Berlin (Germany), July 25 (ANI): German Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection Steffi Lemke is visiting India from July 25 to 28. Steffi Lemke and Stefan Wenzel, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs, will attend the G20 Environment and Climate Ministers meeting in Chennai.
At the meeting, ministers will discuss climate, biodiversity protection, marine protection, water supply and the circular economy and agree joint goals, the German Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection said in a news release.
For example, ministers will urge the G20 to actively support negotiations for a global agreement on plastic pollution.
During her visit to India, Steffi Lemke will launch a forest conservation project with the support of the German Environment Ministry with 17.5 million euros from the International Climate Initiative. They will visit Coimbatore Bus Station and related projects. Steffy and Wenzel will visit Pallikkaranai urban wetlands.
In a press release, Steffi Lemke said India is “critically important” to reaching global environmental goals because of its large population and growing economy. She emphasized that India and Germany have a “close and friendly working relationship”.
Due to its large population, growing economy and rich biodiversity, India is very important for reaching global environmental goals. Germany and India have a close and friendly working relationship on environmental and nature conservation issues. For example, we will strengthen cooperation in protecting forests and wetlands and against plastic pollution. Nuclear safety and consumer protection.
“We must take an integrated approach to all three global crises: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. I will push for this approach at the G20 environment and climate ministers’ meeting in Chennai. We need a clear commitment from the G20 to support the global agreement on plastic pollution. It was adopted in Montreal in December,” she added.
During her visit, Steffi Lemke will call for an ambitious agenda at the G20 meeting in Chennai. They will also initiate a cooperative project to improve forest conservation. The German Federal Environment Ministry will provide 17.5 million euros from the International Climate Initiative (IKI) fund for a forest conservation project, according to a press release.
According to the press release, the amount will be used by local partners for afforestation and forest landscape restoration. This will promote biodiversity locally, sequester more carbon in the landscape and improve the livelihoods of rural communities.
“In addition to the G20 support for the Global Plastics Agreement and the framework adopted in Montreal, the G20 call for the rapid entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement concluded by UN member states at the beginning of March 2023 is also important,” the German Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Safety press release said.
Lemke will visit multiple projects before attending the G20 meeting in Chennai. They plan to visit a fishing community in Pattinambakkam, Chennai, where BMUV is supporting a program to combat marine litter. Fishermen and women self-help groups collect old fishing nets and sell them to selected recycling companies.
This creates economic opportunities for local residents and prevents plastic pollution, according to the press release. The project also implements approaches that include circular economy solutions. Minister Lemke will also hold bilateral discussions with national and state level representatives. The primary objective of these meetings is to take forward the agenda and structure of the next Indo-German Environment Forum as a key component of bilateral cooperation with India.
The environmental forum is expected to take place in early 2024, according to the press release. The theme of India’s G20 Presidency is “One Earth, One Family, One Future”. According to the press release, the G20 countries have a special responsibility in global environmental protection and nature conservation as they are responsible for most of the environmental damage worldwide. (ANI)