The G20 leaders approved by consensus the final declaration of the summit that took place in Rio de Janeiro under rigorous and omnipresent security forces. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva scored a political victory because two of his main initiatives, the Global Alliance against Hunger and Povertyand the tax on “super rich” They were not left on the road. The final text, of 22 pages and 85 paragraphs, carefully negotiated by Brazilian diplomacy, as host, was not without twists and turns. “We stand united in support of a comprehensive ceasefire in Gazain accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2735, and in Lebanon, allowing citizens to safely return to their homes on both sides of the Blue Line,” the presidents and heads of state agreed. At the same time expressed their “deep concern” for the “catastrophic” humanitarian situation in these two conflict zones in the Middle East. Israel is not named in those pages. The leaders also considered “urgent need to expand the flow of humanitarian aid” and strengthen the protection of civilians. Affirming “the Palestinian right to self-determination,” the G20 reiterated its “unwavering commitment to the vision of a two-state solution, in which Israel and a Palestinian state live side by side, in peace, within secure borders.” and recognized, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions”.
The 20 countries that represent 85% of global GDP reaffirmed that all States must act consistently with the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter in its entirety and in that sense “refrain from the threat or use of force to try to obtain territory against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any State.”
The North American Joe Biden He said goodbye to his colleagues with the intuition that they were already thinking about his successor, Donald Trumpwhen taking the floor or speaking in private. The documents sought another balance. The Ukrainian questiona occupied part of the most vexing negotiations. At the last minute, said the Rio de Janeiro newspaper ‘O Globo’, “two words in two different paragraphs” were included that allowed obstacles to be overcome. The G20 stated, without naming Russia, “that all parties must fulfill its obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, and in this sense we condemn all attacks against civilians and infrastructure.” The last word was key, and alluded to the latest attacks ordered from Moscow. The ninth paragraph also required the adverb “specifically” to recall the discussions at the previous summit in New Delhi on Ukraine, where “human suffering and the additional negative impacts of war on food security and global energy crisis, supply chains, macro-financial stability, inflation and growth.” The 20 countries “welcomed all relevant and constructive initiatives that support a global, just and lasting peace, upholding all the Purposes and Principles of the UN Charter for the promotion of peaceful, friendly and good-neighborly relations among nations”.
The tax on great fortunes
Brazil managed to channel one of its core proposals, that of a tax on the largest fortunes on the planet. The text maintains that although “fiscal sovereignty” must be “fully respected”, the G20 tries to “cooperate” so that “large assets are effectively taxed.” The aforementioned cooperation “may include the exchange of good practices, the promotion of debate on tax principles and the development of mechanisms against tax evasion, including the fight against potentially harmful tax practices.” The document maintains that “progressive taxation is one of the main tools to reduce internal inequalities, reinforce fiscal sustainability, promote budget consolidation
taria, promote strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth and facilitate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”.
Sustainability and climate change
Next, the statement emphasizes that “There will be no sustainability or prosperity without peace“. To “reap the benefits of our joint efforts” and “promote sustainable development in all its dimensions – social, economic and environmental – we need to better equip the world with reformed global governance.”
For the Rio de Janeiro summit, its convening motto, “Build a just world and a sustainable planet” can only be materialized if social inequalities are reduced. Such a postulate will not find acceptance in Trump, who assumes his presidency on January 20. The G20 nevertheless renewed its commitment to achieve net zero emissions by mid-centuryincrease renewable energy and energy efficiency in the next six years. It has also been resolved to launch the Working Group for Global Mobilization against Climate Change and promotesr “innovative” mechanisms with the purpose of reducing soil degradation by 50% by 2040. At a particularly sensitive point for hosts and the region in general, the document promises to take measures to prevent, manage and address the negative effects of extreme droughts and forest fires.
The world, the declaration notes, faces “a multifaceted crisis in which political and geopolitical tensions endanger our ability to address challenges such as promoting growth, reducing poverty and combating climate change.” Faced with the magnitude of the challenges, it is imperative to strengthen “global governance for present and future generations.” The G20 expresses its commitment to “work towards a reinvigorated and strengthened multilateral system, rooted in the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and international law.”
The 20 presidents also stressed that “to ensure the safe and reliable development, deployment and use” of artificial intelligence “the protection of human rights, transparency, equity, accountability, regulation, security, appropriate human oversight, ethics, bias, privacy, data protection and data governance.” Finally, the document ratifies its commitment to the 2030 Agenda with a call for attention: only 17% of the goals of the Sustainable Development Goals are on track. He reiterated the “commitment to gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls,” an aspect that caused resentment in the Argentine delegation.
Argentine dissidence
The far-right Javier Milei landed in Rio de Janeiro as a kind of voluntary spokesperson for Trump’s most extreme positions. In his personal capacity he made known his reservations on some points of the document. Their comments were not included in the final version. Argentina finally joined the World Alliance against Hunger and Poverty. He was not in a position to snub Brazil, which will soon import gas in proportions from the neighboring country, according to a bilateral agreement signed hours ago. Argentine diplomacy indicated that it wanted to make “differences” without “blocking the declaration of the other leaders.” The president himself made his disagreement clear when it was his turn to speak: “Every time an attempt has been made to combat hunger and poverty with measures that increase the presence of the State in the economy, the result has been the exodus of population and capital, as well as millions of deaths of human lives. In the midst of the discussions on the Global Governance Reform, the capitalist anarcho formulated its harshest concepts: “don’t count on us” for the implementation of policies it considers “socialist.” Milei defended his “rebellion” against programs that “transgress” the right to property “through taxes and regulations.”
