Draupadi Murmu points to climate change challenges, India's G20 presidency

In her maiden speech on the eve of the Republic Day, President Draupadi Murmu underlined the challenges of global warming and climate change facing the planet and the pole position India could have in shaping the global approach while holding the G20 Presidency.

She also drew upon the dilemma faced by the developing world - the need to uplift more people from poverty through economic growth, which is inevitably tied to fossil fuels - and how India was still making big moves on renewable energy.

"Unfortunately, the poor bear the brunt of global warming more than others. Developing and popularising alternative sources of energy is one of the solutions. India has taken a commendable lead in this direction by giving a policy push to solar energy and electric vehicles," Murmu said.


She termed Mahatma Gandhi the "true prophet of our times" for his ability to foresee the "calamities of indiscriminate industrialisation" and said G20 was an ideal forum to discuss and find solutions to such global challenges.

She noted that "timely interventions from the government", particularly the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative has helped most sectors of the economy shake off the pandemic effect, turning India into one of the fastest-growing major economies.

"The respect that India has earned on the world stage has resulted in new opportunities as well as responsibilities," President Murmu said in her address.