G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration (GS Paper 2, Bilateral Groupings & Agreements)
Introduction
- The 19th G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, focused on building a fair and sustainable world under the theme "Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet."
- This summit saw world leaders reaffirm their commitment to addressing global challenges through multilateral cooperation.
- India’s Prime Minister also delivered a key address on sustainable development and energy transition, emphasizing India’s role in advancing global climate action and promoting inclusive growth.
- South Africa will host the G20 in 2025, followed by the United States in 2026.
- The summit outcomes, especially in areas of taxation, digital infrastructure, climate action, and global trade, reflect a collective push towards equitable development and sustainable solutions.
Key Outcomes of the G20 Rio de Janeiro Declaration
- Progressive Taxation of the Super-Rich: The G20 emphasized the need for progressive taxation of the wealthiest individuals. The declaration stressed the importance of respecting national fiscal sovereignty while promoting international cooperation to establish fair tax policies globally.
- Reforming the United Nations Security Council: The G20 leaders called for more inclusive representation in the UN Security Council, particularly for underrepresented regions such as Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific. This initiative aims to ensure global governance is more reflective of the current world order.
- Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty: A new alliance was launched to address hunger and poverty, targeting the most vulnerable populations worldwide. This initiative aims to provide cash transfers to 500 million people and school meals to 150 million children by 2030.
- Digital Divide and Social Inclusion: The summit underscored the importance of bridging the digital divide and ensuring equal access to digital opportunities. A specific goal was set to halve the gender digital gap by 2030, alongside promoting gender equality in both paid and unpaid care work.
- Commitment to Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI): India, Brazil, and South Africa signed a joint declaration to promote Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), focusing on inclusive digital transformation. DPI is seen as a tool to connect people, data, and money securely, improving economic opportunities and social services globally.
- Climate Action and Sustainable Energy: The G20 reaffirmed the need for technology-neutral approaches to low-emission energy. The establishment of a Global Climate Change Mobilization Task Force is aimed at enhancing global cooperation on climate action. Additionally, the G20 committed to reducing land degradation by 50% by 2040.
- Fair Global Trade: Leaders agreed to avoid protectionist green policies that could be discriminatory, emphasizing adherence to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and multilateral environmental agreements to ensure fairness in global trade.
- Health Equity and Access: The summit supported the establishment of a Coalition for Local and Regional Production to increase equitable access to vaccines, medicines, and health technologies. This effort aims to ensure that health solutions are affordable and accessible to all, particularly in developing countries.
India’s Role in Global Sustainable Development
India has made significant strides in promoting sustainable development and climate action, as reflected in the G20 Rio Declaration:
- Achievements in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): India has achieved significant progress in improving the quality of life for millions of citizens. Over 4 crore families have received homes, 12 crore households now have access to clean water, 10 crore families use clean cooking fuel, and 11.5 crore households have improved sanitation facilities.
- Paris Agreement and Green Transition: India is a global leader in climate action, having met its Paris Agreement target of 40% non-fossil fuel capacity ahead of schedule. With a target of 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, India has already achieved 200 GW. Additionally, initiatives like Mission LiFE, One Sun One World One Grid, and the International Solar Alliance have positioned India as a leader in global energy transitions.
- Promotion of Circular Economy: India has launched the Global Biofuel Alliance to support the use of biofuels and is running a waste-to-energy campaign aimed at minimizing waste and making efficient use of resources. These efforts align with the global transition to a circular economy.
- Disaster Resilience and Climate Financing: India has launched the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, which focuses on building resilience to climate-related disasters. India also advocates for climate finance to support the energy transitions of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and other vulnerable nations.
- Support for the Global South: India is committed to sharing its development experiences with countries in the Global South. Through the Global Development Compact (GDC), launched during the 3rd Voice of the Global South Summit 2024, India aims to provide sustainable growth, trade, technology sharing, and concessional financing to promote global development.
Significance of the G20 in the Global Landscape
The G20, representing more than 85% of global economic output and about 80% of the world's population, plays a crucial role in addressing global issues. Unlike older blocs like the G7, the G20 offers a more diverse and inclusive representation of the world’s economy, encompassing both developed and developing nations.
- Crisis Management: The G20 was instrumental in responding to the 2008 financial crisis, agreeing on spending measures worth $4 trillion to stabilize the global economy. More recently, the G20’s role in mitigating the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic underscored its significance in times of crisis.
- Geopolitical and Climate Leadership: The G20 includes influential democratic nations like India and Brazil, as well as major powers such as China and Russia. This diversity enables the group to address a wide range of geopolitical issues. Additionally, as the G20 countries account for over 80% of global carbon emissions, their commitment is essential for any meaningful global climate action.
Conclusion
- The G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration highlights a shared commitment to building a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable world.
- With India's proactive role in climate action, sustainable development, and global cooperation, the country is positioned at the forefront of efforts to tackle pressing global challenges.
- As the world faces an uncertain future, the G20’s collective action can help steer the global community towards a more resilient and sustainable future for all.
