Rio de Janeiro Leaders' Declaration

Key Chapter Title List

1. International Economic and Political Situation
2. Social Inclusion and the Elimination of Hunger and Poverty
3. Sustainable Development, Energy Transition, and Climate Action
4. Reform of Global Governance Institutions
5. United Nations-Related Reforms
6. Reform of the International Financial Architecture
7. Multilateral Trading System
8. Artificial Intelligence Governance and Application
9. Building an Inclusive and Efficient G20
10. Regional Conflicts and Humanitarian Response
11. Food Security and Sustainable Agricultural Development
12. Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment

Document Introduction

From November 18 to 19, 2024, G20 leaders gathered in Rio de Janeiro. Centered on the core theme of building a fair world and a sustainable planet, they jointly addressed major global challenges and crises, promoting strong, sustainable, balanced, and inclusive growth. This meeting coincided with the remaining six-year window for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. With only 17% of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) progress on track globally, nearly half showing weak progress, and over one-third stalled or regressing, inequality has become the root cause of many global challenges. This context forms the core background and starting point for action in the declaration.

The declaration first outlines the multiple challenges currently facing global geopolitics, socio-economics, and the climate environment. It clarifies the core responsibility of the G20 as the premier forum for international economic cooperation, emphasizing the need for all countries to jointly shoulder the responsibility of global economic governance and to support developing nations in coping with crises and achieving the SDGs. In the economic sphere, the declaration notes that the global economy is expected to achieve a soft landing, but risks such as uneven growth and medium-to-long-term growth prospects below historical averages persist. It commits to maintaining price stability and fiscal sustainability through coordinated fiscal and monetary policies, structural reforms, and other measures to reduce growth disparities among countries.

Regarding the three core priority areas, the declaration proposes a specific action framework: On social inclusion, it launches a Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, promoting food security, improved nutrition, inclusive finance, social protection, and other initiatives, committed to reducing the intergenerational transmission of inequality and ensuring basic services and decent work for all. On sustainable development and climate action, it reaffirms the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C temperature goal, commits to accelerating the clean energy transition, scaling up climate finance, implementing the biodiversity framework, and advancing international legislation on plastic pollution. On global governance reform, it calls for strengthening the representativeness and effectiveness of the UN system, advancing Multilateral Development Bank (MDB) reforms, enhancing the voice of developing countries in international financial institutions, and improving the multilateral trading system and global AI governance.

Addressing regional conflicts and humanitarian crises, the declaration expresses concern over the situations in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and the conflict in Ukraine. It emphasizes adherence to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, calls for a comprehensive ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access, and condemns attacks against civilians and infrastructure. Simultaneously, the declaration covers multiple cross-cutting areas such as tax cooperation, anti-corruption, digital transformation, public health, and cultural heritage protection, forming a comprehensive, multi-dimensional blueprint for multilateral cooperation.

As a core outcome of Brazil's G20 Presidency, the declaration embodies the central concept of placing various dimensions of inequality at the heart of the agenda. By integrating the synergistic mechanisms of the Sherpa Track and the Finance Track, it strengthens the G20's inclusivity and operational effectiveness. The African Union's accession as a permanent member further enhances the forum's representativeness, building a broader platform for Global South-South cooperation and North-South dialogue. Ultimately, the declaration lays the groundwork for the 2025 South African Presidency and subsequent G20 processes, highlighting the core value of multilateralism in addressing complex global crises.