FM raises vaccine equity, climate change with G20 counterparts

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 14

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman raised India’s concerns on the global community’s response to climate change and pandemic control while speaking at the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ meeting on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings in Washington.

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The minister noted that for transitioning from crisis to recovery, one of the major challenges was ensuring equitable access to vaccines for all. She suggested that keeping up the support, building resilience, enhancing productivity and implementing structural reforms should be our policy goals.

While appreciating the role of the G20 in rallying pandemic response and supporting vulnerable countries through debt relief measures, Sitharaman suggested focusing on efforts that ensure the benefits reach the intended countries, said an official news release.

The Finance Minister joined the G20 Ministers and Governors in agreeing on the need for strengthening efforts to counter climate change. But considering the varied policy spaces and different starting points of countries, she said the centrality of climate justice based on UNFCCC and principles of Paris Agreement would be critical for taking discussions forward towards successful outcomes.

The meeting also discussed issues concerning global economic recovery, pandemic support to vulnerable countries, global health, climate action, international taxation and financial sector issues.

For a sustained recovery, the meeting agreed to avoid any premature withdrawal of support measures.