During the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, climate negotiations stalled amid geopolitical tensions, notably the Ukraine conflict. President Lula’s initiatives, such as the Global Alliance against Hunger, contrasted with unmet expectations from the COP29 climate conference. UN Secretary-General Guterres urged leaders for decisive action, but no significant commitments emerged. While addressing global conflicts, including the situation in Gaza and ongoing issues in Ukraine, the summit’s lack of reference to fossil fuel transitions disappointed many, highlighting challenges in multilateral cooperation.
G20 Summit Fails to Advance Climate Negotiations
During the recent G20 summit held in Rio de Janeiro, leaders from the world’s largest economies struggled to make meaningful advances in climate negotiations. The event was largely overshadowed by ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
This year, leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is at the helm of the forum, which faces challenges as multilateralism shows signs of further decline, particularly with the potential return of Donald Trump to the presidency.
Mixed Outcomes and High Expectations
Lula has made strides by initiating a Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, gathering support from 82 nations, and successfully pushing for commitments from wealthier countries. However, the recent COP29 climate conference in Baku failed to achieve consensus on financial responsibilities for climate adaptation between developed and emerging nations, leading to heightened expectations for the G20 leaders.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appealed to the leaders over the weekend, urging them to embrace their “leadership” roles and make necessary compromises to facilitate negotiations. Despite these calls, no significant outcomes emerged from the summit held at the Museum of Modern Art, overlooking the picturesque Rio bay.
Mick Sheldrick, co-founder of the NGO Global Citizen, expressed disappointment, stating that the leaders failed to address critical issues, noting the absence of any reference to achievements from last year’s COP28 in Dubai. The G20’s final statement did not include the commitment to transition away from fossil fuels, which was a significant point of agreement in Dubai.
The G20, comprising 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union, accounts for 85% of global GDP and 80% of greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the importance of their collective action.
While climate discussions were critical, ongoing global conflicts significantly influenced the summit. President Joe Biden emphasized support for Ukraine’s sovereignty against Russian aggression right from the opening session. Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin was absent, represented instead by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Biden’s remarks were particularly poignant as the U.S. had recently authorized Ukraine to deploy long-range missiles against Russia. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer refrained from discussing operational specifics but indicated that any escalation would primarily benefit Putin. In contrast, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed support for the U.S. decision but felt the joint statement could have been clearer.
Though the G20 refrained from condemning Moscow outright, it did denounce the use of force for territorial gains and welcomed initiatives for a just and sustainable peace in Ukraine. The summit also called for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, as military actions continue in those regions.
As Biden approaches the conclusion of his international engagements before potentially passing the reins back to Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping emerged as a prominent figure during discussions, warning of a new era of global turbulence and change.
Argentinian President Javier Milei, an ally of Trump, made headlines with his frosty greeting to Lula, highlighting their fraught relationship. Though he initially expressed reservations about certain points of the summit’s text, Argentina later reconsidered its stance on the Alliance against Hunger, signaling a shift in priorities.