Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, speaking at the inaugural session of the CII Partnership Summit 2024, on Monday, said that the Global South is not responsible for the environmental damage caused by the exploitation of low-cost energy by developed nations.
Ministers and officials from countries such as Italy, Israel, Bhutan, Bahrain, Algeria, Nepal, Senegal, South Africa, Myanmar, Qatar, and Cambodia participated in the event.
Goyal highlighted that each of the partner countries has shared responsibilities towards the environment, but countries present at the summit are not responsible for the damage to the environment.
Therefore, the responsibilities towards shared supply chains and sustainability will have to be met through common but differentiated responsibility, he said. While all have to work together, everybody needs to be given responsibility based on their contribution to the environmental problem, he added.
India, he said, extends its hand of friendship to Global South nations, promoting cooperation in areas like stability, satellite technology, and sustainability. Goyal also stressed the importance of financial liquidity and introspection on consumption patterns, advocating for a circular economy to curb waste and reduce the carbon footprint.
“Consumption waste is not going to make the world a better place to live in and the world will have to reflect on lifestyles and a circular economy. While pursuing the goal of a good lifestyle we have to be conscious of the waste and of the carbon footprint that we leave,” Goyal said.
Reflecting on the summit, Goyal said that synergy among the partner countries can send a message of oneness to the world. He said that India has always stood for peace and dialogue.
Diplomacy, as suggested by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will have to be encouraged to tackle the geopolitical challenges the world is facing today and partner countries must align with each other’s interests to achieve the goal of common peace and prosperity, Goyal added.
