G20 Foreign Ministers Urged to Combat Inequality, Hunger, and Climate Crisis
The G20 Foreign Ministers convened at the United Nations Headquarters for the first time, uniting the world’s largest economies in a meeting open to all 193 UN member states. The session, held in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) chamber, focused on pressing issues of global governance reform, hunger, poverty, and sustainable development.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered a powerful address, highlighting the stark reality of severe food insecurity affecting one in ten people globally. “It is shameful that in our world of plenty, around one person in ten regularly goes without food for an entire day or more,” he stated.
Guterres commended Brazil for prioritizing global hunger during its G20 presidency and called for intensified efforts from all G20 nations and UN Member States to combat this humanitarian crisis.
The Secretary-General also emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change, urging that by 2030, global production and consumption of fossil fuels must decline by at least 30%.
He insisted that OECD countries must phase out coal by 2030 and fully decarbonize their power generation systems by 2035, while calling for a tripling of global renewable capacity.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa echoed Guterres’ concerns, stressing that reforming the global financial architecture is essential to uplift the most needy and vulnerable populations. “Deepening inequality and chronic underdevelopment are the cost if we fail to act now,” he warned.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized the significance of the meeting’s location, stating, “For the very first time in history, the G20 countries are gathered at the UNHQ in an event open to all members of the organization.”
He pointed out the economic disparities affecting developing nations, noting that in 2022, these countries paid $49 billion more to foreign creditors than they received in aid. “Taxes on the super-rich is the way to fight inequality and to redirect resources to development priorities and climate action,” he added.
During the meeting, G20 members adopted a formal “Call to Action on Global Governance Reform,” committing to strengthening the multilateral system and modernizing key international organizations.
Additional sources • AP
