In a significant move, Brazilian President Lula da Silva proposed the formation of an international coalition to fight poverty and hunger as the G20 conference got underway on Monday.
Supported by more than 80 nations, the agreement seeks to coordinate global efforts to solve these urgent problems.
Important international organizations including the African Union, European Union, development banks, and charitable institutions like the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have endorsed Lula’s idea.
Lula, who spoke at the conference held at the Modern Art Museum in Rio de Janeiro, emphasized the pressing need to confront poverty and climate change by pointing out that political decisions, not a lack of resources, are to blame for hunger.
He claimed that considering the world’s ability to generate almost 6 billion tons of food a year, the existing state of affairs is intolerable.
According to Reuters, he stated, “Poverty and hunger are the result of political decisions, not natural phenomena or scarcity.”
The two-day summit took place during a period of changing global circumstances, especially as Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, gets ready to take office in January 2025.
The summit’s talks on trade, climate action, and international security are anticipated to be influenced by Trump’s planned policies, which range from new tariffs to a possible diplomatic solution to the Ukraine issue.
Negotiations for a common summit statement have already been hampered by diplomatic sensitivities over the conflict in Ukraine. However, in the wake of a major Russian airstrike on Ukraine shortly before the conference, European diplomats urged for more forceful words.
With Russia represented at the event by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov instead of President Vladimir Putin, the disagreement has made it difficult to maintain a united attitude.
Troops were used to support local police throughout the summit, which increased security around Rio de Janeiro. A Brazilian army patrol was shot upon close to the Cidade de Deus community just hours before the assembly started, but no one was hurt.
When US President Joe Biden, who is nearing the end of his term, attended the meeting, he prioritized development assistance and sustainability, according to Reuters.
In addition to launching a new sustainable energy cooperation with Brazil, Biden revealed plans to increase the World Bank’s International Development Association fund, which focuses on the world’s poorest nations.
However, Trump’s government is anticipated to prioritize other economic policies, so Lula’s agenda—which focuses on poverty reduction and taxing the ultra-wealthy—may encounter challenges once he takes office.
Another key player at the meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping, supported the Belt and Road Initiative, a significant infrastructure project, and called for more aid to developing nations.
Beijing is disappointed that Brazil has not yet joined the effort, despite China’s continued economic dominance.
After the conference, Xi intends to travel to Brasilia, raising prospects for more industrial collaborations.
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