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G20 Summit Kicks Off with Global Pact to Fight Hunger and Poverty

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Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva opened the Group of 20 (G20) summit on Monday with the launch of a groundbreaking global alliance aimed at combating hunger and poverty. A total of 81 countries have agreed to support this initiative, which emphasizes coordinated efforts to address these challenges globally.

  • Alliance Backed by Major Entities: The alliance is supported by the African Union, European Union, international organizations, development banks, and major philanthropies such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
  • Lula’s Message: In his opening remarks, Lula, who rose from poverty and organized a metalworkers union, stressed that hunger and poverty are political decisions, not the result of scarcity or natural events.

G20 Agenda Amid Global Shifts

As leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro for two days of talks, their discussions on trade, climate change, and international security are expected to clash with shifting U.S. policies under President-elect Donald Trump.

  • U.S. Policy Changes: Trump’s stance on tariffs, the war in Ukraine, and other issues is set to reshape the global agenda once he takes office in January.
  • Escalating Ukraine Conflict: A recent Russian airstrike on Ukraine and a new U.S. decision to allow Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to target deeper into Russia have created challenges for diplomats trying to reach consensus on the war.

Tensions and Security Concerns in Rio

Security in Rio has been heightened with the presence of Brazilian troops and police reinforcements. Despite this, a Brazilian army patrol came under gunfire near a slum in Rio de Janeiro, though no one was injured.

  • Geopolitical Tensions: Amid these tensions, the summit is being held against the backdrop of escalating conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, with discussions focused on the global governance system and economic inequalities.

New White House Priorities and China’s Role

While U.S. President Joe Biden is seen as a lame duck with only two months left in office, China’s President Xi Jinping is poised to play a central role at the summit.

  • Biden’s Contributions: Biden is expected to announce a significant pledge to the World Bank’s International Development Association fund and launch a clean energy partnership with Brazil.
  • China’s Economic Influence: Xi is expected to promote China’s Belt & Road initiative, although Brazil has opted not to join.
  • U.S.-China Tensions: The G20 summit’s trade talks are also set to be impacted by Trump’s plans to escalate the U.S.-China trade war.

Brazil’s Push for Reform Faces Obstacles

Brazil’s efforts to push for reform in global governance and multilateral financial institutions could face challenges under Trump’s administration, particularly in areas like taxing the super-rich, an issue close to Lula’s agenda.

  • Opposition from Allies: Argentine President Javier Milei, a new ally of Trump in Latin America, has already rejected including a mention of taxing the wealthy in the summit’s joint communique.

UN Adopts ‘Pact for the Future’ to Strengthen Global Cooperation

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The United Nations General Assembly adopted a historic “Pact for the Future” on Sunday, marking a significant milestone toward enhanced global cooperation. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed the agreement as a “step-change towards more effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism,” aimed at addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. The pact, adopted without a vote at the start of the two-day Summit of the Future, is the result of nine months of intense negotiations.

Guterres emphasized the urgency of the pact, stating, “We are here to bring multilateralism back from the brink.” He has long advocated for the summit and the agreement, which encompasses key themes such as peace and security, global governance, climate change, digital cooperation, human rights, gender equality, youth, and future generations. The pact includes 56 broad actions that nations have committed to implementing.

Why is it important?

The “Pact for the Future” is a timely response to mounting global crises that demand stronger multilateralism and U.N. reform. It focuses on reinforcing the multilateral system, with the United Nations and its Charter at its core, ensuring that international institutions remain fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world. The pact also includes a framework for responsible and sustainable digital cooperation, reflecting the increasing importance of technology governance.

Key Quotes from the Pact for the Future:

“We recognize that the multilateral system and its institutions, with the United Nations and its Charter at the centre, must be strengthened to keep pace with a changing world. They must be fit for the present and the future – effective and capable, prepared for the future, just, democratic, equitable and representative of today’s world, inclusive, interconnected and financially stable.

“Today, we pledge a new beginning in multilateralism. The actions in this Pact aim to ensure that the United Nations and other key multilateral institutions can deliver a better future for people and planet, enabling us to fulfil our existing commitments while rising to new and emerging challenges and opportunities.”

Context:

Global challenges such as ongoing wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan, insufficient climate change mitigation efforts, growing national debt issues, and rapid technological advancements without adequate governance have underscored the need for U.N. reform and a reimagined global cooperation framework.

Despite widespread support for the pact, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Vershinin criticized the negotiations and the adoption of the agreement. Russia’s attempt to include an amendment—backed by countries like North Korea, Syria, Nicaragua, Belarus, and Iran—failed. The amendment sought to explicitly state that “the United Nations and its system shall not intervene in matters which are essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of any state.”