Leading in a World of Converging Crises; A call to the G20
Club de Madrid, the world’s largest forum of democratic former Presidents and Prime Ministers, has just finalised its Annual Policy Dialogue 2022 “Leading in a World of Converging Crises”. Deliberations have sought to contribute to G7, G20 and UN debates and negotiations with policy recommendations on how best to respond to both the symptoms and causes of the food, energy and debt crises severely exacerbated by the Russian aggression against Ukraine and to the structural problems that have notably badgered the multilateral system since the war in Iraq in 2003 and led to its waning.
The prospect of collective action is fracturing in front of our eyes at a time when collaboration to confront global challenges is crucial. It is therefore imperative to:
End the war in Ukraine: Restoring Ukraine´s territorial integrity and enabling its economic and social reconstruction whilst crafting a European security architecture premised on the indivisibility of security must be the top priority.
Effect reform of the United Nations system: To enhance international peace and security we must reform the UN Security Council and Article 109 of the UN Charter provides us with a mechanism to do so.
Ensure global food security: Immediate political action is needed to reinstate commercial grain exports and fertilisers from Black Sea ports. All parties must recommit support to the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the MoU on Trade Facilitation signed in Istanbul in July.
Implement debt restructuring for economies in distress: Urgent action by G20 and international financial institutions is needed to fully implement the SDG Stimulus proposed by the UN Secretary-General, as well as enhanced debt restructuring and relief for low and middle-income countries, amongst other measures.
Accelerate energy transition: The world must cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 43% by the end of 2030 to achieve aggregate carbon neutrality by 2050. Meanwhile, increased financing for adaptation in the least developed countries in serious climate risk is critical.
In these perilous times, it is essential to focus on three priorities: Delivering economic growth that is environmentally and socially sustainable; reducing absolute poverty and gross inequality by improving equity within and between nations; and reducing human, national, regional and global vulnerability by promoting security for all.
This Policy Dialogue was co-organised with the Liz Mohn Center, an initiative of the Bertelsmann Foundation, in collaboration with The Yudhoyono Institute and the German Federal Foreign Office and counted on the participation of Federal Minister of Finance, Christian Lindner, as well as of Head of G7/G20 Sherpa Office of the German Federal Chancellery, Lucinda Trigo.