The 19th G20 Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, under the theme “Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.”
- India’s Participation: The Prime Minister addressed the session on Sustainable Development and Energy Transition.
- Upcoming Hosts: South Africa (2025) and USA (2026) to host the next G20 summits.
Key Outcomes of the G20 Leaders’ Declaration
- Progressive Taxation:
- Advocates taxing the super-rich while respecting fiscal sovereignty and promoting international tax cooperation.
- Multilateralism:
- Calls for better representation of Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific in the UN Security Council.
- Launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty to aid 500 million people with cash transfers and 150 million children with school meals by 2030.
- Social Inclusion & Digital Divide:
- Commitment to gender equality in paid and unpaid care work.
- Reaffirmation to halve the gender digital divide by 2030.
- Joint Digital Public Infrastructure Declaration by India, Brazil, and South Africa.
- Climate Action:
- Emphasis on low-emission technologies and the formation of a Global Climate Change Mobilisation Task Force.
- Reaffirmation to reduce land degradation by 50% by 2040 under the G20 Land Initiative.
- Global Trade:
- Agreement to align green economic policies with WTO rules and environmental agreements.
- Global Health:
- Support for the Coalition for Local and Regional Production to improve equitable access to vaccines and health technologies.
India’s Sectoral Achievements Highlighted in the Declaration
- Inclusivity & SDGs:
- Housing: 4 crore families received homes.
- Clean Utilities: 12 crore homes access clean water, 10 crore families receive clean cooking fuel, and 11.5 crore new toilets constructed (2014–2024).
- Paris Agreement Targets:
- Achieved 40% non-fossil fuel capacity in November 2021.
- 200 GW of renewable energy installed toward a 500 GW target by 2030.
- Green Initiatives:
- Promoted Mission LiFE for sustainable lifestyles.
- Launched One Sun One World One Grid and the International Solar Alliance for global renewable energy connectivity.
- Circular Economy:
- Initiatives like the Global Biofuel Alliance and waste-to-energy campaigns to minimize waste.
- Disaster Resilience:
- Established the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure for preemptive and recovery measures.
- Global South Support:
- Advocates affordable climate finance for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
- Launched the Global Development Compact (GDC) for sustainable growth and concessional financing.
Significance of the G20 in the Global Order
- Represents 85% of global GDP, 75% of exports, and 80% of the population, offering broader representation than blocs like the G7.
- Instrumental in addressing the 2008 financial crisis with USD 4 trillion spending measures.
- Played a critical role in mitigating the economic fallout of COVID-19.
- Includes diverse nations from democracies (India, Brazil) to autocracies (China, Russia), fostering balanced perspectives.
- Inclusion of the African Union strengthens representation of a continent with 1.3 billion people.
- G20 nations contribute 80% of global emissions, making them central to global climate change mitigation efforts.
The G20 Rio de Janeiro Declaration underscores a global commitment to sustainable development, equitable growth, and energy transitions. India’s proactive approach—achieving Paris targets, driving green transitions, and championing inclusivity—highlights its leadership in creating a sustainable and just future.
