New Delhi - Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is poised to host the virtual G20 Leaders' Summit on Wednesday evening, marking a significant assembly of global leaders.
Invitations have been extended to leaders from all G20 member countries, including the Chair of the African Union, as well as representatives from nine guest nations and the heads of 11 international organizations.
The decision to host the virtual G20 Leaders' Summit was announced by Prime Minister Modi during the closing ceremony of the G20 Summit on September 10. The summit, scheduled before the conclusion of India's G20 Presidency on November 22, will address crucial issues, assess outcomes, and review developments following the New Delhi G20 Summit in September.
Since the G20 Leaders' Summit held in the national capital on September 9-10, substantial progress has been made on major G20 priorities and outcomes. Notable achievements include the G20's consensus on tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030.
Key anticipated outcomes of COP28 involve commitments made in the US-China Joint Statement on November 14, supporting the pursuit of efforts to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and agreeing to undertake large Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage (CCUS) projects.
India's G20 Presidency has also witnessed advancements in digital health, with the Global Initiative on Digital Health securing a commitment of USD 44.5 million. Initiatives based on G20 AI Principles and UNESCO's Ethical AI Guidelines, such as the creation of a framework by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the co-design process of One Future Alliance (OFA) for DPI, have been initiated.
Additionally, progress has been made on the report of the Independent Expert Group on Strengthening of MDBs, the IMF Executive Board's proposal for a quota increase, and the action plan on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The 2023 G20 New Delhi Update, finalized on November 13, provides a comprehensive report on the G20's progress toward achieving the SDGs and the contribution of the Indian Presidency.
Efforts to promote sustainable development include the socialization of Principles on Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE) through international fora and among youth at COP28. Furthermore, initiatives to enhance women's leadership, including a mentorship platform and the TechEquity digital inclusion platform, have been launched.
G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant emphasized that the Virtual G20 Summit, chaired by PM Modi, will build on the guidance provided by participating world leaders, providing momentum to implement the summit's outcomes. The summit, commencing at 5:30 pm, is anticipated to be a significant gathering of world leaders since the conclusion of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly high-level week and the SDG Summit.