On November 18, 2024, the G20 summit commenced in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with the official launch of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. This initiative, spearheaded by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has already garnered support from 147 members, including 81 countries and 24 international organizations.
During the summit, the White House announced that outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden would unveil a 'historic' commitment to aid the world's poorest nations. Biden is expected to encourage other leaders to enhance their contributions towards this cause.
Several international leaders praised the Global Alliance throughout the day. Angolan President João Lourenço emphasized that hunger and poverty represent significant global challenges, advocating for a courageous and taboo-free approach to combat these issues. He noted that hunger is not only a problem in developing countries but also affects developed nations.
President Lula da Silva reiterated the imperative for leaders to eradicate hunger, calling it a shameful issue for humanity. He stated that the hunger crisis is not due to scarcity or natural phenomena but is a result of political decisions that perpetuate suffering.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed strong support for Brazil's focus on social inclusion and hunger alleviation, highlighting that an integrated global support system is essential to assist the most vulnerable populations. He also indicated that food security will be a high-priority issue during South Africa's upcoming G20 presidency.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed that combating poverty will be a European priority, expressing readiness to collaborate through the Global Alliance to achieve shared objectives.
The initiative, open to all countries since July, aims to coordinate technical and financial partnerships to support national program implementations and financing for policies aimed at eradicating hunger and poverty worldwide.
The G20 leaders will convene over two days at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro to discuss strategies to eliminate hunger, reform international organizations, and promote energy transition. Notable attendees include President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is absent due to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant related to the Ukraine conflict.