The 2nd Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) meeting under India’s G20 Presidency commenced in Gandhinagar today. Union Minister of State for AYUSH and Women and Child Development, Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai Kalubhai in his inaugural address emphasized India’s G20 Presidency’s commitment to finding immediate and pressing solutions to global warming, climate change, and energy security. The Minister highlighted the need for research and development of innovative technologies to promote clean energy and make it cost-effective and reliable.
More than 100 delegates from G20 member countries, special invitee countries, and International Organizations, including International Energy Agency (IEA), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), European Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and International Solar Alliance (ISA), are taking part in the meeting to engage in discussions and deliberations on priority areas.
During the inaugural event, the Union Minister mentioned about the importance of the ‘LiFE campaign’ or ‘Lifestyle for the Environment campaign’ introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He urged individuals and communities to drive and build it as an international mass movement towards mindful and deliberate utilization of resources, protecting and preserving the environment.
Shri Alok Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Power, Govt. of India, stressed the importance of identifying collective action to promote equitable, shared, and inclusive growth among G20 members. He urged member countries to collaborate and build a sense of trusteeship to achieve a clean energy transition. He also highlighted the major schemes envisaged by the Government of India, including the Green Hydrogen Mission, Energy Transition, Energy Storage Projects, Renewable Energy Evacuation, Green Credit Program, PM-PRANAM, GOBARdhan Scheme, Bhartiya Prakritik Kheti Bio-Input Resource Centres, MISHTI, Amrit Dharohar, Coastal Shipping and Vehicle Replacement.
Six priority areas are the focus of the meeting including energy transition through addressing technology gaps, low-cost financing for energy transition, energy security and diversified supply chains, energy efficiency, industrial low carbon transitions, and responsible consumption, fuels for the future, and universal access to clean energy and just, affordable, and inclusive energy transition pathways. A Seminar on Global Green Hydrogen Ecosystem -Enabling Net Zero Pathways was held as side event to the meeting. As part of the 2nd ETWG Meeting, delegates also visited Gift City in Gandhinagar.
Under India’s Presidency, four ETWG meetings, various side events, and a Ministerial Meeting have been planned to advance global cooperation in clean energy transition and make it central to the agenda of sustainable economic development.
