G20 Leaders Adopt New Delhi Declaration: Key Takeaways & Why is Joint Communique Important | Explained

In a significant moment for India’s G20 presidency, the Joint Communiqué of the summit was officially adopted by the participating members, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday.

“On the back of the hard work of all the teams, we have received consensus on the G20 Leaders Summit Declaration. I announce the adoption of this declaration,” PM Modi told the G20 leaders in New Delhi.

G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant announced on X (formerly Twitter), “G20 India has been the MOST ambitious in the history of G20 presidencies. With 112 outcomes and presidency documents, we have more than tripled the substantive work from previous presidencies.”

There were speculations whether India would be able to forge consensus on a host of contentious issues among the participating nations.

What Does the Joint Communiqué Say?

The Joint Communiqué or the New Delhi Leaders Declaration issued at the G20 has 112 outcomes and presidency documents, which is double the work done by the previous presidencies. The G20 Declaration had the full consensus by the participating members on all developmental and geo-political issues.

The declaration focused on promoting strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, seeks to accelerate progress on SDGs, envisages a green development pact for a sustainable future and endorses high-level principles on lifestyle for sustainable development.

It also reiterated PM Modi’s statement that “Today’s era must not be of war” and called on states to uphold the principles of international law, sovereignty and international humanitarian law.

The G20 pushed for prioritising sustainability-based development to reduce burden and provide a better world for future generations. The push for food security through promotion of Millets and ensuring equitable healthcare for all.

On climate change, the leaders’ declaration called on the G20 member states “to set an ambitious, transparent and trackable New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) of climate finance in 2024, from a floor of $100 billion a year, taking into account the needs and priorities of developing countries in fulfilling the objective of the UNFCCC and implementation of the Paris Agreement.”

Highlights of New Delhi Leaders Declaration

1. Accelerate strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth.
2. Accelerate the full and effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
3. Pursue low-carbon emissions, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable development.
4. Improve access to medical countermeasures and facilitate more supplies and production capacities in developing countries.
5. Promote resilient growth by urgently and effectively addressing debt vulnerabilities in developing countries.
6. Scale up financing from all sources for accelerating progress on SDGs.
7. Accelerate efforts and enhance resources towards achieving the Paris Agreement, including its temperature goal.

Why is the Leaders Declaration Important?

The G20 meetings are held throughout the year among different bodies like Finance Track, Sherpa Track and civil society groups and among ministers, delegates and diplomats. Under India’s presideny there were more than 220 meetings in 60 Cities with over 25,000 delegates from more than 115 countries.

The G20 summit is the culmination of all the processes and meetings held throughout the year among ministers, senior officials and civil society groups.

At the end of the summit, there is a joint communique agreed by all the participating nations which outlines common positions on global matters like conflicts, climate change or areas of future cooperation.

In the last year’s Summit in Bali, the deliberation was hindered by differences over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Indonesia President Joko Widodo was able to come out with a weak declaration at the last minute.

There were speculations that key members would be deeply divided over Russia’s war in Ukraine and China would oppose India’s stance during the summit.

But India was able to bring out 91 lines of efforts and presidency documents which is more than the previous G20 presidencies till 2017. With 112 outcomes and presidency documents, India has more than doubled the substantive work from previous presidencies.

India’s Achievements

India’s G20 Presidency will go down in history as one of the most inclusive, culturally vibrant as well as goal-oriented events that have taken place so far. The full membership of African Union is among the most tangible outcomes from the summit.

The event helped in showcasing India’s push for development, ensuring ease of living through use of technology and bringing peace in all parts of India.

The G20 leaders said they would back efforts to triple global renewable energy capacity by 2030, promising to boost action to tackle climate change.

The joint declaration also decried the use of violence in Ukraine war without naming Russia. “All states must refrain from the threat or use of force to seek territorial acquisition against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state,” it read.