At the G20, Lula highlights the fight against poverty and welcomes the truce between Israel and Hamas

This Wednesday (22), the Virtual Summit of the G20 took place, a group that brings together 19 largest economies in the world with the European Union and, now, the African Union – the latter which brings together 55 countries and was included in the last meeting of Heads of Government and State of the group, in New Delhi, India.

The president participated in the virtual meeting and welcomed, in his speech, the agreement announced between Israel and Hamas, which involves the release of Palestinian hostages and prisoners.

“I hope that this agreement can pave the way for a political and lasting solution to this conflict and for the resumption of the peace process between Israel and Palestine,” he said.

On Tuesday (21), Lula had demanded the immediate implementation of the resolution approved by the UN for a truce, during the Brics Extraordinary Virtual Summit.

The president, when talking about the Brazilian presidency at the G20, which begins on December 1st and runs until November 30th, 2024, said that the guiding axis of management will be the reduction of inequalities, with the motto “Building a fair world and a sustainable planet”, based on three lines of action: (i) social inclusion and the fight against hunger and poverty; (ii) energy transition and sustainable development; and (iii) global governance reform.

“We are creating two task forces, one against hunger and inequality and the other against climate change,” said Lula.

Read too: Pope says the Israel-Palestine conflict is more than war, it is “terrorism”

Another proposal made is that Brazil should launch an initiative on bioeconomy.

Regarding the environment, he highlighted the need to accelerate the implementation of the 2030 agenda, and recalled that Brazil will host, in 2025, COP 30, the first COP in the Amazon, and for which he reinforced that the G20 must propose an ambitious climate agenda.

Finally, he called on everyone to participate in a civil society summit that should take place before the G20 leaders’ meeting next year. The 19th Summit of G20 heads of state and government will take place on November 18th and 19th, 2024, in Rio de Janeiro, and the civil society meeting must precede it.

The G20 has a central role to play in creating a better world. In a few days, we will begin the Brazilian presidency, which will have as its guiding principle the reduction of inequalities. We chose three central lines: social inclusion, the fight against hunger and poverty, the energy transition and…

— Lula (@LulaOficial) November 22, 2023

Check out Lula’s full speech at the G20 Virtual Summit:

My friends and my friends

I want, once again, to reiterate my congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the excellent work of him and his team on the occasion of the Indian presidency.

A few weeks after our last face-to-face meeting, the world is even more complex.

Geopolitical rivalries persist, the global economy slows and the consequences of climate change continue.

The resurgence of the conflict in the Middle East adds to the multiple crises we were already facing.

I want to welcome the agreement announced today between Israel and Hamas, which involves the release of hostages (women and children) in exchange for a temporary 4-day truce and the release of Palestinian prisoners (women and children).

I hope that this agreement can pave the way for a political and lasting solution to this conflict and for the resumption of the peace process between Israel and Palestine.

This set of challenges will require political will and determination on the part of governments and leaders of all countries and international organizations.

Through dialogue, we must put the world back on the path to peace and prosperity.

The G20 has a central role to play.

In a few days, we will begin the Brazilian presidency, which will have as its guiding principle the reduction of inequalities.

As I indicated in New Delhi, we chose three lines of action to structure the group’s work:

(i) social inclusion and the fight against hunger and poverty;
(ii) energy transition and sustainable development; It is
(iii) global governance reform.

The motto of the Brazilian presidency – “Building a fair world and a sustainable planet” – reflects these priorities.

We are creating two task forces, one against hunger and inequality and the other against climate change.

We will also launch a bioeconomy initiative.

Let’s seek concrete results that generate benefits for the poorest and most vulnerable across the planet.

The G20 will help leverage ongoing multilateral initiatives.

We need to recover the triple dimension of sustainable development and accelerate the pace of implementation of the 2030 agenda.

In 2025, Brazil will host COP 30: the first COP in the Amazon.

We want to work in the G20 to get there with an ambitious climate agenda that ensures the sustainability of the planet and the dignity of people.

This will only be possible by seriously addressing debt, access to financing and progressive taxation mechanisms.

We will also discuss how to strengthen global governance to deal with old and new issues.

A greater diversity of voices needs to be taken into account.

This is why we welcome the incorporation of the African Union as a full member of this forum.

Brazil is aware of the size of its responsibility.

From December 1st, we will publish the calendar and conceptual notes that will guide the work in the various G20 bodies.

On December 13th, I will receive representatives from the political and finance tracks in Brasília.

We want to encourage greater coordination between both trails.

The technical groups and preparatory ministerial meetings will be hosted in several cities in all five regions of our country.

Young people, women, workers, business people, indigenous peoples, parliamentarians, scientists, academics and representatives of all other vulnerable groups need to be heard as creators and beneficiaries of sustainable development.

Therefore, we will ensure broad social participation in the work of the G20 and will host a civil society summit prior to the leaders’ meeting.

I will have the honor of welcoming you to Rio de Janeiro, in November 2024.

Thank you very much.