The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is pleased to announce that the Second Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting will be held in Gandhinagar from March 27-29, 2023.

The Second ECSWG meeting will bring together G20 member countries, invitee countries, and international organizations to focus on the global environment and climate change agenda and build on the inputs provided during the first working group meeting. The conference will commence with a side event on Water Resources Management led by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, where G20 member countries will make presentations on best practices in this subject.

On 27th March 2023, the side event of second G20 ECSWG meeting will commence with an introductory note on India’s capability to make WATER everyone’s business focusing on importance of integrated water resource management by Ms. Debashree Mukherjee, Special Secretary, Water Recourses, Ministry of Jal Shakti. The address will be followed by presentations of best practices  on water resources management by twenty G20 members. The best practices shared by G20 members will be compiled into a compendium enabling knowledge exchanges and cross learning.

This will be followed by an excursion to ancient stepwell Adalaj Vav, which will demonstrate the ancient water management practices of India and its long-standing tradition of conserving water resources in an appropriate ambience.

Thereafter, the delegation will visit Sabarmati Siphon structure and Sabarmati Escape.  Sabarmati Siphon is a cross regulator structure constructed on Narmada Main Canal, an incredible feat of engineering where water flows through a huge tunnel built under the bed of the river and continues on the other side. The canal siphon has a water carrying capacity of approx. 900 cubic meters per second. Sabarmati escape, only a half kilometer upstream, having 425 cubic meters per second of discharge capacity, facilitates a safe evacuation of canal in case of emergency.

Afterwards, the delegation will witness the scenic beauty of the Sabarmati River Front.   The Sabarmati Riverfront Development has been envisaged as a comprehensive development of approximately 11 kilometres of length on both the banks of the Sabarmati River. The project approach is to bring about an overall environmental improvement, social upliftment and sustainable development along the Riverfront.

On 28th March 2023, the session will commence with the Inaugural Address by Ms. DarshanaVikramJardosh, Hon’ble Union Minister of State (Railways & Textiles), GOI.

Thereafter, Ministry of Jal Shakti will showcase its major interventions in the field of water resource management through presentations on projects titled NamamiGange, Climate Resilient Infrastructure, participatory Ground Water Management, Jal Jeevan Mission, and Swachh Bharat Mission -Universalization of Water, Sanitation & Hygiene and its effects.  This will be followed by comments/discussions by G20 countries, invitee countries and international organisations.

The organizations under Ministry of Jal Shakti will also put-up stalls on various themes including Atal BhujalYojana, Swach Bharat Abhiyan, Jal Jeevan Mission, NamameGange, Jal Shakti Abhiyan, National Water Mission etc during the meeting showcasing and sharing the high-quality work with the delegates.

Under Biodiversity and Land Degradation theme, the ECSWG will focus on strengthening the roadmap for G20 Global Land Initiative, developing the G20 knowledge and solutions platform, and compiling best practices. For Oceans & Blue Economy, the ECSWG aims to further the principles for a sustainable and resilient Blue Economy, facilitate technical studies on accelerating the transition to a sustainable and resilient Blue Economy, garner support for the G20 Osaka Report on addressing actions against marine litter, and facilitate the Ocean 20 Dialogue. For Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency, the ECSWG will accelerate knowledge exchanges on three sub-themes:

1. Circular Economy in the steel sector,
2. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for Circular Economy and circular bioeconomy, and
3. Seek further inputs on the proposed G20 Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Coalition (G20 RECEIC).

We look forward to discussing the outline of the communique and seek inputs.

The delegates will have an opportunity to experience Gujarat’s vibrant cultural traditions through specially curated dance and music performances, and will also have the opportunity to taste the local cuisine during their visit.

The 2nd ECSWG meeting is a critical step in fostering the efforts of the G20 countries, invitee countries, and international organizations towards a sustainable and resilient future. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is committed to working with all stakeholders to drive outcomes under each of the priority areas, and to achieve a sustainable and resilient future for all.