Rio de Janeiro: Da Silva delivered a compelling speech during the closing ceremony of the 19th G20 Leaders Summit, emphasizing the responsibility of G20 members to transform lives on a global scale. He highlighted the necessity of fostering entrepreneurship and economic autonomy for women, as advocated by the Women’s Empowerment Working Group. Additionally, he called for the promotion of biodiversity-based products through the Bioeconomy Initiative to support traditional and Indigenous communities.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Da Silva urged the G20 to adopt Sustainable Development Goal 18 on racial equality, as suggested by the Working Group on the Right to Development for people of African descent. He also emphasized the importance of enhancing climate ambition, aligning with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as pursued by the Climate Task Force.
Da Silva noted the addition of a third pillar, the social pillar, to the existing political and financial pillars of the G20.
This pillar represents the collective will to create a more democratic and just world. He acknowledged the unprecedented level of interaction between engagement groups and key economic leaders, marking a significant milestone in the G20’s history.
He further stated that civil societies from various parts of the world met for the first time to present their demands to the Leaders’ Summit. Over the 16 years since its inception, the G20 has become a premier forum for global economic cooperation and political dialogue. However, Da Silva emphasized that economic and international politics are not exclusive to experts, but are integral to the daily lives of individuals worldwide.
Da Silva highlighted the Brazilian presidency’s progress, attributing it to the active participation of organizations and movements within the G20 Social. He called for continued mobilization to drive initiatives such as the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty and the taxation of the super-rich. These efforts aim to triple the use
of renewable energy, achieve emissions neutrality, and reform global governance to ensure more representative multilateral institutions.
He concluded by stressing the need to bridge the gap between market forces and public sentiment, acknowledging the impact of neoliberalism on inequality. Da Silva called for measures to reduce the cost of living, promote balanced working hours, and engage youth voices in addressing unfinished tasks. He emphasized the importance of preserving public space to prevent extremism and underscored the commitment to peace and sustainable development.
Da Silva expressed his intent to collaborate with South Africa to ensure the recommendations from the final declaration are considered in future G20 discussions. He aspires for the social pillar to facilitate increased citizen engagement in the coming years, marking the beginning of a new phase of continuous work beyond just leaders’ meetings.