United Nations (UN) General Secretary Antonio Guterres on Friday said that India's presidency of the Group of 20 (G-20) will lead to the kind of transformative changes that the world needs.
Ahead of the G-20 Summit, Guterres also said that India has done everything possible for the full representation of the Global South at the G-20 Summit.
Besides the G-20 members comprising the 19 leading countries and the European Union (EU), India as the Chair of G-20 has specially invited a number of developing countries, referred to as the Global South, to the G-20 Summit, including the Prime Ministers of Mauritius, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Oman, etc. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held bilateral meetings with PMs Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius and Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh.
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Speaking to the press, Guterres said, "My hope is that India's presidency at G-20 Summit will help lead to the kind of transformative change that the world so desperately needs in line with repeated commitment of India to act on behalf of the Global South and its determination to pursue the development agenda."
Guterres also referred to the prevailing geopolitical conditions and said that the world currently looks like a "dysfunctional family".
"If we are one global family, we today resemble rather a dysfunctional one. Divisions are growing, tensions are flaring up and trust is eroding," said Guterres, appearing to invoke the theme of the year's summit set by India: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam - One Earth, One Family, One Future.
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Speaking on climate, Guterres said that 80 per cent of global emissions come from the G-20 member countries and the members should therefore take responsibility and take actions.
"The climate crisis is spiralling out of control, but G20 countries are in control. Together, G20 countries are responsible for 80 percent of global emissions. Half measures will not prevent full climate breakdown...We have no time to lose, challenges stretch as far as I can see. The climate crisis is worsening dramatically but the collective response is lacking in ambition, credibility and urgency," said Guterres, as per PTI.
Guterres also urged the developed countries to do their bit on the issue of climate financing, something India and other developing countries have been urging the West to do.
"The UN chief said the developed countries within the G20 should show leadership by delivering on commitments to developing countries, by meeting the USD 100 billion goal, doubling adaptation finance, replenishing Green Climate Fund and operationalising the loss and damage fund created in the last Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)," reported PTI.
In recent years, India and others in the developing world have argued that the developed and industrialised countries have historically polluted the world more and should therefore play a more bigger role in mitigating the climate crises.
The PTI reported, "Guterres urged the G20 leaders to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal alive, rebuild trust based on climate justice and advance just and equitable transition through a green economy. He urged big emitters to make extra efforts to cut emissions and support emerging economies to achieve these. He said developed countries should reach net zero by 2040 and the emerging economies by 2050. OECD countries should phase out coal by 2030 and the others by 2040, he added."
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Guterres also said that the world needs reforms in the multilateral institutions to reflects the realities of the present-day world. Referring to the long-held demand for the expansion of the United Nations Security Council's (UNSC) permanent membership and inclusion of India, he said it is for the member countries to decide but acknowledged India as the "country of the world with the largest population and it is a very important partner in the multilateral system".
"All I can say that I believe that we need reform in multilateral system to reflect today's world...There is a need to do it but I am not sure if we get it, but I think it is urgent," said Guterres.
