishing Gear.

Statistics:

• India proposes ecosystem-based approaches, participatory implementation, and landscape-level conservation models.
• The country welcomes recognition of land restoration as an economic and ecological opportunity.
• India's Extended Producer Responsibility frameworks demonstrate scalable models for Chemicals and Waste Management.
• The G20 knowledge and Solution Exchange Platform aims to facilitate sharing of best practices.
• The Minister stresses the importance of voluntary global frameworks for the management of chemicals.
• India supports integrating climate and development while upholding equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities.

Sources:

• "Statement of Shri Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the G20 Climate and Environmental Sustainability Working Group Ministerial Meeting, Cape Town, South Africa" by Press Information Bureau, Government of India.
• "G20 Climate and Environmental Sustainability Working Group Ministerial Meeting: What's at Stake?" by Euclid Infotech Pvt. Ltd.