President Lula:
Just over 200 years ago, a revolutionary movement emerged with a spirit of independence and integration that would change the course of our region and pave the way for our modern nations, which today are not spared from development challenges. But Latin American integration remains a utopia. Today, as Captain of the G-20, you have a critical opportunity to divest us from the fossil fuel industry and promote camaraderie in Latin America.
They can – and should – lead a coalition of developing countries within the G-20. We welcome the admission of the African Union as a permanent member of the G-20 as well as the invitations to the leaders of Uruguay and Paraguay to attend the summit in 2024 and to the 20 Vulnerable Countries (V20) in 2024 one of its professional groups. It is encouraging to see greater representation of developing countries in this multilateral space of global importance.
This partnership with other regional leaders could continue with Mexico and Argentina, also part of the G-20, and become a coordinated regional presence. There is more that connects us than divides us. This political moment could serve to explore common points, synergies and economic, political and climatic complementarities that will allow us to build a legacy of a regional agenda that speaks loudly and strongly with the interests of the world’s most developed and powerful countries harmony.
Civil society organizations envision a G-20 that demonstrates to the world its political will to promote a fair energy transition that frees us from extractive industries; a G-20 committed to Latin America as a region with the potential to take early action and become an international benchmark, with environmental and social justice at the heart of the transition; and a G-20 that values the biodiversity and richness of our ecosystems. We from Latin America and the Caribbean can help you with this gigantic task.
President Lula, we urge you, under your leadership, to fulfill the following commitments:
- First: that the G20 provide an effective and real solution to the staggering debt levels and striking inequalities that are preventing developing countries from finding a fair and sufficient response to the climate crisis and preventing a new wave of external debt from the Global South. It is essential to change the objectives and functioning of financial institutions to internalize climate change and manage debt by developing and applying tools such as debt exchanges and debt suspension or cancellation for the most vulnerable countries; and the creation of an alliance between multilateral and national development banks to reduce their risk aversion to investing in developing regions.
- Second, that G-20 countries lead the way in phasing out oil, gas and coal, in particular to reduce CO2 and methane emissions and reduce fossil fuel production by around 40% by 2030. Undoubtedly, this is the goal with the greatest transformative potential to prevent environmental disasters from increasing and climate displacement of millions of people. This phase-out must take into account the promotion of alternative livelihoods. This is the only way other efforts to tackle this climate crisis can actually have an impact.
- Third, that the G-20 implement its recent commitment to triple global renewable energy capacity, particularly supporting the deployment of wind, solar, advanced bioenergy and green hydrogen production in developing regions. If, under your leadership, the G20 in 2024 commits to investing significantly in the potential of Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa and Asia to be 100% renewable by 2040, it would provide a concrete boost to achieving the global goal The goal is for at least 70% of electricity generation to come from renewable energy by 2030.
- Fourth, that the G-20 work with Latin America and the Caribbean to promote environmental and social protections as part of a fair energy transition, both in mining and renewable energy production. The extraction, production and final storage of the critical minerals necessary for these purposes must ensure the highest social and environmental standards and avoid human rights violations, damage to ecosystems, corruption and displacement of people under all circumstances.
- Fifth, that the G-20 support the Amazon countries of Latin America to reduce deforestation to zero, combat illegal gold mining, and protect 80% of the Amazon by 2030, thereby avoiding the point of non-existence for this biome Back there is more. Key to this is supporting the implementation of the Belém Declaration, including concrete measures to combat environmental injustices and crimes and promote the well-being of local communities and indigenous peoples.
- Sixth: that the G-20 provide continuity to the climate crisis adaptation agenda launched under the Argentine presidency. It is important to make the need for adaptation and the priorities for the region visible and to close implementation gaps, especially in terms of financing. Explicit political support and technical work is needed for the implementation of the Global Adaptation Goals framework to be launched at COP28.
President Lula: It is in your hands to awaken the power that the G-20 can have to be at the forefront of the greatest challenge to the survival of humanity as we know it. and to unite and position the region at this time when global collective action is urgently needed. Latin American civil society is here to support you.
Signatory organizations: Transforma, Talanoa Institute, WWF, Argentina 1.5°C, POLAND Just Transitions, The Climate Route, Sustainable Chile, Climate Financing Group for Latin America and the Caribbean (GFLAC), International Energy Initiative (IEI Brazil), Avina Foundation, Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), The Nature Conservancy Colombia, Observatório do Clima (OC), Associação Wechsela Terrazul, Instituto de Estudos Socieconômicos (INESC), Instituto de Pesquisa e Formação Indígena (Iepé), Revolusolar, Global Methane Hub, Libélula, Uma Gota No Oceano, Brazilian Consumer Protection Institute (Idec), Mexico Climate Initiative (ICM).