Shoko Noda, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) India.
India’s G20 chairmanship is significant as it comes at a time of unprecedented global uncertainty exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, complex living conditions due to the war, tighter financial conditions, and unsustainable debt burdens, escalating the climate crisis in the backdrop of a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative of India, Shoko Noda said.
“We are very encouraged by how the Indian Presidency has focused on some of these important issues: Extending a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) action plan to the G20 forums – something the United Nations Development System has been demanding since 2015 ; an ambitious focus on the intersection of climate and development through its LIFE (Lifestyle and Environment) proposition; Prioritizing women-led development, and placing significant emphasis on financing for development and climate finance as we move forward,” she said in an email interview.
focusing on structural issues from how the world adopts digital technologies to leapfrog development challenges; how to build infrastructure resilient to disaster and risk reduction; And addressing climate adaptation and sustainable consumption and production patterns is also a welcome step, he said.
Ms. Noda said, “India’s G20 presidency can contribute to the global dialogue on some of these key challenges and policy shaping, which could have far-reaching effects on the world economy and international relations.”
“These issues also represent the concerns of the developing countries that could form the presidency of Brazil and South Africa in the future,” she said.
Asked what steps India should take to ensure a successful G20 presidency, he said the world welcomed India’s G20 agenda as it indicated an inclusive agenda.
“Food and energy insecurity, climate change, strengthening multilateral development banks (MBDs), addressing inequalities through inclusive financing, equitable and sustainable development, digital public infrastructure, women-led development, and the macroeconomic implications of climate finance There are important issues for the world. And by bringing them to the focus of his Presidency, India has already shown greater leadership,” he said.
“Building a consensus has been a challenge in the last few meetings. Nevertheless, the Indian side was able to help build consensus at the G20 summit in Indonesia, and I am sure it can do so under its chairmanship as well,” she said.
India, under its G20 presidency, could prioritize tackling the debt crisis in 52 low- and middle-income developing economies, which are either debt-ridden or debt-ridden, among other measures, a top UNDP official has said in view of the growing threat of economic slowdown and climate change. Are in distress or at high risk of credit distress.
“The debt crisis is a systemic, global problem. We need to articulate the next generation of international financial and political institutions to address this and other current challenges.
Climate financing should also be addressed. “The financing element is integral to accelerating climate action – one of the most pressing issues of our time. As the UN Secretary-General has repeatedly indicated, the world now needs clarity from developed countries that Where are they this year in meeting their $100 billion a year pledge to support climate action in developing countries. Will double adaptation finance to at least $40 billion in 2025 as agreed in Glasgow (COP26) .
Noting that 2023 marks the halfway point in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, she said “we are way off track”.
“UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently launched a bold new SDG stimulus plan – outlining a $500 billion annual stimulus for sustainable development. It urges G20 finance ministers to act quickly and proposes a three-point plan to begin responding to systemic risks, injecting liquidity, restructuring sovereign debt and extending long-term debt to developing economies proposes to reduce the cost,” he said.
As the India Presidency works towards an SDG Action Plan 2.0, the SDG Stimulus can become an important part, he asserted.