In recent weeks, the bureaucrats have been working furiously for the powerful G20 summits to meet at a clean table and agree. Because today and tomorrow it will happen: The heads of state and government from the world’s largest economies will meet face to face in Rio de Janeiro. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Mauro PIMENTEL / AFP At best, the countries manage to agree on a final declaration. The forum has been created so that the countries can be driving forces, give recommendations, to other international processes. They must ensure the conditions for economic growth, cooperation and stability. But the heads of state were unable to agree based on partial declarations from the ministerial meetings throughout the year, neither in India last year nor in Indonesia in 2022. The summit started in Rio de Janeiro’s modern art museum today. Støre, like the other leaders, will make a speech to the assembly. Photo: Hilda Nyfløt / news The topics are difficult when 19 democratic and authoritarian countries, the EU and the African Union (AU) meet at the negotiating table. There are constant words and sentences that go in and out of the important document. Rio de Janeiro is ready to welcome 21 heads of state, government, the EU and the African Union. Photo: Renato Spyrro / Reuters Norway’s important guest role This year, Norway has been invited as a guest country by Brazil, which is the host country for the meetings. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is in place for this last, and most important, meeting. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is welcomed by Brazilian President Lula da Silva at the G20 summit Photo: Hilda Lishaugen Nyfløt / news Participating benefits Norway, which with its small economy depends on the world being as stable and well-functioning as possible. Norway wants free trade. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre on the tram in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday before the G20 summit with heads of state. Photo: Hilda Lishaugen Nyfløt / news Støre says: We work here under the motto that if you have something to contribute, you get something in return. Støre is interviewed by Brazilian CNN before the G20 summit. Photo: Hilda Lishaugen Nyfløt / news During the year, Norway sent eleven ministers, four state secretaries and 16 others down to participate in the meetings. Some have traveled several times. In the final declaration, the port nation Norway has worked to include protection of the sea, or at least the word sea, and anti-corruption. When Brazil launches “The Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty”, perhaps the biggest victory for Brazil as host country, Norway will have an important role. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Brazil’s Climate and Environment Minister Marina Silva in the Norwegian residence after Støre announced new Amazon Fund support of NOK 670 million. Photo: Hilda Lishaugen Nyfløt / news As good news, Støre came with money to Brazil in his luggage. He used the opportunity to announce 670 million new to the Amazon Fund on Sunday, after Brazil could show deforestation of 31 percent in the past year. Although the Amazon Fund has nothing to do with the G20 year, the support for rainforest protection is an important reason why Norway was invited as a guest country. Brazil’s climate and environment minister Marina Silva at the Norwegian reception on Sunday evening. Photo: Hilda Lishaugen Nyfløt / news Climate and Environment Minister Marina Silva thanked Norway as a “loyal ally” at an event at the Norwegian residence yesterday. “Norway is a strategic partner” that helps Brazil protect forests and biodiversity, boasted the minister. Brazil is also Norway’s third most important trading partner after the USA and the EU. This year’s many meetings have certainly multiplied many of the over 200 Norwegian companies in Brazil. Demanding final question Even before Donald Trump becomes the new president of the United States, there have been disagreements between the countries about climate. So-called developing countries, or countries from the global south, believe that the rich countries must pay. The rich disagree about who can still be considered a developing country. Brazilian President Lula da Silva has been a driving force for the Global South, countries in Latin America and Africa, to have a more important voice in international institutions. Photo: Hilda Lishaugen Nyfløt / news While the US and China generally disagree, Russia has been demanding regarding the invasion of Ukraine. Should the war be referred to as against or in Ukraine? What should be written about Gaza? Brazil’s president Lula da Silva has wanted to tax the world’s super-rich, and has himself had a battle going on against Elon Musk and X. At the weekend, his wife Janja Lula da Silva was no more mean than she said “Fuck you, Elon Musk” on stage. The president’s wife Rosangela Janja da Silva and her husband have a complicated relationship with X owner Elon Musk, after X was banned from Brazil for a period earlier this year. Musk responded to X with a “lol” after her “fuck you” statement. Photo: LUIS ACOSTA / AFP But neither the United States, nor now Argentina, have been positive about such a tax. For many reasons, it is difficult to agree on a kind of tax fund that can then go to a good cause. The Argentines, under far-right president Javier Milei, have also refused to stand for the word “gender”. Milei believes there is no such thing as violence against women, only violence, and there have been major disagreements over whether the closing statement can contain the words “sexual and gender-based violence”. In several areas such as equality and human rights, for many countries it is now about preventing a step backwards instead of taking a step forward. Argentina has also refused to include a reference to the so-called “2030 agenda”, the UN’s sustainability goals which were adopted by all UN member states in 2015. Brazil set the agenda as host country As the host country, it is Brazil that sets the agenda. For President Lula da Silva, it has been important to work on poverty alleviation, food security, the green transition and energy transition. He wants to reform international institutions such as the UN and the development banks, so that the global south gets a clearer voice in the world. Brazil holds the chairmanship of the G20 and wants to prioritize the fight against inequality and hunger during the meetings this year. The country will also work for social inclusion, energy transition, sustainable development and reform of so-called multilateral institutions. Photo: Pablo Porciuncula / AFP The World Trade Organization (WTO), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have also been up for discussion. Lula, who has taken on a leading role to represent the Global South, has also criticized the West’s double standards in its approaches to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. So has South Africa, who will take over the baton as host nation next year. We will soon find out what the countries have come up with in the back room. Since the G20 countries comprise two thirds of the world’s population, around 85 percent of the world’s combined gross domestic product (GDP) and 80 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, there will be consequences. Regardless. Published 18.11.2024, at 17.14
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G20 summit is held with the countries’ leaders in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
