G20 Summit: PM Modi Meets German Chancellor Angela Merkel; Host Italy 'Proud' of Results

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a series of high-profile meetings lined up at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland on November 1. Earlier this month, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav had announced that PM Modi will attend the UN climate summit in Glasgow, in a boost for global efforts for steeper emission cuts to fight global warming. READ MORE

Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi closed the G20 summit on Sunday saying Italy was proud of the results on climate change, but “we must remember that it’s only the start”. Draghi, who confirmed world leaders at the summit had committed to the key goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, told critical climate activists that the outcome was not just “bla bla bla”.

In what can be touted as a win for India in the ongoing G20 Summit, it along with other developing countries was able to introduce language on what actions need to be taken to attain climate goals. As per reports, the countries have been asked to work on their obligations towards climate change- including financing the developing world’s green energy plans and cutting on wasteful consumption as the second session of the G20 Summit is underway in Italy’s Rome. READ MORE

India achieved “key successes” at the G20 summit, government sources told News18. On energy and climate, instead of only focusing on climate goals, India along with other developing countries, was able to introduce language on what actions need to be taken including by developed countries to achieve these goals, the sources said. For the first time, G20 has identified sustainable and responsible consumption and production, along with provision of finance and technology as “critical enablers” for achieving climate goals of keeping 1.5 degrees within reach. This is line with PM’s vision of promoting the mantra of sustainable lifestyles all over the world, the sources said, adding that “sustainable consumption and responsible production patterns comes from the Sustainable Development Goal number 12, and is aimed at encouraging developed countries to reduce their luxurious energy intensive lifestyles. The sources said that in another big win for the country, India pushed and obtained commitment from G20 for improving of livelihoods for small and marginal farmers.

US President Joe Biden said Sunday the United States and European Union were entering a “new era of transatlantic cooperation” after parties agreed to end a dispute over steel and aluminium. “The United States and the European Union are ushering in a new era of transatlantic cooperation that’s going to benefit all of our people, both now and I believe in the years to come,” Biden said after meeting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday met his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez on the sidelines of the G20 summit here and the two leaders had “fruitful” talks on ways to deepen bilateral ties. Modi, who is here at the invitation of his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi to attend the G20 summit, was accompanied by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his meeting with Sanchez. “In Rome, PM @narendramodi met the Prime Minister of Spain, Mr. @sanchezcastejon. Both leaders had fruitful talks on ways to deepen ties between India and Spain. The two nations are cooperating extensively in areas such as trade, energy, innovation and more, the Prime Minister’s Office tweeted. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that Prime Minister Modi invited Spain to invest in various sectors in India including green hydrogen, infrastructure and defence manufacturing.

Global COP26 climate negotiations are the “last, best hope” to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5C alive, said summit president Alok Sharma as he opened the meeting on Sunday. The Glasgow gathering, which runs to November 12, comes as an accelerating onslaught of extreme weather events across the world underscores the devastating impacts of climate change from 150 years of burning fossil fuels. READ MORE

Leaders of the Group of 20 major economies agreed on a final statement on Sunday that urges “meaningful and effective” action to limit global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius but offers few concrete commitments. The result of days of tough negotiation among diplomats leaves huge work to be done at a broader United Nations climate summit in Scotland, to where most of the G20 leaders will fly directly from Rome. The final document says current national plans on how to curb emissions will have to be strengthened “if necessary” and makes no specific reference to 2050 as a date to achieve net zero carbon emissions. “We recognize that the impacts of climate change at 1.5°C are much lower than at 2°C. Keeping 1.5°C within reach will require meaningful and effective actions and commitment by all countries,” the communique said.

PM Narendra Modi will be in attendance as the crucial COP26 climate summit gets underway in Glasgow from October 31, where India is expected to make a strong pitch for “climate justice” and showcase the steps it has taken to do its bit for keeping global temperature rise in check. There is pressure on India to commit to a timeline for achieving the “net zero” target, which developed countries are pushing for all countries to urgently adopt. However, New Delhi sees in the net zero call an attempt by developed countries to shift the goalposts on the climate crisis. Which is why it is asking the developed nations — the largest emitters historically — to do more for the planet and put their money where their mouth is. READ MORE

US President Joe Biden in his remarks at the G20 summit said US and EU are reaching a ‘new era’ of cooperation, AFP reports.

PM Narendra Modi meets Spain PM Pedro Sánchez on the sidelines of G20 Summit in Rome, Italy.

Leaders of the Group of 20 rich countries called for “meaningful and effective” action to limit global warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius in a final communique seen by Reuters on Sunday ahead of its publication. However, the communique contained few concrete actions and made no reference to a specific 2050 date to achieve net zero carbon emissions that scientists say is vital to stave off disastrous climate change. The final document says current national plans on how to curb emissions will have to be strengthened “if necessary” and includes a pledge to halt financing of overseas coal-fired power generation by the end of this year. “We recognize that the impacts of climate change at 1.5°C are much lower than at 2°C. Keeping 1.5°C within reach will require meaningful and effective actions and commitment by all countries,” the communique said.

Britain’s Prince Charles urged leaders of the world’s biggest economies on Sunday to put words into action as they tackled the global climate change crisis on the final day of a weekend summit that is setting the tone for an even bigger U.N. climate conference opening in Glasgow, Scotland. Warning that “it is quite literally the last-chance saloon,” Charles told the Group of 20 leaders that public-private partnerships were the only way to achieve the trillions of dollars in annual investment needed to transition to clean, sustainable energy sources that will mitigate the warming of global temperatures.

UK PM Boris Johnson has announced the country will give 50 million euros to help women and girls under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. “We have a responsibility to help those in Afghanistan most at risk under Taliban regime, particularly women and girls. The UK will give £50m to that end, and I urge the G20 to prioritise the rights of women and girls in all our international development efforts,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK comes at a time when India-UK bilateral relations are on a positive trajectory and potentially at the threshold of a new era, India’s High Commissioner to the UK Gaitri Issar Kumar has said. Modi will attend the World Leaders’ Summit (WLS) of the UN COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, with bilateral talks planned with his British counterpart Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the summit, scheduled over Monday and Tuesday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived at the G20 Summit venue for the session on climate change, ANI reports.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special VVIP flight, en route to Italy for the G20 Summit, flew over the Pakistani airspace on Friday and the aircraft will use it again on its return journey after getting formal permission from Islamabad, according to a media report here on Sunday. Modi’s plane Boeing 777, 300ER, K7066 entered the Pakistani airspace from Bahawalpur, passed through Turbat and Panjgur and via Iran and Turkey reached Italy, The Express Tribune reported. According to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) sources, Indian authorities had requested Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for permission to use the airspace for Modi’s special flight, PTI reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the famous Trevi Fountain here along with other world leaders on the sidelines of the G20 summit. The fountain is one of the most visited monuments of Italy and is loved by tourists. The historical fountain has drawn many filmmakers to it who have popularised the Baroque art-styled monument as the epitome of a place of romance. The delegation also threw a coin from over their shoulder in the fountain, according to a video released by the G20 Italy. It is believed that if you throw a coin over your shoulder into the water of the fountain, you will be sure to return to Rome.