Livemint | Economy not at odds with ecology, but fundamentally intertwined: Minister Puri

Feb 10,2023

India is demonstrating that economy and ecology are not at odds with each other, but in fact, fundamentally intertwined, said Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri in Bengaluru.

While virtually speaking at the first meeting of the environment and climate sustainability working group under India’s G-20 Presidency, he said that India is uniquely positioned to champion the aspirations of the global south.

Puri said that the consequences of degrading biodiversity and the environment are leading to increasing costs and complexity in all aspects of life. 

He added that tackling the interrelated matters of climate change and biodiversity loss demands a concerted and calibrated global effort. 

"This will require committed and farsighted leadership by the G-20 nations which collectively account for 85 per cent of the world’s GDP, 75 per cent of the global trade, and two-thirds of the global population," the minister added.

The global south, in particular, looks up to the G-20 dialogue and desires an urgent consensus that prevents both a climate crisis and a debt crisis for developing nations, he mentioned.

He also expressed his solidarity with the people of Turkey in their moment of grief and deep difficulty. 

The minister asserted that India commiserates Turkey’s loss and will continue to extend all possible humanitarian and medical support in this time of need.

Puri stated, "The outpouring of support to Turkey from people and leaders across the world is a powerful reminder of the shared humanity that connects us all."

He said that it is in that same spirit that all the delegates have assembled to promote the universal sense of oneness that is enunciated in this year’s G-20 theme of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – One Earth, One Family, One Future’. 

He further added that, now, more than ever, it is imperative that we come together and commit to an inclusive, ambitious and action-oriented agenda that promotes well-being and prosperity.