G20 delegates enjoy the cultural, digital sound and light show at Gateway of India

Since India accepted the G20 Presidency on December 1, 2022, the country has hosted these meetings all over the Indian terrain. The G20 delegates were in Mumbai to attend the third Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting. They were entertained with a digital sound, light show, and cultural dance at the Gateway of India.

The three-day meeting held in Mumbai saw the attendance of 141 delegates from G20 countries and ten invitee countries. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change informed that 14 international and regional organisations representatives participated in this G20 summit. The three main topics of discussion for the Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group were controlling land degradation, facilitating a circular economy and giving momentum to the blue economy. All meetings focused on a specific theme out of the aforementioned points.

The G-20 delegates visited the Taj Palace Hotel and Gateway of India and witnessed wonderful performances of traditional dance, dhol and Marathi lavani by folk artists. The main attraction and special element of the cultural program was the colourful display of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s historic journey.

A mega Beach Clean-Up event was organized in Juhu to create awareness in line with PM Narendra Modi's message on 'Swachhta' and 'Jan Bhagidari'. It emphasised the significance of the 'Lifestyle for Environment' (LiFE) concept and the importance of individual actions in tackling marine pollution threats.

The second day started with an inaugural address by Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj Kapil M Patil who congratulated the Working Group on the success of the Mega Beach Clean Up Event and appreciated the hard work efforts done by the ECSWG in the area of climate change and environment issues.

G20 India Chair and Secretary, MoEFCC, Leena Nandan expressed her gratitude to the delegates for engaging actively in the first two ECSWG meetings. She called on the G20 countries for their continued participation in the Communique discussion to ensure inclusive, ambitious, action-oriented, and decisive outcomes.