In a historic move at the G20 Social Summit’s closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro on November 16, 2024, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced the establishment of a third “Social Pillar” alongside the G20’s existing political and financial focuses. This groundbreaking initiative underscores the group’s commitment to fostering a more democratic, equitable, and sustainable global framework.
A Collective Voice for Change
Lula highlighted the unprecedented level of civil society involvement in the G20 process. For the first time, engagement groups from across the globe were able to directly interact with foreign ministers, ministers, and central bank presidents.
“Economics and international politics are not the exclusive domain of specialists or bureaucrats,” Lula remarked. “They shape our daily lives, influencing opportunities and defining our future.” He emphasized that G20 members bear both the power and responsibility to enact meaningful global changes.
Priorities of the G20 Social Pillar
The Social Pillar initiative focuses on several key objectives:
- Entrepreneurship and Women’s Economic Empowerment: Promoting gender equality and supporting women-led enterprises.
- Sustainable Development Goal 18: Advocating for racial equality as a formal global priority.
- Climate Ambition: Aligning efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius while tripling the use of renewable energy sources and accelerating emissions neutrality.
Lula underscored the importance of sustained social mobilization, which has been instrumental in shaping these priorities.
Addressing Inequality
Lula’s speech also addressed the widening gap between economic systems and the needs of everyday citizens. “Governments need to break the growing dissonance between the ‘voice of the markets’ and the ‘voice of the streets,’” he stated. He criticized neoliberal policies for exacerbating inequality and called for global governance reforms that ensure more representative and inclusive multilateral institutions.
The Role of Brazil and South Africa
Under Brazil’s presidency, the G20 has focused on advancing initiatives like the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty and advocating for a tax on the super-rich. Lula emphasized that these achievements were made possible through collaboration with social organizations and movements.
South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, announced his country’s commitment to continuing the G20 Social Pillar initiative as South Africa assumes the G20 presidency in 2025.
“Brazil has raised the bar,” Lamola stated. “We will engage social movements and ensure their participation in shaping a new global framework. Together, we will tackle shared challenges with unified efforts.”
A Legacy of Progress
Brazil’s G20 presidency leaves behind a legacy of ambitious goals, including enhancing climate action, addressing inequality, and promoting sustainable development. As Lula emphasized, much remains to be done, but the Social Pillar lays the groundwork for a future where global governance aligns more closely with the voices of citizens worldwide.
