Green development and lifestyles for environment

Statement by Haoliang Xu at the G20 Development Ministers Meeting, Session 2: Green Development and Lifestyles for Environment, Varanasi, India

June 13, 2023

Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates

If we are to succeed in our global efforts to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda,

If we are to succeed in achieving the ambitions of the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Agreement and many other international commitments, 

Then we must invest more in a whole-of-government and whole-of-society behavior change. India’s Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) initiative is one shining example.

We need to strengthen public, private and civil society partnerships, scale up inclusive and circular economy approaches and ensure more sustainable forms of production and consumption.

Through initiatives such as LiFE and its guiding principles, countries can integrate circular economy principles into national and sectoral plans, create green and decent jobs, and accelerate Nature-positive, low-pollution and climate-resilient development, reducing poverty, inequality and fragility.

UNDP is pleased to work closely with the Government of India to implement the Principles on Lifestyle for Sustainable Development at the national and global levels. This includes efforts to integrate these principles into UNDP’s support to NDCs through its Climate Promise and into UNDP’s support to National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) through its Nature Pledge.

We look forward to working together to turn high-ambition commitments into high-impact actions for One Earth, One Family and One Future.

Thank you!