Agreement to speed up action on SDGs

KUMARAKOM: The second meeting of the G20 Development Working Group (DWG) concluded successfully on April 9. The four-day meeting saw the participation of over 80 delegates from G20 members, nine invitee countries, and various international and regional organisations. The meeting was chaired by India’s DWG CoChairs, Nagaraj K. Naidu and Eenam Gambhir, Joint Secretaries of the Ministry of External Affairs.

The discussions at the meeting centred around G20’s role in accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), digital principles and capacity building for data for development, green transitions that are globally just, womenled development, and enhancing international coordination and partnerships. The outcomes of the DWG meetings will be discussed at the G20 Development Ministerial Meeting scheduled for June.

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India’s priorities backed

Countries expressed their support for India’s ambitions and priorities for the DWG, including the G20 Action Plan on accelerating progress on the SDGs, high-level principles for LiFE, and capacity building network on data for development. They appreciated India’s efforts in creating the necessary political momentum to help developing countries, especially during the current times of multiple crises.

Countries appreciated India’s efforts in creating the necessary political momentum to help developing countries, especially during the current times of multiple crises

The meeting concluded with a consensus on the urgency for multilateral efforts and G20’s key role in addressing contemporary developmental challenges. There was a shared understanding of the need to promote bold and targeted actions aimed at achieving development and environmental objectives, including the climate agenda, in a balanced manner. Countries also agreed on the need for collective efforts in contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and accelerating the SDGs.

Holistic development

There were also discussions on data as an enabler for sustainable development, women’s empowerment, and their role in achieving holistic development, as well as G20’s role in harnessing opportunities from green transitions that are globally just. India emphasized the need to achieve consensus on these ambitious deliverables. Overall, the meeting was a successful step towards achieving the shared goals of the G20 members and invitee countries in promoting sustainable and equitable development.