G20 countries through video conferencing discussed environmental issues, specifically degraded lands and coral reef protection

Union Minister for Environment Prakash Javadekar has said that India is committed to working with the member nations of G20 and appreciates the Global Initiative to check land degradation and coral reef programme.The statement came during the Environment Ministerial Meeting (EMM) of the G20 countries that took place under the Presidency of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through video conferencing on Wednesday.

According to a report carried by the Business Standard, Javadekar said, ” "India has already taken significant action for the protection of wildlife, combating pollution, and climate change. Together with the G20 countries, we are committed to working towards making the world better. Our government under the leadership of the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken many steps to protect and sustain coral reefs in the country through promotional and regulatory measures."

He further stated that India is one of the few countries, whose climate actions fulfill the Paris agreement and that India has taken an initiative of reformation of 26 million hectares of degraded land. Talking about coral reef protection, he said that the National Coastal Mission Programme under which the government has taken many steps to protect and sustain coral reefs in the country.

He also said that some other countries present at the conference, also spoke about the climate goals to be reached by the year 2050. However, no initiative has been taken on their part to fulfill both the intra country goals and the commitments made during the Kyoto Protocol.

The report further quoted him saying, “They must step up their efforts to ensure the achievement of the global goals under the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) and the Paris Agreement on the basis of equity. We should channel our efforts towards facilitating and furthering the implementation of consensus-based decisions and outcomes arrived at a multilateral climate change forum under the UNFCCC.”