Members of the Rajya Sabha, Kalpana Saini, and Sangeeta Yadav, participated in the first P-20 Meeting of Women Parliamentarians held in Maceio, Brazil, from June 30 to July 2. The theme of the meeting was “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.”
This event focused on discussions and exchanges between leaders from Brazil and other countries on core themes of the G20 summit: climate change and sustainable development, social inclusion, and the fight against hunger and poverty, as well as reforming global institutions.
During the First Working Session on Promoting Climate Justice and Sustainable Development for Women and Girls, Dr. Kalpana Saini highlighted the universal impact of climate change, which transcends national borders. She emphasized that the effects are felt differently across various social classes, necessitating urgent climate justice and the implementation of global mitigation measures.
A key point in Dr. Saini’s speech was the importance of women-led development in creating inclusive climate solutions. She discussed several initiatives by India to promote sustainability and harmony with nature, including the India-led Mission LiFE, which embraces the people-planet-prosperity philosophy.
In addition, she mentioned important gender-responsive policies of the Indian government, such as the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojna, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, and the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative.
Dr. Saini also highlighted India’s commitment to ecological sustainability and gender inclusivity through various national action plans. These include the National Mission for Empowerment of Women, the National Action Plan on Climate Change, and the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change. She noted pioneering schemes like Jal Jeevan Mission and MGNREGA, stressing that gender-related inequalities exist globally and that climate change should not exacerbate these disparities.
Concluding her speech, Dr. Saini stated that climate policies promoting sustainable development must be inclusive. She asserted that India believes climate justice can only be achieved if women are involved in formulating global policies. Women’s empowerment and inclusion in climate action are essential.
Following the P-20 sessions, the Indian delegation held a bilateral meeting with the delegation from the United States of America, which included Congresswomen Young Kim and Sydney Kamlager-Dove. The discussion focused on the strong India-US bilateral ties and key areas of cooperation such as women, children, and education. The US delegation also highlighted financial inclusivity and literacy.
The Indian delegation responded by mentioning several key government schemes related to these areas. The US delegation made a special mention of the ethnic origins of their Vice President, highlighting how she has showcased the vibrancy of Indian culture in the US.
The Indian delegation continued the discussion by emphasizing India’s sustainable agenda, including rainwater harvesting, solar energy, sustainable farming, and the need for climate justice and gender inclusivity in environmental and climate-related issues. Both delegations affirmed their commitment to creating a just and equitable society for all women.
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