G20 Leaders Issue Declaration Focused on Peace, Inequality, Climate, and Resources Amidst ukraine conflict
Johannesburg, South Africa – G20 leaders concluded their summit in Johannesburg with the adoption of a declaration addressing key global challenges, despite the absence of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The statement focuses on four central points: the pursuit of peace in ongoing conflicts, tackling global inequalities, accelerating climate action, and securing access to critical raw materials.
The declaration calls for “a just, complete and lasting peace” in Ukraine, as well as in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and “the occupied Palestinian territories.” Leaders urged nations to “refrain from the threat or use of force to gain territory” that infringes upon the sovereignty of other states. The summit saw increased consultations among Western leaders, especially europeans, regarding a potential peace agreement for Ukraine, spurred by a separate American plan.
Addressing economic disparities, the G20 statement emphasizes the “imperative” to address “disparities in wealth and growth, both within and between countries.” It advocates for reform of the international financial system to assist low-income nations in managing debt and investing in essential sectors like infrastructure, health, and education. While supporting increased clarity from creditors and minimum global taxes, the declaration did not adopt a commitment made in Rio in 2024 to tax “effectively” very wealthy individuals.
In the realm of climate change, the declaration – adopted the same day as the conclusion of COP30 in Brazil – recognizes the need to “quickly and substantially” increase climate financing, moving “from billions to trillions globally and from all sources.” It also highlights inequalities in energy access, particularly in Africa, and calls for increased investment in lasting energy sources and the development of early warning systems for climate-related disasters.
the G20 acknowledged the importance of securing access to strategic minerals, including lithium, cobalt, and copper, noting their abundance on the African continent where the summit took place.
