The G20 Social Summit, held from November 14 to 16 in Rio de Janeiro, marks the culmination of the broad participation process of the G20 Social, convened by the Brazilian Presidency of the G20. It addresses this DECLARATION to world leaders, who will meet at the G20 Summit on November 18 and 19. This document outlines the main proposals of global civil society, agreed upon during the work carried out throughout the year, around the three central themes of the Brazilian Presidency of the G20:
Fighting Hunger, Poverty and Inequality
Sustainability, Climate Change, and Just Transition
Global Governance Reform
WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE SPEAK FROM
We represent social movements and civil society organizations from Brazil and around the world, brought together at the end of an intense participatory processes that sought to give a voice to the most diverse segments of global society, often impacted but rarely heard in major geopolitical and macroeconomic decisions made by a select group of leaders.
During these months of work, we sought to incorporate the demands, claims, and proposals historically built by organizations and movements of women, Black men and women, indigenous and native peoples, traditional communities, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA+, youth, children, adolescents, elderly people, displaced or homeless populations, migrants, refugees and stateless people, rural and urban workers, and workers in the formal, informal, solidarity and care economies. All calling for a reform of global governance that ensures the end of armed conflicts, development, and social and environmental justice for themselves and for the entire planet.
FIGHTING HUNGER, POVERTY AND INEQUALITY
As a matter of urgency and top priority, it is imperative that all G20 countries and other States join the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty initiative. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda, this alliance must promote cooperation and inter-cooperation among countries and international organizations, establishing a specific fund to finance public policies and programs to combat hunger in order to guarantee universal access to adequate food.
We advocate for food sovereignty based on the production of healthy foods as a pillar to eradicate the scourge of hunger in every nation and on a global scale. Peoples’ right to democratic access to land and water and the right to control their own food production and distribution, with an emphasis on agroecological practices and environmental preservation, must be recognized. Promoting healthy eating habits must be central in order to ensure Socio-environmental justice, guaranteeing that all social groups —regardless of race, class, gender or origin— have equal access to environmental benefits, respecting traditional food cultures and avoiding the commodification of natural resources.
We reaffirm the centrality of decent work, in line with ILO standards, as a fundamental element for overcoming poverty and inequality. Combating slave labour, child labour, human trafficking, and all other forms of exploitation and precarious work is imperative. We stress the importance of formalizing the labour market and fostering inclusive, counter-hegemonic economies, such as the popular and solidarity economy, cooperatives, solidarity kitchens, and the recognition and valorisation of the care economy. Ensuring access to decent jobs, social security, and protection systems for all—especially young people, Black individuals, women, and the most vulnerable—is essential, as is the expansion of union rights.
SUSTAINABILITY, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND JUST TRANSITION
The dilemmas faced by millions of people suffering from hunger, inequality, and poverty are mirrored in the lack of commitment by the most developed countries and their elites to addressing climate change and global warming. Those most affected by hunger and poverty are also the ones who bear the brunt of climate emergencies and natural disasters, which are becoming increasingly intense and frequent worldwide.
We reiterate the urgency of tackling climate change, with respect for science and the traditional knowledge of our peoples, highlighting the importance of adaptation and mitigation commitments within the scope of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the Paris Agreement. It is an ethical requirement that world leaders make a firm commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation, as well as protecting the oceans, essential conditions for limiting global warming to 1.5°C and avoiding irreversible damage to the planet.
The just transition, as a process of socioeconomic transformation towards a sustainable model, must serve as the guiding principle for replacing the fossil fuel-based production model with a low-carbon economy. This transformation must tackle social exclusion, energy poverty, and environmental racism while ensuring equitable conditions for workers, Black people, and vulnerable communities. We stress that achieving this transition demands significant investments in environmental education, social participation, and civic engagement.
We must also strengthen the protection of our tropical forests through the establishment of the Forever Tropical Forest Fund (FTFF), an international financing mechanism dedicated to their preservation and the socio-productive inclusion of the populations that inhabit and sustain them. Alongside a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) for climate finance, this fund will enhance global coordination to protect the environment, ensuring sustained financial support for biodiversity conservation and effective action against the climate crisis.
GLOBAL GOVERNANCE REFORM
To achieve these objectives, we demand the necessary and urgent reform of the current model of global governance, which has already proven incapable of providing responses to contemporary challenges and maintaining peace.
We emphasize the urgent need to reform international institutions to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities, promoting multilateralism and increasing the participation of governments and peoples from the Global South in decision-making forums. In particular, reforming the UN Security Council is essential to ensure the inclusion of diverse global voices and to promote more balanced and effective solutions to today’s challenges.
This reform must prioritize democracy and the active involvement of civil society. Democracy is under threat when far-right forces spread disinformation, authoritarian and totalitarian narratives, and foster human rights violations, lies, hatred, prejudice, xenophobia, ageism, racism, and violence in social and political relations, both within nations and on the international stage. Defending democracy requires upholding the Democratic Rule of Law and ensuring the population’s direct participation in national and international mechanisms for regulating information. Transparency and plural communication are fundamental to inclusive global governance, granting legitimacy and effectiveness to States and international organizations.
We believe that fiscal justice is a crucial tool for achieving sustainable development. Therefore, we advocate for the progressive taxation of the super-rich, ensuring that the resources collected are allocated to national and international funds dedicated to financing social, environmental, and cultural policies. These, along with all other funds requested here, must be governed by principles of transparency, accountability, and civil society participation.
CONCLUSION
Leaders of the G20, it is time for us to take on the responsibility of driving a truly profound and lasting transformation. Ambitious commitments are crucial to strengthening international institutions, eradicating hunger and inequality, mitigating the impacts of climate change, and protecting our ecosystems. Now is the time to act with determination and solidarity. With political will and the institutionalization of bodies like the G20 Social Summit, we can build a collective agenda that upholds our commitment to social justice and global peace.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 16th, 2024.
