The event will feature two panel discussions on securing renewable energy supply chains, and strengthening the mineral value chain by increasing production and infusing circularity…reports Asian Lite News
As part of the second Energy Transition Working Group meeting of India’s G20 Presidency, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of Mines and Ministry of Power will host an official side event, ‘Diversifying Renewables and Critical Minerals Supply Chains to Advance Energy Transition’ on Monday in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar.
The event, supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), will focus on diversifying and securing renewable energy and critical mineral supply chains for energy transitions, including promoting circularity in value chains, an official release said. Bhupinder Singh Bhalla, Secretary of, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, of the Ministry of Mines, will deliver the opening address and set the context for the event.
The event will feature two panel discussions on securing renewable energy supply chains, and strengthening the mineral value chain by increasing production and infusing circularity.
“Global economic development coincides with a shrinking carbon space, intensifying climate risks, and rising geopolitical adversities. For the world to achieve a net-zero future, solar and wind power capacities must grow 17 and 10 times, respectively, between 2021 and 2050,” an official release from the Ministry of Mines said on Saturday.
In its G20 year, the principles of India’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) can promote circularity in manufacturing and use of these minerals for a transition to renewables.
India has articulated and put across the concerns of developing countries at the Conference of the Parties (COP26) and presented five nectar elements (Panchamrit) of its climate action.
India aims to reach 500 GW non-fossil energy capacity by 2030, target 50 per cent of its energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030, reduction of total projected carbon emissions by one billion tonnes from now till 2030, reduction of the carbon intensity of the economy by 45 per cent by 2030, and finally achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2070.
‘Tea tourism to increase in coming years’
Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said that tea tourism will increase in the coming years, after attending the first-day event at the second G20 Tourism Working Group Meeting here on Saturday.
The Union Minister said, “Our second meeting for tourism has taken place here in Darjeeling. This is a new experience for the G20 delegates. The workers who work here are also getting encouragement after this. Tea tourism will increase in the upcoming years.” Meanwhile, the G20 delegates experienced tea plucking on the sidelines of the first-day event.
Darjeeling, the Queen of the Himalayas and one of India’s leading tourist destinations, along with Siliguri, located in the foothills of the Himalayas, has been chosen to host the second Tourism Working Group meeting from April 1-3, 2023.
Around 130 participants are attending the event.
The delegates from the G-20 member countries will get the opportunity to discuss the ways of reviving the tourism sector which got affected due to the Covid pandemic, in this three-day meeting from April 1 to April 3.
On the first-day event, Chief coordinator of G20 Harshvardhan Shringla said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed us to showcase India to the world as we are ready to host the G20 Summit in September this year. I recall him saying that, “each part of India has its own uniqueness, heritage, beauty and culture and that our G20 meetings should not be confined to the national capital, New Delhi, alone.”
To explore India during the G20 meeting, Shringla said, “The delegates from the G-20 member countries will get the opportunity to discuss the ways of reviving the tourism sector which got affected due to the Covid pandemic, in this three-day meet.”
During his speech, he also pointed out, “India, especially the North Eastern part of the country will get a big opportunity to showcase the rich cultural heritage and tourism potentials dominated in the region.”
Around 10 ambassadors from different countries including Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, G20 Chief Coordinator HarshVardhan Shringla, Arvind Singh, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism participated in the program in Siliguri and Darjeeling on the first day of the second G20 Tourism Working Group meeting.
During the three-day meetings, the foreign delegates would get to experience the tea industry, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway and adventure tourism. (ANI)
