At the end of the 90s, there was a succession of economic crises in different countries, such as Southeast Asia, Mexico and Russia, resulting in international economic and political instability.
With this scenario, in 1999, the G20 was created as a forum for dialogue for Finance Ministers and the heads of Central Banks of the world´s main economies. The group was called the Financial G20, and its main agenda was economic problems on a global scale.
Between 2007 and 2008, a major economic crisis hit the world and had consequences for developed and emerging countries. With this new challenge, the G20 changed its structure in 2008 and began holding meetings with the heads of State and heads of the Executive Branch of its respective participants, becoming the leaders´ G20.
Currently, G20 countries account for 85% of world GDP and 75% of international trade. Furthermore, more than two thirds of the world´s population live in the territories that make up the group.
How it works
The meetings are organized each year by a different country, which holds the presidency of the bloc. The country hosts and organizes the meeting, becomes the spokesperson for the G20 and coordinates the working groups.
For the first time, Brazil occupies the presidency of the group until November 30, 2024. It is an opportunity to guide the themes to be discussed globally, resuming its place of global protagonism with work, dialogue and examples.
Once the agenda is defined by the host country, preparations are carried out through meetings throughout the year coordinated by the sherpas (in charge of the leaders for G20 matters) and their ministers in charge of different subjects, such as economy and finance, environment, education and development. These meetings take place prior to the summit to prepare the agenda for the annual meeting so that leaders can focus their attention on key points.
RJ headquarters
The headquarters of the G20 2024 heads of state summit will be in Rio de Janeiro. Once again, RJ is the host of major global events. This is a unique opportunity to showcase our capabilities to welcome the world home once again.
Innovations and priorities of the Brazilian Presidency
The Brazilian presidency defined the G20 motto for this year as: “building a fairer world and a sustainable planet” with 3 priority axes:
The fight against hunger, poverty and inequality;
Sustainable development from an economic, social and environmental perspective;
Global governance reform.
In line with the priorities defined by the Brazilian presidency, two new task forces were created, one focused on combating inequality: the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty; and Combating Climate Change: the Global Mobilization against Climate Change.
In this way, the G20 gains new dimensions in Brazil, focusing on topics less discussed in previous years.
Structure
G20 discussions are carried out through 2 tracks: the Finance Track and the Sherpa Track.
Financial Track - gave rise to the G20 and is led by finance ministers and central bank presidents, who focus on international economic and financial issues.
These issues are addressed through 9 Working Groups on the following topics:
Global Economy
Global Financial Architecture
Infrastructure
Sustainable Finance
International Taxation
Financial Inclusion
Financial System Issues
G20 for Africa
Finance and Health
Sherpa Track - as the name suggests, this trail is led by Sherpas, that is, the leaders´ special envoys to the G20, and they deal with all topics that are not economic-financial, in partnerships with the ministers responsible for each of the themes.
This track includes the following Working Group:
Agriculture
Anti-corruption
Bioeconomy
Trade and Investments
Culture
Development
Digital Economy
Education
Job
Energy
Environment
Women
Research and Innovation
Disaster Reduction
Health
Tourism
Climate Change
Fight Hunger
The Government of Rio also supports Itamaraty and the Ministry of Finance in logistical aspects related to meetings, receptions for authorities, among others.
Engagement Groups - Dialogues with society
Throughout the year, G20 meetings take place on the official tracks: Sherpa and Finance. In addition to these meetings, the G20 dialogues with so-called Engagement Groups, which discuss topics led by organized civil society. The objective is to bring society´s point of view to government meetings.
Engagement groups play a crucial role in creating a channel for diverse sectors of society to contribute to G20 discussions, promoting a more inclusive approach and considering a variety of perspectives when dealing with global issues. These mechanisms or initiatives seek to involve interested parties, such as representatives of civil society, the private sector and academics, in promoting dialogue and cooperation on specific topics. It is important to note that these groups may evolve over time, with possible changes in their designations and focuses, adapting dynamically to emerging needs and challenges.
Business 20 (B20) is the engagement group that represents th...
Science20 (S20) is the engagement group that brings together e...
Think 20 (T20) is the engagement group that brings together ...
Civil 20 (C20) is the engagement group established to ensure c...
Labor 20 (L20) is the engagement group that represents the i...
Women 20 (W20) is the engagement group that focuses on issue...
Youth 20 (Y20) is the G20 engagement group representing youn...
Urban 20 (U20) is the engagement group that focuses on urban a...
The Supreme Courts and Constitutional Courts (J20) is the en...
Parliament 20 (P20) is the engagement group led by the presi...
Startup20 (S20) is the engagement group that establishes an ...
The Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI20) is the engagement gro...
Oceans 20 (O20) is the engagement group that addresses ocean i...
B20 (Business 20)
Business 20 (B20) is the engagement group that represents the business sector in the G20. Its goal is to connect the business sector with governments to ensure that global economic policies take into account private sector perspectives and needs, providing private sector recommendations and perspectives to group leaders on global economic issues, promoting sustainable economic growth and job creation.
The B20 addresses a wide range of economic issues, including international trade, investment, sustainable economic growth, innovation, employment, infrastructure development and issues related to global business.
B20 works collaboratively with other G20 engagement groups such as C20 (Civil 20), T20 (Think 20) and L20 (Labour 20), ensuring a comprehensive and inclusive approach to discussions.
S20 (Sience 20)
Science20 (S20) is the engagement group that brings together experts and academics to highlight the importance of science, by proposing that scientific evidence contributes to efficient solutions in areas such as health, environment and technological innovation. During Brazil´s presidency, the Brazilian Academy of Sciences will preside over meetings.
T20 (Think 20)
Think 20 (T20) is the engagement group that brings together think tanks, academic institutions and experts to provide policy recommendations to G20 leaders. The T20 acts as an intellectual forum, contributing analysis and research in diverse areas to guide G20 discussions and decisions on relevant global issues.
T20 conducts research and analysis in a variety of areas, including economics, trade, climate change, innovation, global governance and other critical topics. Based on this work, the T20 develops policy recommendations that are shared with G20 leaders.
Like the B20 and C20, the T20 collaborates with other G20 engagement groups to ensure a comprehensive approach to discussions. The interaction between these groups seeks to integrate different perspectives, promoting more equitable and sustainable solutions.
C20 (Civil 20)
Civil 20 (C20) is the engagement group established to ensure civil society has a voice in G20 discussions and decisions. The group is made up of non-governmental organizations, think tanks, trade unions, human rights organizations and other civil society representatives. The C20 is dedicated to promoting a wide range of issues, including sustainable development, social justice, gender equality, human rights, climate change and other relevant topics.
C20 participants work to develop recommendations and proposals that are presented to G20 leaders during annual summits. These recommendations seek to influence the policies and actions of G20 leaders, promoting more inclusive and equitable approaches to global challenges.
L20 (Labour 20)
Labor 20 (L20) is the engagement group that represents the interests of workers and unions. Its focus is on issues related to employment, working conditions and workers´ rights.
The L20 is made up of trade unions, labor organizations and worker representatives. Its objective is to ensure that global economic policies consider the needs and interests of workers, promoting fair and dignified working conditions. This includes advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, trade union rights and other employment-related issues.
Like the other G20 engagement groups, the L20 collaborates with the B20, C20 and T20 to ensure a comprehensive approach to discussions. Collaboration seeks to integrate differnt perspectives and promote equitable solutions.
W20 (Women 20)
Women 20 (W20) is the engagement group that focuses on issues related to gender equality and women´s empowerment. The W20 acts as a forum to promote policies that address gender inequalities and ensure the full and equal participation of women in economic, social and political spheres.
The W20 is made up of representatives from civil society organizations, businesswomen, academics and gender experts. Women 20 plays an essential role in ensuring that gender considerations are incorporated into G20 discussions and decisions, seeking to contribute to a more equitable and inclusive world.
The main focus of the W20 is to promote policies that boost gender equality. This includes issues such as equal pay, access to education, women´s political participation, female entrepreneurship, reproductive health and other areas related to women´s rights and opportunities.
W20 works collaboratively with the other G20 engagement groups such as B20, C20, T20 and L20. This collaboration aims to integrate a comprehensive and inclusive approach to addressing global challenges, recognizing the intersectionality of gender-related issues.
Y20 (Youth 20)
Youth 20 (Y20) is the G20 engagement group representing young people from around the world, made up of young leaders, activists and representatives of civil society organizations. The group seeks to reflect on the diversity of perspectives and experiences of youth around the world.
Y20 addresses a range of issues that are particularly relevant to young people, including youth employment, education, access to technology, climate change, social justice, gender equality, among others.
In addition to presenting specific recommendations, Y20 advocates for the meaningful inclusion of young people in global decision-making. This involves promoting the active participation of young people in political processes and creating spaces for their voices to be heard.
U20 (Urban 20)
Urban 20 (U20) is the engagement group that focuses on urban and municipal issues. It was created to allow city leaders around the world to participate in global policy discussions in the context of the G20. The main objective of the U20 is to influence the G20 agenda with an urban perspective, considering the specific challenges faced by these locations and promoting the inclusion of cities in global discussions.
Unlike other G20 engagement groups, U20 directly involves cities in its discussions. Representatives from major cities around the world actively participate to discuss and propose solutions to urban challenges.
The U20 addresses a variety of topics, including sustainable planning, mobility, urban resilience, local governance, climate change, among others. The group prepares recommendations and proposals that are presented to G20 leaders. These recommendations reflect the concerns and needs of cities, thus contributing to the formulation of more comprehensive global policies.
J20 (Supreme Courts and Constitutional Courts 20)
The Supreme Courts and Constitutional Courts (J20) is the engagement group that addresses relevant contemporary legal issues, establishing a global forum for bodies of constitutional jurisdiction.
During the Brazilian presidency of the G20 in 2024, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) of Brazil will be responsible for organizing the J20, inviting the presidents of the Supreme Courts of the G20 countries, the European Union and the African Union.
The initiative seeks to promote both multilateral and bilateral cooperation projects, focusing on crucial themes, such as: Promotion of citizenship and social inclusion by the Judiciary; addressing climate litigation and promoting sustainable development; exploration of digital transformation and use of technology to optimize efficiency in the judicial sphere.
P20 (Parliament 20)
Parliament 20 (P20) is the engagement group led by the presidents of the parliaments of the G20 countries.
The group aims to unite parliaments to strengthen global collaboration and ensure that international agreements are applied in G20 countries. Parliamentarians play an important role in guiding governments, making the P20 a powerful platform for parliaments in G20 countries to contribute to debates on global issues.
The objectives include cooperation between parliaments, increasing engagement between governments, parliaments and other stakeholders in implementing the G20 results. Parliaments, representing diverse forces, have the ability to create creative solutions to contemporary challenges through the exchange of ideas.
Startup 20
Startup20 (S20) is the engagement group that establishes an open dialogue between different stakeholders in the startup and technology ecosystem, as well as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), highlighting sector concerns and challenges to G20 leaders.
Startup20, although it is a recent grouping, created in the last G20 in 2023, already highlights as its main achievement the formulation of a Statement and the commitment of the G20 nations to jointly invest US$1 trillion annually in the global startup ecosystem by 2030.
The engagement group´s strategic guidelines focus on three main pillars and their implications for small and medium-sized companies: ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), investments and policies and regulations. This way, we seek:
Promote collaboration and business opportunities between member countries; Establish meaningful guidelines to boost innovation, create networks between startups and promote business and investments; Stimulate the Brazilian innovation and technology ecosystem; Contribute to the country’s economic development and reduce disparities;
Encourage the promotion of innovation, whether through attracting foreign investment, supporting scientific entrepreneurship or even strengthening the innovation ecosystem.
SAI20 (Supreme Audit Institutions 20)
The Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI20) is the engagement group that plays a crucial role in strengthening cooperation between the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) of G20 member countries, in a commitment to promoting transparency, accountability and effectiveness in global governance.
The origin of SAI20 is linked to the need to create a platform that strengthens the role of Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) as strategic allies of G20 governments in addressing global challenges. SAIs play a crucial role in overseeing and auditing public spending, ensuring transparency and government accountability.
The leadership of the Brazilian Federal Audit Court (TCU) at SAI20 has as its main objective the preparation of a Communiqué, a joint statement that summarizes the discussions, decisions and commitments of the Higher Audit Institutions themselves. This document will include recommendations relevant to the G20 themes and will serve as a guide for the group´s next actions.
O20 (Oceans 20)
Oceans 20 (O20) is the engagement group that addresses ocean issues and promotes debates and the search for creative solutions to marine sustainability and the sustainable use of its resources.
O20 is coordinated by the UNESCO Chair for Ocean Sustainability, based at the University of São Paulo, in collaboration with the UN Global Compact in Brazil, the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (Funbio) and the National Institute for Ocean Research (INPO), in addition to several national and international partners.
The O20, which had its embryo in the last two cycles of the G20, in Indonesia and India, will have a crucial role in continuing to give a voice to civil society, considering non-governmental organizations, private initiatives, indigenous peoples and traditional communities and scientists, for example, so that the different issues that permeate the ocean can be made visible.
