Sikkim C20

Gangtok, April 28: Sikkim is preparing to host the Civil 20 (C20) India 2023 on April 29-30, which is a working group focused on sustainable and resilient communities – climate, environment, and net zero targets. The event is expected to draw 200 attendees from 22 nations, with many more joining virtually from around the world.

The conclave will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay, with other dignitaries, including the Ambassador of Uganda, AmbJoyce Kikafunda, and C20 Principal Coordinator, Amb. Vijay Nambiar, present at the opening ceremony. Swami Amritaswarupananda Puri, President of Amrita University, will present the felicitations.

The event will also feature the Governor of Sikkim Lakshman Prasad Acharya speaking at the closing ceremony, and other notable guests, including the Ambassador of Gambia to India, Amb.

Mustafa Jawara, and the Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and Power, Agriculture, Science & Technology of the Government of Manipur, Thongam Biswajit Singh. The Amrita University, Kerala, and the Government of Sikkim are jointly organizing the event, with the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) and the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department acting as co-organizers for the conclave.


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Dr Maneesha Sudheer, C20 India Working Group Coordinator and Provost of Amrita University, and Anil Raj Rai, Sikkim Land Revenue and Disaster Management department secretary, held a press conference in Gangtok, where they stated that C20 India 2023 is one of the Engagement Groups of the G20, which provides a platform for civil society organizations worldwide to express the people’s aspirations to the world leaders at the G20’s 2023 Summit in India.

The C20 India 2023 Working Group on Sustainable and Resilient Communities – Climate, Environment, and Net Zero Targets is one of the 14 Working Groups formed under C20 India 2023.

The C20 conclave is a significant event under India’s G20 Presidency, which aims to engage in extensive dialogue and engagement with Civil Society Organizations, policymakers, representatives from government and non-governmental agencies, and academicians worldwide to understand existing global policies related to sustainability and resilient communities and to further identify gaps and come up with innovative solutions. The results will be presented to the G20 nations at the summit in September 2023.

Dr Sudheer expressed her pleasure that the conference was being held in Sikkim, which is a prime example of sustainability and resilience, with the SSDMA operating a landslide early warning system since 2013.

The conclave provides an opportunity for people to see how Sikkim has adopted best practices and taken proactive steps to bring in climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.

The conclave will bring together CSOs from all over the world to discuss the thematic areas of Climate Resilience & Social Justice, Environment Sustainability, Net-Zero Emission Management, and Compassion Driven Approaches.

Policy deliberations among multiple stakeholders will bring out the recommendations to be provided to the G20 leadership team, according to the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham representative.

“The conclave will bring out dialogues and deliberations to bring out the voice of CSOs to G20 leadership to address the pressing challenges of the day and urge for support from multi-stakeholders to pave the way to develop scalable models that can be adapted to multiple countries,” said Sudheer.

Sikkim Land Revenue Secretary Anil Raj Rai expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Prem Singh Golay and the State government for hosting the C20 conclave in the State capital Gangtok while thanking Amrita University for selecting the location. The event provides an opportunity for the State to demonstrate its sustainable and resilient practices on the G20 map.

The C20 conclave, scheduled to take place in the State capital, will feature training sessions on Sustainable Development & Climate Resilience Energy Sustainability & Net Zero Targets, alongside the plenary sessions at Chintan Bhawan. Students and teachers from various schools and colleges at NB Bhandari Degree College, Tadong, and Janta Bhawan, DPH, will be actively involved.

The event will serve as a platform for stakeholders from all over the world to collaborate and exchange ideas, while also enabling academics, professionals, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to participate in G20 policy discussions. Notable dignitaries from G20 nations, as well as international and local speakers from the government and civic society, will also attend the event.