The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 20th May 2023 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Why in News?

As he left for Japan on Friday to attend the G-7 summit — India is a special invitee — Prime Minister Narendra Modi called India’s attendance “particularly meaningful” this year. While Mr. Modi was referring specifically to India’s G-20 presidency, and aligning the G-20 agenda with Japan’s agenda for the G-7 summit is key, there are other reasons for India’s presence to stand out at the conversations this weekend. Japan, as host, has taken a fairly tough position on Russia, with its envoy to India saying that the “message to Putin” must be that Russia will have to “pay” for its war in Ukraine.

What is Group of Seven (G7)?

• It is an intergovernmental organisation that was formed in 1975.
• The bloc meets annually to discuss issues of common interest like global economic governance, international security and energy policy.
• The G7 countries are the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US.
• All the G7 countries and India are a part of G20.
• The G7 does not have a formal charter or a secretariat. The presidency, which rotates among member countries each year, is in charge of setting the agenda. Sherpas, ministers and envoys hammer out policy initiatives before the summit.
• As of 2022, G7 countries make up 10% of the world’s population, 31% of global GDP, and 21% of global carbon dioxide emissions, according to the Summit website. China and India, the two most populous countries with among the largest GDP figures in the world, are not part of the grouping.
• In all G7 countries, annual public sector expenditure exceeded revenue in 2021. Most G7 countries also had a high level of gross debt, especially Japan (263% of GDP), Italy (151%) and the US (133%).
• The G7 countries are important players in global trade. The US and Germany in particular are major export nations. Both sold goods worth well over a trillion US dollars abroad in 2021.

G-20 Grouping

• The G20 is an informal group of 19 countries and the European Union, with representatives of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
• The G20 membership accounts for 
  • two-thirds of the world’s population, 
  • 85% of global gross domestic product, 
  • 80% of global investment and 
  • over 75% of global trade.
• The members of the G20 are 
  • USA, Canada, Mexico; 
  • Argentina, Brazil;
  • EU, Germany, France, UK, Italy;
  • South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Turkey;
  • India; Indonesia; Australia;
  • Russia, China, South Korea and Japan.
• It does not have any permanent secretariat or headquarters.
• The G20 Summit is formally known as the “Summit on Financial Markets and the World Economy”.

Why in News?

Bhopal becomes the first city in India to adopt the localisation of the United Nations-mandated sustainable development goals (SDG).

Details

• Bhopal will now have voluntary local reviews (VLR) to demonstrate the local government’s capacity and commitment towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Voluntary local reviews (VLR)

• The VLR is a subnational review of the progress and challenges in implementing the SDGs at the local level.
• It is a bottom-up and participatory approach that involves multiple stakeholders, such as civil society, the private sector, academia and citizens.
• It aims to enhance accountability, transparency and learning among local actors, as well as to inform and influence national and global policies.

Bhopal’s VLR

• It is the result of collaboration between the Bhopal Municipal Corporation, UN-Habitat and a collective of over 23 local stakeholders to measurably demonstrate the city’s aspirations for a sustainable and inclusive urban transformation.
• It incorporated a mix of quantitative and qualitative approaches to the review of SDGs, with qualitative mapping of 56 developmental projects.
• It identified key challenges and opportunities for Bhopal to achieve the SDGs, such as urban governance, climate resilience, social inclusion, economic development and innovation.
• It was launched by the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, along with an Agenda for Action: Sustainable Urban Transformation in Bhopal.
  • The Agenda for Action outlines a vision and a roadmap for Bhopal to become a smart, green and livable city by 2030.
  • It also proposes concrete actions and initiatives to address the gaps and priorities identified in the VLR.

United Nations-mandated Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

• The United Nations (UN) adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2015, which consists of 17 goals and 169 targets to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all people by 2030. These goals are also known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or the Global Goals.
• Achieving these ambitious and interrelated goals requires not only the commitment and cooperation of national governments but also the active participation and ownership of local governments and communities.

 Localization

• It is the process of translating the global agenda into local actions and impacts that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs.
• It involves adapting the goals and targets to the local context, aligning them with local plans and priorities, engaging local stakeholders and actors, and monitoring and reporting on progress at the local level.

Significance

• Localisation is imperative for the success of the 2030 Agenda because it recognizes that local governments are closest to the people and have a key role in delivering basic services, promoting social inclusion, ensuring environmental sustainability and fostering economic development.
• It empowers local actors to identify and address their own challenges and opportunities, using their own resources and capacities.
• According to the UN, at least 60% of the 169 SDG targets could not be achieved without the involvement of local governments and other subnational actors. Therefore, localisation is not only a means to implement the SDGs, but also an end in itself, as it promotes local democracy, accountability and ownership.

Conclusion

• Bhopal’s VLR is a pioneering example of how cities can take ownership and leadership in implementing the SDGs at the local level. It also showcases how cities can collaborate with various partners and stakeholders to leverage their resources and expertise for achieving global goals. Bhopal’s VLR is expected to inspire and motivate other cities in India and beyond to join the global movement of VLRs and contribute to the transformation of our world.