While it does not host the main G20 meeting, scheduled for November 18th and 19th, the city of Rio de Janeiro will have a busy week of preparatory events for the meeting of the leaders of the world’s largest economies. These are opportunities for political and civil society groups to finalize the final details of the proposals that will be taken to the heads of state.
Events of the week
November 12th to 15th – 4th Sherpa meeting
November 12th and 13th – Civil Summit 20 (C20)
November 14th to 17th – Urban 20 Summit (U20)
November 14th to 16th – G20 Social Summit
4th meeting of Sherpas
Sherpas are representatives of the heads of state and government of G20 member countries. The name “sherpas” is a reference to the Sherpa ethnic group, who live high in the Himalayas, in Nepal, and guide climbers to the top of Mount Everest.
This year’s Sherpas Trail is led by Brazilian ambassador Mauricio Carvalho Lyrio. Between November 12th and 15th, emissaries will meet to update the activities of the 15 working groups, and possible negotiations between countries on the main G20 agendas.
C20
Social organizations will meet on November 12th and 13th at the Civil Summit 20 (C20), at the Novotel Rio de Janeiro Porto Atlântico, Santo Cristo neighborhood, central region of the city. Led by Abong – Brazilian Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) – the meeting includes more than 1,500 organizations from more than 60 countries.
The group focuses on the search for results based on the principle of economic justice, effective financial means and efficient allocation of resources. The principle is “leave no one behind”.
The group seeks to ensure greater balance in dialogue with the G20, being a space that works so that civil society has the same level of access to governments as representatives of economic sectors. Furthermore, it defends greater accountability from the G20, that is, managers’ practices to be accountable and carry out social control.
U20
After the Summit held in São Paulo, in June of this year, it is the turn of Urban 20 (U20) to arrive in Rio de Janeiro on the 14th and 17th of November, at Armazém da Utopia, in Complexo Mauá.
The objective of the meeting is to bring together mayors from the main G20 cities to discuss the main urban issues and challenges. The main result of the cycle is the U20 Communiqué, which will be submitted for endorsement to Urban 20 (U20) mayors and subsequently delivered to the G20 presidency.
This year’s edition focuses on issues such as climate emergency, inequality and sustainable economic development based on the need for constant dialogue between national and local levels of government.
The U20 2024 cycle also focuses on the global fight against hunger and poverty, and the reform of multilateral institutions. The first three days of the event are dedicated to the general public, with debates coordinated by civil society entities. On the 17th, a plenary session will take place with mayors and delegations from more than 100 cities.
G20 Social
The G20 Social Summit will be held from November 14th to 16th with the intention of expanding the participation of non-governmental actors in the group’s activities and decision-making processes. More than 200 self-managed activities are planned that bring together the different voices, struggles and demands of populations and non-governmental agents. The spaces will be the Museum of Tomorrow, Warehouse 2, Warehouse 3, Warehouse Utopia and Espaço Kobra.
The summit will open on the 14th with the presence of minister Márcio Macêdo, from the General Secretariat of the Presidency of the Republic; First Lady Janja da Silva; Ambassador Mauro Vieira, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Fernando Haddad, Minister of Finance; by Margareth Menezes, Minister of Culture; Morgan Ody, representative of the International Civil Society; and Edna Rolland, representative of the Brazilian Civil Society.
On the 15th, three plenary sessions will discuss axes proposed by the Brazilian presidency to the G20: combating hunger and inequalities; climate change and sustainability; and new global governance. On the 16th, G20 Social participants will be able to hear the reading of the final text of the document to be delivered to President Lula.
