The Summit is an effective platform that brings together governments, scholars, corporates, youth groups, thought leaders, and civil society from across the world. The theme of the Summit this year was ‘Towards a Resilient Planet: Ensuring a Sustainable and Equitable Future'.
It gives a unique opportunity to deliberate together on climate, energy and sustainable development concerns. It strives to provide long-term solutions for the benefit of us all and the future of our planet. The Summit was inaugurated by Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.
Mr Espen Barth Eide, speaking in the session on sustainable consumption and production, SDG 12, said that this year was very important as it brought climate and nature together. Net zero is not only reducing GHG emissions but also finding nature based solutions.
The Minister stressed the point that for global governance all countries need to come on board. He said that not only cost sharing but opportunity sharing was also important.
Co-panelists with the Minister were John F Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, United States of America and environment ministers from Canada, Germany, Finland, France and Spain.
Minister Barth Eide, as President of United Nations Environment Assembly 5.2, invited the world leaders in the Summit, to UNEA in Nairobi, later this month and hoped for a global treaty on plastic pollution.
Ambassador Frydenlund spoke in the session on Global Commons. Global economic growth has led to the overuse of these resources leading to numerous global environment challenges, climate change, air pollution and acid rains, dwindling or polluted water bodies and loss of biodiversity, etc.
Many challenges and gaps arise in terms of how these global commons are managed and governed.
The Ambassador reiterated Norway’s belief that rules-based, binding international cooperation through the multilateral system was the best way to preserve our global commons.
He emphasized on the need for joint research and data, global goals and national actions, trust and mutual respect, and international cooperation for improved management of the global commons. The Ambassador also echoed hope on work to start on a legally binding agreement on reducing plastic pollution at United Nations Environment Assembly in late February.
The level of engagement and participation at this year’s WSDS is a good sign that we are taking the global challenges more seriously.
Norway is a proud partner of TERI, the Energy and Resources Institute, the organizers of the Summit.