G20 Rio de Janeiro 2024: The G20 Leaders’ Declaration for a Fairer and More Sustainable World

Jakarta, INTI - From November 12 to 15, 2024, Brazil hosted an important meeting involving the Sherpas of the G20 member countries in Rio de Janeiro. This meeting forms part of the final stage of negotiations to draft the G20 Leaders’ Declaration, which will be signed by the G20 leaders at the G20 Summit on November 18-19, 2024. The central theme of Brazil's 2024 G20 presidency is "Building a Just World and Sustainable Planet," focusing on reducing social inequality, addressing climate change, energy transition, and global governance reform.

The Major Agenda: Social Inequality and Climate Change

Brazil's presidency in 2024 highlights three key priorities that are closely related to the challenges faced by developing countries: tackling social inequality, promoting social inclusion and hunger eradication, and addressing climate change through sustainable energy transitions and development that protects the environment. These issues are critical given the growing global uncertainty, where developing countries are disproportionately affected by the economic and environmental crises.

Sherpa Meetings and Strengthening the Role of Emerging Economies

Prior to the fourth Sherpa meeting, on November 11, 2024, the Emerging Market Economies (EMEs) Sherpa Meeting took place. This forum aimed to create a balance between developed and developing countries in G20 discussions. Brazil’s presidency has appreciated the support from the emerging economies group, which has helped the G20 forum produce significant outcomes that align with the interests of developing nations.

Delegates from G20 member countries continue to push for agreements on various key issues to be incorporated into the G20 Leaders' Declaration. In the Sherpa meeting held at Prodigy Hotel Santos Dumont in Rio de Janeiro, the expectation is that the resulting agreements will reflect the G20’s joint commitment to tackling the world’s most pressing challenges, including social inequality and climate change.

The meeting, which is expected to conclude by November 15, is anticipated to finalize statements that will be agreed upon by the G20 leaders during the upcoming G20 Summit on November 18-19, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro. This summit will be a crucial event for the G20 countries to demonstrate their leadership in addressing global issues.

Global Governance Reform and Economic Sustainability

Along with the primary issues, global governance reform has also emerged as a central topic during this Sherpa meeting. Developing countries, including Indonesia, are calling for the reform of international organizations to better reflect the current geopolitical and economic realities. These reforms aim to increase the effectiveness and responsiveness of global institutions to issues such as social inequality, climate change, and political instability.

Data from the World Bank shows that global economic inequality has surged significantly over the past two decades. Although developing nations have achieved rapid economic growth, they still face major challenges in alleviating poverty and improving the living conditions of their citizens. The G20, as a forum that includes both developed and developing nations, plays a pivotal role in finding solutions to this inequality.

Indonesia’s Continued Support for Brazil’s G20 Agenda

Indonesia, which hosted the G20 summit in 2022, continues to fully support Brazil’s G20 agenda. Edi Pambudi, leading the Indonesian delegation, emphasized that Indonesia’s 2022 G20 presidency provided a strong foundation for continued international cooperation in addressing global uncertainty. Indonesia remains committed to strengthening the position of developing nations within international forums and ensuring their voices are included in all decision-making processes.

Anticipations for the G20 Meeting in Rio de Janeiro

As the negotiations continue, Indonesia hopes the Sherpa meetings will result in agreements that not only benefit the G20 countries but also have a tangible positive impact on the global population, especially those in developing nations. Given the rising global uncertainty, the G20 must become a driving force in finding real-world solutions to global challenges.

The final G20 Leaders' Declaration is expected to be a crucial step towards building a more just and sustainable world. The upcoming G20 Summit on November 18-19 will be a critical moment to evaluate how the world’s leading economies can work together to address global challenges effectively.