G20 Radio Bulletin 153 - In a historical declaration, G20 Leaders commit to taxing billionaires, tackling inequalities, and taking climate action

The Rio de Janeiro Declaration highlights support for unprecedented themes that are the hallmark of Brasil's G20 presidency. Listen to the report and learn more.

Report by Mara Karina Sousa-Silva / Laura Carrasco Frederico

Reporter: Social inclusion, the fight against hunger and poverty, the taxation of billionaires, measures for the energy transition, the global governance reform, and the acceleration of climate action, while also supporting COP30 (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in 2025, which will be held in Belém, Brasil. These are the central commitments of the historic G20 Leaders' Declaration of Rio de Janeiro.

The document was approved by all member countries and reinforces the role of the G20 in addressing global challenges and promoting strong, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth. Within the declaration, leaders reaffirm their commitment to crucial issues that shape the global future, as highlighted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

 Lula: This year, we held more than 140 meetings in 15 Brazilian cities. We have again issued consensus declarations by almost all the working groups. We have worked hard, even though we know that we have only touched the surface of the profound challenges facing the world. After the South African presidency, all G20 countries will have held the leadership of the group at least once. It will be a good time to evaluate the role we have played so far and how we should act from now on. We have the responsibility to improve.

Reporter: The launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, proposed by Brasil, is among the main highlights of the social inclusion agenda. The Alliance already has the support of 82 countries. At the end of the G20 in Brasil, President Lula transferred the group's presidency to South Africa.

Lula: It is with this hope that I hand over the G20 presidency to President Ramaphosa. This is not just a shared presidency—it is a concrete expression of the historical, economic, social, and cultural ties that bind Latin America and Africa. I thank all those who contributed to the Brazilian presidency, especially the people who worked to make the results we achieved feasible. South Africa will be able to count on Brasil to exercise a presidency that goes beyond what we were able to accomplish. I remember the words of another great South African, Nelson Mandela, who said that it is easy to demolish and destroy; heroes are those who build.

*Translated by PGET-UFSC