New Delhi, 27 October (H.S.): Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh on Tuesday said that climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, resource scarcity, food and energy insecurity, and rising inequalities posed serious challenges to humanity. Citing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026, he highlighted the urgent need to accelerate global efforts to achieve the targets set for 2030.

Addressing the plenary session of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh said sustainable development was not merely an environmental concern but was intrinsically linked to human dignity, economic opportunities, social justice and a better future for all.

The session was themed ‘Sustainability: The Central Role of Parliament in Building a Sustainable and Inclusive Future for Our Countries’.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh said India’s 2026 BRICS presidency was centred on the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’. He noted that the New Delhi Declaration, adopted at the 18th BRICS Summit in September 2026, had reaffirmed the collective commitment of member countries to sustainable development and inclusive growth.

Emphasising the importance of parliamentary institutions, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh said legislatures conferred democratic legitimacy on public policies through lawmaking, budgetary oversight, accountability mechanisms and representation of citizens. They also played a crucial role in bridging the gap between international commitments and their implementation at the local level.

He said that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals required parliaments to enact appropriate legislation, allocate adequate resources, monitor the implementation of programmes and ensure that the voices of all sections of society received due consideration.

Highlighting India’s approach to development, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh said sustainability must be people-centric, inclusive and equitable. He said India’s development philosophy was rooted in the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, meaning ‘the world is one family’.

He added that, in line with the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’, India remained committed to building a prosperous, empowered and sustainable nation while contributing to global development efforts.

Underscoring the importance of youth participation, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh said nearly two-thirds of India’s population was below the age of 35, making young people indispensable partners in achieving sustainable development.

Initiatives such as the ‘Viksit Bharat Youth Parliament’, he said, provided young people with opportunities to engage with democratic institutions, develop leadership skills and present innovative ideas for building an inclusive and sustainable future.

Calling for stronger international cooperation, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh said global challenges could be addressed only through coordinated efforts at the international level.

He stressed the need to improve access to financial resources for sustainable development, facilitate technology transfer and respect the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities’.

He also emphasised that developing countries should have adequate policy space and resources to pursue sustainable development in accordance with their national circumstances and priorities.

Concluding his address, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh said sustainability was fundamentally linked to good governance, accountability and collective responsibility.

He said parliaments could make a meaningful contribution to building a sustainable, inclusive and prosperous world for present and future generations through parliamentary diplomacy, the exchange of best practices and collaborative action.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar