“India’s G20 presidency and the theme of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’,  can lead to an actionable blueprint for a greener future,” says the CEO of Grow-Trees.com  

On December 1, 2022, as India took over the G20 presidency from Indonesia with the theme of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (One Earth, One Family, One Future), it issued a reminder that only a sustained global environmental movement can address the problems that the planet is facing. Says Bikrant Tiwary, the CEO of Grow-Trees.com,  “India’s G20 presidency is a good opportunity to focus collectively on the challenge of climate change. The theme of “One Earth, One Family, One Future”,  is more than just a slogan and can be an actionable blueprint for a greener future.”

He reminds how In 2022,  global leaders forged several environmental accords to counter existential challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and waste. In March 2022, The United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya, initiated a resolution  to draft  an agreement  by the end of 2024  to decisively end plastic pollution. Delegates also took stock of  efforts to repair the ozone layer, the end of leaded gasoline and the steps towards protecting endangered species. Says Bikrant, “What became clear through the year is that the world needs to collectively accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals, enshrine the right to a healthy environment constitutionally, and acknowledge and end environmentally destructive policies and projects. I hope, India’s presidency of G20 will further expand this conversation and underscore the human right to a thriving environment, clean air and water.”

Bikrant reminds that the fallout from climate change will hit developing countries like India the most and says, “Even though this year, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt,  agreed to establish a fund  to support developing countries through the climate crisis, India can lead this conversation for all vulnerable nations that are already dealing with droughts, extreme heat, floods and rising ocean levels.”   

At a time, when human activity is pushing 1 million species towards extinction, India could also speak for developing nations facing biodiversity loss, suggests Bikrant  and adds, “We as an organisation are also committed to planting 3 million trees across India in 2023 with the goal of reversing nature loss and nourishing degraded ecosystems back to life.” 

In the  coming year, India’s presidency of G20 could play a pivotal role in highlighting micro issues that developed nations often lose sight of while debating environmental issues. Bikrant concludes, “Be it sustainable food production, safeguarding marine environment, or the transition to clean energy, India can play a vital part in negotiating for a more equitable, biodiverse and greener world and lead climate conversations from the front.”