Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva opened the G20 leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday, warning of rising tensions and armed conflicts around the world and launching an initiative to end world hunger.
Brazil is holding its first-ever presidency of the G20, an economic bloc made up of the world’s 20 largest economies. As host, the Brazilian leader has made global hunger and poverty a top priority on the agenda.
“I note with sadness and regret that the world is in a worsening situation, with the highest number of armed conflicts since World War II and the highest number of forced displacements ever,” Lula said in his opening remarks.
He cited data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on world hunger, which estimated that 733 million people were undernourished in 2024.
“In a world that produces almost six billion tons of food a year, this is unacceptable. In a world where military spending reaches $2.4 trillion, this is truly unacceptable,” Lula said.
The international summit is taking place amid rising global tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel’s attacks on Palestine.
Lula stressed the great economic power and influence of the G20 members, noting that they account for 85 percent of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and $32 trillion in trade in goods and services, which could be directed towards ending world hunger.
“It is up to those around this table to take on the urgent task of ending this scourge that is a disgrace to humanity. That is why we have made the launch of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty a major objective of Brazil’s presidency of the G20. This will be our greatest legacy,” he said.
The Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty stems from Brazil’s domestic efforts to fight poverty and hunger. According to President Lula, in the year and eleven months of implementation of the initiative, more than 24.5 million people have been lifted out of extreme poverty, and it is projected that Brazil will be removed from the Hunger Map by 2026.
As of November 15, a total of 37 countries have joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.
The G20 is composed of 19 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America (USA), and two regional organizations – the African Union and the European Union.
G20 members represent about 85 percent of world GDP, more than 75 percent of world trade, and about two-thirds of the world’s population.
The G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro will be held on November 18 and 19, AA writes.
