Causes.com
| 9.8.23
G20 Summit: What To Expect This Weekend
Do you have high hopes for this year's G20 summit?
What's the story?
- The annual Group of 20 (G20) summit commences this weekend, bringing world leaders together to discuss global economic policy issues.
- The countries are meeting in New Delhi, India, this year and hope to tackle climate change, economic development, debt burdens in low-income nations, and inflation caused by Russia's war in Ukraine. An official joint declaration will be produced at the end if members can reach a consensus.
- The usual participating nations include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the U.S., and the European Union.
- Similar to the G7 summit, which met in May, the G20 is a more inclusive, less Western-led forum. In the past, not many real-world results have come from the summit. Since it was formed in 1999, most joint statements haven't led to any clear actions, consequences, or effects, drawing global criticism.
The lack of impact
- Critics of G20 say the very foundation of the summit is flawed, with too much riding on the say of Western financial officials. Robert Wade, a political economy professor, said German and American leaders have too much power over the roster:
"[They] went down the list of countries, saying Canada in, Portugal out, South Africa in, Nigeria and Egypt out."
- At last year's summit, the world leaders discussed climate action but were criticized for their empty promises. The countries in the group account for around 80% of the world's emissions, yet they made no attempt to achieve net zero by 2050 — a goal being pushed by climate scientists.
This year's controversy
- This year, Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to be absent from the event, drawing controversy. Russian President Vladimir Putin will also not be in attendance and is even planning some counterprogramming.
- Many speculate that Xi's absence is due to his feud with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over their shared border, along with U.S. leaders' siding with India.
- Some believe the decision is an attempt to avoid questions about China's economic meltdown, frustrating those who intended to speak with Xi on the topic.
- Putin's absence also takes away the opportunity for other leaders to discuss the war in Ukraine with him, which has had global impacts.
- While both Xi and Putin will have stand-ins, their replacements wield little power in their respective systems.
- However, President Joe Biden is expected to take advantage of their absences, presenting the U.S. as an economic counterweight to both nations. Biden will attempt to convince the present leaders to align with the U.S. on various issues, including condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Do you have high hopes for this year's G20 summit?
-Jamie Epstein
(Photo credit: iStock/Bet_Noire)
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There are opportunities for the US to strengthen the bilateral relationship with India but China (Xi) & Russia's (Putin) absences make it difficult to come to any consensus on several issues (food security, climate change). Plus France has said it will not sign any joint statements unless the G20 condemns Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
However there is one topic they may make headway on that is less controversial and doesn't require the key decision makers which is strengthening global supply chains so they aren't as easily disrupted by events like a pandemic which is in everyone's interests but other topics will probably stall since food security requires Russia to agree to let Ukrainian grain be shipped and climate talks require China as both a top polluter and a top financier of change in developing countries.
"Issues of interest to emerging economies have, consequently, populated the agenda. Agenda items focusing on development include climate financing, food security, and multilateral development bank reforms—for example, tripling sustainable lending to benefit poorer, developing countries. Moreover, India is proposing, apparently with German support, to give full G20 membership to all 55 African Union states."
https://www.cfr.org/blog/what-expect-indias-g20-summit
Meetings don't usually end up yeilding results.
Joe slept through it.
G20 we need all countries to be net zero by 2050!!!
Those not in attendance (Russia & China (the country with the largest carbon footprint)) needs to be on board. If they won't, incentivize their participation. If incentives don't work, sanctions!
We have no planet B.
The leaders of the G20 refuse to face the difficult problems threatening our world.
That includes our own President Biden.
I'm not saying he does not have good intensions.
He just won't make the hardest decisions.
He's all about compromise and that results in half measures or less.
Key takeaways from the 2023 G20 summit in New Delhi | Reuters
https://www.reuters.com/world/key-takeaways-2023-g20-summit-new-delhi-2023-09-10
Key points are Reuters; my comments are in italics.
• SOFTER LANGUAGE ON UKRAINE WAR
Very disturbing!
• AFRICAN UNION INSIDE THE CLUB
We'll see.
• U.S., SAUDI, INDIA JOIN HANDS FOR TRANSPORT CORRIDOR
The Major announcement, obviously it's been in the works for a while. It has many implications
• INCREMENTAL PROGRESS ON CLIMATE CHANGE
The Biggest Disappointment
• MODI BOOSTS STANDING AS INDIA'S BIG MOMENT ARRIVE
Understandable given he's the host, regrettable because his headed towards problems given his right wing, fascist tendencies and he's creating fear among non-Hindus.
Much more:
Watered down no substance simply appearances for the sake of appearances! India needs to get serious about where they stand ? You can't profit off the west while supporting china & russia who don't give a flip about you. The facade was obvious including the props. Press muzzled, 100,000 plus poor displaced to accommodate 2 days of nothing
the Capialist class won't ever put planet before profit and power. They will never make the effort to address the climate disaster in a meaningful way. there can be no compromise with global extinction.
I had high hopes for the Kyoto Summit back in 1997, the same with the Paris Agreement. I hope this goes better.
Oil Lobbyists and other corporations sneak and gaslight everyone into think they're the good guys, when all they're doing is filling their pockets for more money. We need more advocates to drown out their beliefs that fossil fuels are written in stone for our lifetimes, and make them regret even making us look weak.
Why would this year be any different from past G-20's?
Biden is so weak, it will be a loss and embarrassment to US.