The G20 Rio de Janeiro Summit was held in Brazil on November 18 and 19, 2024. At the two-day meeting, Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru discussed a wide range of global challenges, such as hunger and poverty, climate change and energy transition, environment, and disaster risk reduction. He clearly stated Japan’s position on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the increasingly tense situation in the Middle East. He also emphasized that Japan would like to build global governance in which all countries share responsibility, which was concurred with by all G20 members in the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leader’s Declaration.
Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru speaking at the G20 Rio de Janeiro Summit.
Over a two-day period in mid-November 2024, the G20 Rio de Janeiro Summit took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru representing Japan. Throughout Sessions 1 and 2, with regard to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, many members, including Japan, emphasized the importance of upholding the UN Charter and achieving a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. In addition, with regard to the increasingly tense situation in the Middle East, many members, including Japan, emphasized the need to improve the humanitarian situation and the need for maximum restraint and observance of international law by all parties in order to calm down the situation as soon as possible.
In Session 1, which addressed the topic of the “Fight against Hunger and Poverty,” participants discussed development issues with a focus on combating hunger and poverty. Prior to the session, the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty was launched, in which Japan also participated.
In the same session, Prime Minister Ishiba stressed that the international community is currently facing urgent issues such as hunger, poverty, climate change, disasters, and conflicts. Under these circumstances, he stated that the G20 needs to identify common ground and points of agreement, rather than division and confrontation, and lead in resolving these issues in a way that all members share responsibility. Based on the concept of human security, Japan would like to eradicate hunger and poverty and realize a prosperous society where everyone can live happily and with dignity. In order to achieve this, the perspective of food security and building sustainable and resilient food systems is important, and Japan will also actively contribute to the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty.
In the past five years, Japan has provided approximately 15 billion U.S. dollars in assistance to combat hunger and poverty. Prime Minister Ishiba expressed that Japan would like to expand sustainable and highly productive agriculture, forestry, and fisheries to new partners including countries in Central and South America and Africa, utilizing Japan’s advanced technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and more.
Prime Minister Ishiba pointed out that the G20, which accounts for around 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions, has a responsibility as a world leader to simultaneously realize climate action, economic growth, and energy security. He also stressed Japan will lead discussions toward the development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution by the end of this year.
Regarding large-scale natural disasters, such as earthquakes and typhoons, which have been striking countries worldwide with increasing frequency, the prime minister mentioned that Japan would like to continue working with the G20 members to strengthen disaster risk reduction measures.
In Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Ishiba strongly emphasized the need for global governance characterized by shared responsibility among all G20 members.
Prime Minister Ishiba condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, stressing that it challenges the international order based on the rule of law, and expressed concern over increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. He also called for a ceasefire in Gaza, the immediate release of hostages, and urged all parties to exercise utmost restraint and comply with international law, including international humanitarian law.
Regarding MDB evolution, Prime Minister Ishiba welcomed the MDB Roadmap adopted by finance ministers, emphasizing the importance of maximizing the use of each institution’s existing equity capital and creating additional lending headroom. He also highlighted Japan’s contributions through the provision of guarantees to the World Bank.
Prime Minister Ishiba pointed out that the WTO reform, in particular the restoration of the function of the dispute settlement system, is an urgent issue and that the G20 should give political impetus together. He also stressed Japan’s initiative under the Hiroshima AI Process and its intention to continue to support human resource development and institutional building in developing countries.
Session 3, held on the following day (November 19), explored the issue of “Sustainable Development and Energy Transition.” There, G20 leaders discussed climate change and energy transition, responses to environmental issues such as plastic waste, and sustainable development. The G20 members, while recognizing the leading role the G20 should play based on the fact that the G20 accounts for 80% of the global emission of greenhouse gases, shared the importance of the commitment to strengthen the efforts towards climate change and energy transition.
Alongside the proceedings of these sessions, under Brazil's leadership as this year’s G20 Presidency, the G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders' Declaration was issued.（Full text: G20 Rio de Janeiro Leaders’ Declaration）
In Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Ishiba held a summit meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, where he stated that 2025 will mark the 130th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and expressed his desire to further strengthen bilateral relations.
