Climate change and imbalances in the world are the ironies that stem from development. Despite the negligible contribution of Global South countries in this imbalance, significant efforts are being made by them to deal with these challenges and resolve them, panelists at a 'Round Table on Global South and Global Governance for LiFE' of G-20's special Think 20 event said on Tuesday.
The two-day event concluded with a visit of the participants to world heritage Buddhist stupas of Sanchi.
Moderator and vice chancellor of Rishihood University, Sonepat, Shobhit Mathur said the Global South is the voice of India and the priorities of the Global South are the priorities of India. There should be such simple, straightforward criteria for an environment-friendly lifestyle, moral values, and propitious global good governance that can bring positive changes in our society, he added.
Executive Director, Center for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh, Fahmida Khatun said varying aspirations of all nations often pose a challenge for consensus. There is a need to pay attention to it to deal with the environmental challenges. Senior Investigator, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research, Argentina, Gladys Lechini said the need of the hour is to build the voice of the local and southern nations that prioritise local knowledge to address local challenges.
Director, Foreign Policy and International Development Cooperation, Indonesia, Pamela Gopaul said it is important to use existing knowledge systems to provide advisory services to the government. Africa is playing its part as an assertive and responsible voice on global issues, she said.
Speaking on the change in lifestyle after the Covid-19 pandemic, Director, Foreign Policy and International Development Cooperation, Indonesia, Wisnu Utomo said it has affected the global economic growth. Climate change and environmental imbalance have also increased in the last 20 years. Our policies should be formulated incorporating resolutions and preparedness, Utomo added.
Covid-19 severe blow to global trade and economy
Impact on the global value chain during the Covid pandemic has given a severe blow to the global trade and economy. During this period, trade restrictions and pressure on supply chains particularly affected less developed and low income countries, Mustafizur Rahman, Centre for Policy Dialogue Bangladesh, said while chairing the Plenary Session-5 of Think 20 on 'New Complementaries in Trade and Value Chains'
Rahman said that today when we are talking about global development, it is imperative that our model of development is inclusive. To ensure the participation of underdeveloped and developing countries with competitiveness, there should be access to technology and special trade provisions, which help these countries to access the global market.
Dr. Posh Raj Pandey, Chairman, SAWTEE, Nepal; Mikatekiso Kubayi Researcher, Institute for Global Dialogue, South Africa; Oluseun Andrew Ishola of Centre for Management Development (CMD), Nigeria; and Naval K. Paswan, Dean, School of Social Sciences, Sikkim University also spoke. Sait Akman of The Economic Policy Research Foundation, Turkey virtually participated in the session.
'Triangular collaboration needed'
Localisation has a key role in meeting the G-20 Sustainable Development Goals and requires a triangular collaboration of government, civil society and private organisations. Through this, the global scenario could be changed. India is doing important work in triangular cooperation and played a pivotal role in resolving Covid pandemic and the Ukraine crisis. India's model in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals is historic. In the year 2018 in Uganda Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised on boosting the local capacity as much as possible and India is moving at a fast pace towards meeting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This was highlighted by speakers at the session on 'Triangular Cooperation in Localising the Sustainable Development Goals' at the G-20's special Think-20 event.
