External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar rooted vocally for local, even as he said the concept of globalisation as we know today, needs to be redefined, and the world needs to move into the sphere of reformed multilateralism.
Delivering the presidential address at Darbari Seth Memorial Lecture, organised by The Energy Resources Institute (Teri), the minister said, “We have allowed it (globalisation) to be defined by the interests of a few, who visualise that process largely in financial, trade and travel terms. Real globalisation can never be just an aggregate of transactions in these domains. It is an outcome of collaboration and indivisibility. The true challenges are more phenomena like terrorism, pandemics and climate change. These are the issues that will really test the seriousness of multilateralism.”
The memorial lecture was delivered by United Nations General Secretary Antonio Guterres.
Jaishankar said India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' vision focuses on making the country self generating and self sustaining, specially as it recovers from the blow of the ongoing pandemic, and there is a need to revitalise the economy and generate employment. He clarified that 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' is not a move to self-isolate, and added that India remains global in its outlook, even more so after the pandemic. The minister mentioned the medical and humanitarian assistance India extended to 150 countries.
Economically, the template of others have naturally not worked in our favour, he said, explaining the need for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat'. “Livelihood and innovation should not be sacrificed at the altar of political fashion and commercial convenience,'' he added.
The minister lamented that through climate change, terrorism and the pandemic are the larger global challenges, the world still lacks documents like a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism, even as “states that have turned the production of terrorists into a primary export have attempted, by dint of bland denials, to paint themselves as victims of terror.''
He pointed out how sustained global pressure to prevent the movement of funds for terror groups and their front agencies, had shown that it could work. “It has eventually compelled a state complicit in aiding, abetting, training and directing terror groups and associated criminal syndicates to grudgingly acknowledge the presence of wanted terrorists and organised crime leaders on its territory,'' he said, referring to Pakistan.
The minister also elaborated on the country's efforts to tackle climate change, speaking about how India was close to reaching its target of generating 175 gigawatts of installed capacity in renewable power by 2022. He spoke about the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, both initiated by India, as examples of the country's commitment to a fairer and more inclusive multilateral goal.
Gutrres, in his speech, exhorted India to reduce dependency on fossil fuel, and added that scaling up clean energy, particularly solar, is the recipe for solving both of India's priority challenges—poverty alleviation and universal energy access. He said investments made in the clean energy sector could help create nine million jobs worldwide over the next three years—three times more than what can be done with investments in polluting fossil fuels.
He said he has urged the world to take up six climate positive actions to recover better from the pandemic. These are: investing in green jobs, not bailing out polluting industries, ending fossil fuel subsidies, taking climate risks into account in all financial and policy decisions, working together, and leaving no one behind. “India can be the business hub to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7,'' he said.
