G20 meeting, climate change and poverty reduction priorities

2024-11-20 16:14:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The leaders of the world's 20 largest economies, the G20, closed the two-day high-level meeting in Brazil with a statement supporting the priorities of developing countries to face the challenges of climate change, reduce poverty and establish taxes for billionaires.

The final statement did not contain as strong language as the United States had expected on Ukraine and Gaza.

VOA White House Correspondent Patsy Widakuswara reports from Rio De Janeiro.

As the host of the high-level meeting of the world's 20 largest economies, the G20, Brazil focused participants on the priorities of the so-called Global South, which includes developing countries, plus Russia and China.

Globalism has failed, said Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

"Among the growing challenges, the international community seems to have focused more on disputes over who leads. It seems as if the river has put us in front of us and is leading us to tragedy," he said.

Through a joint declaration, the G20 countries underlined the need to slow down global warming, to reduce poverty and to impose a global tax on billionaires.

The statement also called for the expansion of the United Nations Security Council beyond the current 5 permanent members.

It also called for a cease-fire in Gaza and Libya and to pave the way for a two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, but the statement did not mention Israel's right to defend itself, a line that President Biden has promoted in various world meetings.

"I'm asking everyone here to step up the pressure on Hamas, which is currently rejecting the deal ," said President Joe Biden.

At last year's high-level meeting, G20 leaders highlighted the human suffering and economic impact of the war in Ukraine, but did not condemn Russia.

The war is escalating as Ukraine began using long-range missiles supplied by the United States and Britain to strike inside Russian territory. Kiev accuses the G20 of failing to act.

"The G20 countries met in Brazil. Did they say anything?" Nothing. Nothing strong. So what can be the strategy when even the G20 countries do not have any strong strategy", said Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the President of Ukraine.

As President-elect Donald Trump's administration is expected to take office, support for Ukraine is on the minds of many leaders.

President-elect Trump has criticized the delivery of aid to Kiev.

During their meeting, the President of the United States and his Brazilian counterpart underlined the urgent need to address the climate crisis, another issue of uncertainty. President-elect Trump has repeatedly stated that the issue of climate change is a hoax.

Brazil passed the Presidency of the G20 to South Africa./ VOA