New Delhi: At the G20 Summit’s second session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a firm call to action, urging global leaders to rethink how the world prepares for and responds to crises. In a speech that combined urgency with a forward-looking agenda, he underlined that natural disasters are no longer isolated events but a persistent global threat demanding stronger international coordination.
Speaking on behalf of India, the Prime Minister reminded delegates that disasters have once again disrupted millions of lives this year. He noted that this recurring pattern makes it clear: the world must elevate disaster preparedness as a collective priority. India’s formation of the Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group during its G20 Presidency was highlighted as a step in this direction, with Modi also applauding South Africa for continuing to place this agenda at the forefront.
Shifting the conversation from reaction to resilience, the Prime Minister emphasised that disaster management can no longer be a response-only framework. He pushed for a development-centred approach—one that integrates resilience into infrastructure, planning, and long-term growth. He pointed to India’s creation of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) as a strategic platform that can help G20 countries mobilise finance, innovation, and technical skills for building stronger systems worldwide.
The Prime Minister also placed major focus on space technology as a global public good. In a move aimed at levelling the field for developing nations, he proposed a G20 Open Satellite Data Partnership, which would allow more accessible and interoperable satellite data from G20 space agencies. According to him, this initiative could be transformative, particularly for the Global South, by enabling better planning, monitoring, and disaster response.
Modi then pivoted to sustainability and clean energy—two pillars he described as essential for future growth. With demand for critical minerals surging, he pitched the G20 Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative, designed to encourage recycling, urban mining, and the reuse of batteries. By investing in circular systems, he said, countries can ease pressure on supply chains, reduce dependence on primary mining, and cut environmental impact. He argued that this framework could also drive joint research, uniform technology standards, and shared recycling pilots across developing nations.
Reflecting on commitments made during the New Delhi G20 Summit, he reminded members that the world had agreed to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy-efficiency rates by 2030. Delivering on those ambitions, he said, will require developed countries to honour their climate finance and technology transfer pledges within defined timelines.
The Prime Minister also raised concerns about the worsening strain on global agriculture. Climate change, he said, is intensifying risks to farmers everywhere—from lack of fertilisers to limited access to credit and markets. He outlined India’s own efforts, including running the world’s largest food security and health insurance programmes, as well as the biggest crop insurance scheme. He also reiterated India’s push for Shree Anna (millets), which he described as both nutrient-rich and climate-friendly.
Modi urged members to build on the Deccan Principles, agreed upon in Delhi, and shape a dedicated G20 roadmap to strengthen global food systems.
Closing his address, he stressed that resilience cannot operate in isolation. The G20, he said, must drive integrated strategies that connect food security, public health, sustainable agriculture, and disaster preparedness—ensuring that global security stands on a holistic foundation.
The Prime Minister’s message was clear: the path to resilience demands unity, innovation, and long-term investment.