The G20 leaders' virtual summit was all about assessing Delhi Declaration commitments

For the first time since September 9-10, when India hosted and presided over the hugely successful 18th G20 Summit in New Delhi, it was time for the top global leaders to interact once again with one another. The decision to host the virtual summit was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 10, aiming to coincide it with the conclusion of India's G20 presidency on November 22 before Brazil formally takes over the grouping's presidentship for one year. Invitations were extended to leaders from all G20 member countries, the Chair of the African Union, nine guest countries and heads of 11 international organisations. Modi presided over the virtual summit, whose primary objectives were to address critical issues, assess outcomes and evaluate developments since the Delhi Declaration. Substantial progress had been achieved on key priorities and outcomes following the G20 leaders' summit in September. Noteworthy accomplishments included a consensus on tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling the global rate of energy efficiency improvement, both by 2030. The commitment to these goals, announced for the first time during the Delhi Summit, is anticipated to be a key outcome of COP28. In a joint statement on November 14, the US and China expressed full support for the G20 leaders' declaration to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030. Both nations also agreed to undertake five significant Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) projects, contributing to the reduction of CO2 emissions from sources such as power plants and industrial sites.

India's G20 presidency successfully advocated for the Global Initiative on Digital Health (GIDH), securing a commitment of $44.5 million. Furthermore, initiatives based on G20 AI Principles, UNESCO's Ethical AI Guidelines and India's "AI for All" Principle are ongoing, led by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The Independent Expert Group on Strengthening of MDBs submitted Volume 2 of its report, which was welcomed by G20 Finance Ministers in October. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) proposed a quota increase to the Board of Governors on November 7, and progress is underway on an action plan for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 2023 G20 New Delhi Update, a comprehensive report on progress toward SDGs and India's contributions, was finalised on November 13. Efforts to promote the Principles on Lifestyles for Sustainable Development (LiFE) and advance women's leadership through a mentorship platform were also highlighted. A significant accomplishment during India's G20 presidency was the launch of TechEquity, a digital inclusion platform for women. This platform aims to bridge the gender digital divide by providing self-learning courses on digital literacy, financial literacy, tech skill development and core skill enhancement from the G20 and guest countries. Lauded as it is as a global influencer, India has concluded its G20 presidency with an impactful bang!