Energy Transition (ETWG), India’s first G20 meet at Bengaluru

Bengaluru will host the first G20 Energy Transition Working Group Meeting under the Indian Presidency.
At a press conference for the media in Bengaluru, Alok Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Power, announced that Bengaluru will host the first G20 Energy Transition Working Group (ETWG) Meeting under India’s Presidency from February 5–7, 2023. Over 150 people, including representatives from the G20 and nine special invited guests, will attend the summit: Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and Spain.
The World Bank, Asian Development Bank, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), International Energy Agency (IEA), Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), International Solar Alliance (ISA), United Nations International Development Organisation (UNIDO), United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), RD20, and knowledge partners will also participate in the summit. Senior government representatives from the concerned ministries will also attend the ETWG meeting.
Karnataka is providing coordination and support for the summit. Six priority topics will be the primary focus of the first ETWG meeting. These include an energy transition that closes technological gaps, (ii) low-cost financing for an energy transition, (iii) energy security and diversified supply chains, (iv) energy efficiency, industrial low-carbon transitions, and responsible consumption, (v) Fuels for the Future (3F), and (vi) a pathway for an equitable, affordable, and inclusive energy transition. The ETWG meeting will be enhanced by a high-level international seminar on “Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS)” that will take place concurrently.
The event will emphasise the value of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage, which is seen as essential for achieving net-zero targets. The event will discuss the difficult issues of the clean energy transition and the role of CCUS in addressing them, in addition to evaluating different technological components of the value chain, from capturing to storage and utilisation methods. This occasion will make it possible to exchange information about effective programmes that other emerging economies can use as examples.
Delegates attending the first ETWG meeting will also travel to the Infosys Green Building Campus and the Pavagada Solar Park to observe firsthand India’s efforts to promote the renewable industry and combat climate change. The rich cultural legacy, art, and culture of Karnataka will also be made available to the participants. The Government of India’s Ministry of Power serves as the ETWG’s focal ministry and will coordinate the discussions and negotiations on certain priority areas.
Four ETWG sessions, many side events, and a ministerial meeting have been scheduled under India’s presidency. The efforts and accomplishments of India’s previous G20 Presidency, which successfully advanced the cause of international cooperation in the clean energy transition and elevated it to the forefront of the agenda for sustainable economic development, will be built upon by India’s upcoming Presidency.