Mumbai – The first G20 Development Working Group (DWG) meeting under India’s presidency is taking place here from December 13-16. The meeting will focus on G20 collective actions for accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), support to developing countries in dealing with immediate concerns relating to food and energy security and debt distress, and a 2023 G20 New Delhi Update on SDGs.
Addressing reporters, G20 Sherpa Mr. Amitabh Kant outlined India’s DWG G20 priorities and approach. Since 2010, the DWG has acted as a custodian of the G20 development agenda. After adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its goals in 2015, DWG has steered the alignment of the development agenda of the G20 with the SDGs.
Kant reiterated that the world’s challenges could only be solved by working together. “Our priorities reflect not only the aspirations of G20 members but also of the Global South. India is pursuing an inclusive, ambitious, decisive, and action-oriented approach.” He outlined India’s DWG priorities as (i) Green Development, including climate action and financing, just energy transitions and LiFE (LifeStyle for Environment); (ii) Accelerating implementation of SDGs; and (iii) Digital Public Goods/Data for Development. Kant added that DWG conversations would include debt distress, reformed multilateralism, and women-led development. India will highlight the importance of inclusive growth and collective action to achieve it.
Kant noted that a new work stream on Disaster Risk Reduction had been established under India’s Presidency to encourage collective work, multidisciplinary research, and the exchange of best practices on disaster risk reduction. A new Startup20 Engagement Group was also initiated under India’s G20 Presidency, recognizing the role of startups in driving innovation that responds to a rapidly changing global scenario.
