Lula calls for reform of global governance at G20 meeting

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva participated in an event with G20 foreign ministers in New York, United States, on Wednesday (25). He reiterated his support for reforming global governance. The meeting took place within the scope of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, where Lula spoke on Tuesday (24). This was the first time that the group met at UN headquarters in a meeting open to all member countries.

In addition to this moment, during his time in New York, Lula received the Goalkeepers 2024 award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Institute, from Bill Gates himself for programs to combat hunger, and participated in meetings and bilateral meetings with leaders from other countries during the days.

He met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz; King Abdullah II of the Kingdom of Jordan; Prime Minister of the Republic of Haiti Garry Conille; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen; Spanish President Pedro Sánchez; and French President Emmanuel Macron.

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He was also present, during Brazil’s speech at the opening of the UN General Assembly, with the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, and spoke with the President of the United States, Joe Biden, in the plenary of the United Nations.

Before returning to Brazil on Wednesday, when he will also be attending a press conference, Lula met with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer; with the President of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo; and with the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas. The agenda also includes a meeting with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro.

G20 Meeting

In his opening speech at the General Assembly, Lula made an emphatic case for reform at the UN. To the ministers gathered by the G20 – which Brazil is chairing this year and will host the group’s summit on November 18 and 19 in Rio de Janeiro – he once again explored the issue: “Each country can have its own vision regarding the ideal model for reforming global governance. But we must all agree that reform is essential and urgent,” he said.

In his speech, Lula also spoke of the responsibility of the countries that make up the 20 largest economies in the world regarding emissions of polluting gases and greenhouse gases, since these countries are responsible for 80% of total emissions.

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As has happened at other G20 events, the president highlighted the three lines of action of Brazilian leadership: social inclusion and the fight against hunger and poverty; energy transition and sustainable development; and the reform of global governance.

Regarding this last topic, considering that everyone was also present in his speech the day before, Lula made an appeal to recover the strength of multilateralism – and emphasized the desires of the Global South – so that global institutions can once again have credibility with the population.

“Our ability to respond is hampered, in particular, by the lack of representation that affects international organizations. If rich countries want the support of the developing world to face the multiple crises of our time, the Global South needs to be fully represented in the main decision-making forums,” said the president, also speaking about the need for reform in the global financial architecture to benefit indebted and developing countries, as well as the priority in taxing the super-rich.