Gangtok, April 30, 2023:  The two-day C20 SRC working group summit on “Sustainable and Resilient Communities Conclave” in Sikkim, from 29 to 30th of April 2023, concluded with a formal ceremony where Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (University’s) School for Sustainable Development and the UNESCO Chair on Experiential Learning for Sustainable Innovation & Development. This was part of a larger MOU signing with partner C20 organizations. CANSA members such as Vasudha Foundation and WOTR, were part of the MOU signing, apart from eight other civil society organizations.

These MOUs are expected to further the cause of joint collaborative projects, to conduct research as well as deploy grassroots solutions in and across the country as well as other parts of the developing and underprivileged areas. The CSOs will jointly come up with policy formulations that would then become part of the representation to the G20 group.

This conclave was aimed at bringing out extensive dialogue and engagement with Civil Society Organizations, Policymakers, representatives from government and non-governmental agencies, and academicians from around the world to understand existing global policies related to specific thematic areas, identify gaps and come up with innovative solutions which will then be presented to the G20 nations at the summit in September 2023.

The thematic focus of the conclave was on Climate Resilience & Social Justice, Net-Zero Emission Management, Environmental Sustainability, and Compassion Driven Approaches.

Sanjay Vashist, Director of Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) presented at the Plenary session on ‘Sustainable Lifestyle, Agriculture, Environment & Partnerships’

The conclave was graced by His Excellency Governor of Sikkim Shri. Lakshman Acharya, Honorable Chief Minister of Sikkim, Shri. Prem Singh Tamang, the C20 Sherpa, Ambassador (and former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations) Shri. Vijay K. Nambiar, and the C20 Troika Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri.

Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA), in partnership with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham and Vasudha Foundation are leading the Civil20 India 2023 with the theme of Sustainable and Resilient Communities: Climate, Environment and Net Zero Targets. CANSA is already part of the C20 working group on Sustainable and Resilient Communities (SRC) leading the sub-theme Climate Resilience and Social Justice together with Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham.

India assumed the Presidency of the G20 on 1st December 2022, a watershed moment for the country as it seeks to play an important role in finding solutions to address key issues impacting mother earth in the spirit of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, or the ‘World is One Family’ with ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ as the vision for G20 2023.

As part of its agenda, as the G20 President, India has identified a number of sectors/issues that it would like the G20 grouping to address and arrive at robust solutions. The sectors and issues range from scaling up renewable energy to ensuring the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and addressing climate change, from trade and investment to multilateral reforms; from agriculture to financial inclusion and women-led development and many more with the concept of Lifestyle For Environment (LiFE), which India’s Hon’ble Prime Minister introduced as the binding fabric.

India has expressed the hope that actions on addressing climate change and importantly imbibing the principles of LiFE are embraced and scaled up by all.

Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham signed MOUs with eleven partner C20 organizations which included CANSA and its member partners Vasudha Foundation and WOTR.

Sanjay Vashist, Director, Climate Action Network South Asia (CANSA) presented at the Plenary session on ‘Sustainable Lifestyle, Agriculture, Environment & Partnerships’ at the two-day C20 SRC working group summit on “Sustainable and Resilient Communities Conclave” in Sikkim, 29-30 April  2023