By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil concluded on Tuesday, calling for more action to slow global warming and for developed nations to speed up their initiatives to reduce harmful emissions.
Nineteen countries, the European Commission and the African Union make up the G20 bloc of economies.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva touted Brazil’s own record and urged others to follow suit.
Among his country’s achievements: formation of the Task Force for the Global Mobilization Against Climate Change, which brings together finance, foreign affairs and environment ministers and central bank presidents from around the world to spur action; accelerated reduction of Brazil’s target emissions to 67 per cent over 2005 levels by 2035; and a decline in the nation’s deforestation by 45 per cent over the past two years.
Lula called on G20 nations to speed up their targets for carbon neutrality in a bid to meet them by 2040 or even 2045 instead of the current 2050 deadline. Nearly all countries are behind schedule.
“Without assuming their historical responsibilities, rich nations will not have the credibility to demand ambition from others,” he said, adding that developing countries also need to do more by embracing comprehensive emission reduction targets.
“In the fight for survival, there is no room for denialism and misinformation,” he added.
Lula managed to garner support for a bid to raise taxes on the very wealthy with a nonbinding pledge in the leaders’ declaration to “engage cooperatively to ensure that ultra-high-net-worth individuals are effectively taxed,” and to devise mechanisms to prevent them dodging tax authorities.
The meeting also called for reforms to multilateral institutions, trade, renewable energy, development banks more responsive to sub-Saharan Africa, health infrastructure and vaccines.
As the meeting wrapped up, Lula handed the reins to South Africa, next year’s G20 host.
In receiving the baton from Lula, President Cyril Ramaphosa praised him for making his presidency one that strongly featured social and civil society groups.
Ramaphosa said that South Africa would continue on this path.
“It is important that ordinary people should feel that they are invested in issues that are affecting their lives and future and that they are made to be part of the process that determines that future.”
“We applaud all G20 members, led by Brazil, in finalising the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration, which outlines the actions we must take together to build a better world.
“We appreciate that once sufficient consensus was reached on the declaration, those members who still had points of disagreement did not stand in the way of adopting the declaration.”
Ramaphosa said South Africa was committed to advancing the G20’s efforts to achieve greater global economic growth and sustainable development.
“We will work to ensure no one is left behind.”
Furthermore, he said South Africa would strive to harness global collective efforts to address the challenges worsened by the fragility of global solidarity, crippling underdevelopment, and increasing inequality.
Ramaphosa announced that South Africa had adopted the G20 presidency theme of “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability”.
South Africa will make history as the first African country to preside over the G20, with approximately 130 meetings planned for 2025.