Firm measures for achieving sustainable growth, lasting peace must top G21 agenda

The G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, however, was more pointed, incorporating a raft of issues and concerns in as many as 83 points

The 18th meeting of G20 concluded in New Delhi on a very positive note. The global grouping will now be called G21 with the induction of the African Union (AU) consisting of 55 African countries. The guiding principle of AU is “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.”

The G20 members account for around 85 per cent of the global GDP, over 75 per cent of the global trade and about two-thirds of the world population. With the AU in, the G21 now virtually represents the world’s collective resolve to make the Mother Earth a better place to live for all irrespective of their race, colour, religion and caste in an ambience of peace, harmony and justice.

However, the silence of world leaders on affirmative measures in New Delhi seems to be astounding. In other words, they were not as vocal as was expected with regard to accelerating the pace of affirmative measures in sync with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – no poverty, zero hunger, good health and well-being, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation, and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice, and strong institutions, and partnership for the goals.

These goals were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 and they recognized that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. The deadline to achieve the SDGs they have fixed is 2030!

One of the declaration points in the previous G20 meeting held last year in Bali stated: “We remain committed to a human-centred, inclusive, fair, sustainable approach that leads to greater social justice, decent work, and social protection for all. We will continue our work to integrate persons with disabilities, women, and youth across sectors and levels in pursuit of an inclusive labour market. We are resolved to promote sustainable development of human capacity, labour markets, and productivity, including through community-based vocational education and training, to advance job creation through entrepreneurship, to empower MSMEs, and to accelerate our efforts to foster and adapt labour protection for all workers, including those in the informal sector. We will maximize our approach to skills development to respond effectively to the needs of the labour market, with the involvement of social partners. We will accelerate progress towards the Antalya Youth Goal, as well as universal social protection for all by 2030.”

The G20 Bali Leaders’ Declaration in its total 52 points had also not explicitly shared the vision of global leaders on the need for affirmative measures, their amplification and execution to achieve all 17 SDGs. The declaration was certainly exhaustive and in consonance with the emerging global socio-economic and political challenges and how to address them but did not pinpoint the ways and means to adopt and implement affirmative measures.

The G20 New Delhi Leaders’ Declaration, however, was more pointed, incorporating a raft of issues and concerns in as many as 83 points. It was very particular about the adoption of inclusivity by top global players in more ways than one. There was a significant amount of emphasis on pressing and emerging global issues but the element of being vocal by global leaders about affirmative measures and their implementation was missing. Equality, justice, zero hunger, affordable health and education for all cannot be realized without adopting a slew of affirmative measures such as inclusion in jobs, health and education facilities and timely justice to uplift vulnerable and marginalized sections of society.

Why do we need to go all ballistic with affirmative measures? There are multiple reasons but the most poignant among them is the plight of children worldwide.

The ‘Global Trends in Child Monetary Poverty According to International Poverty Lines’ report released on September 13 has found that while the number of children living on less than $2.15 a day decreased from 383 million to 333 million or 13 per cent between 2013 and 2022, the economic impact of Covid-19 led to three lost years of progress, or 30 million fewer children than projected in the absence of the pandemic disruptions.

“Seven years ago, the world made a promise to end extreme child poverty by 2030 … But compounding crises, from the impacts of COVID-19, conflict, climate change and economic shocks, have stalled progress, and left millions of children in extreme poverty. We cannot fail these children now. Ending child poverty is a policy choice. Efforts must be redoubled to ensure that all children have access to essential services, including education, nutrition, health care and social protection, while addressing the root causes of extreme poverty,” says UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

According to the report, Sub-Saharan Africa carries the highest burden of children – 40 per cent – living in extreme poverty and accounts for the largest share increase in the last decade, jumping from 54.8 per cent in 2013 to 71.1 per cent in 2022. Rapid population growth, limited social protection measures, and challenging global trends including Covid-19, conflict, and climate-related disasters, have resulted in the steep increase. All other regions in the world have seen a steady decline in extreme poverty rates, with the exception of the Middle East and North Africa. Children are more than twice as likely as adults – 15.8 per cent versus 6.6 per cent – to live in extremely poor households, lacking the food, sanitation, shelter, health care, and education they need to survive and thrive. In India 5.2 crore children are living below the poverty line. Poor children mean poor parents. Poor parents mean they do not have access to education, health, human rights and gainful employment opportunities.

In order to end extreme poverty and offset the pandemic backslide, UNICEF and the World Bank have called on governments and partners to “ensure a continued focus on children living in extreme poverty in lower middle- and low-income countries and fragile contexts; prioritize agendas aimed at tackling child poverty, including expanding social protection coverage for children to reach those living in extremely poor households; design public policy portfolios to reach large households, and those with young children and in rural areas. Investing in early childhood has proven one of the most effective ways to break intergenerational persistence of poverty, bringing positive returns to individuals, families and societies; increase access to universal child benefits as a proven effective measure in reducing child poverty, and design inclusive social protection programmes, taking into account disability and gender-specific needs.” The million-dollar question is: Are we ready to listen to the voice of our conscience?

(The writer is a senior journalist, columnist and author. The views expressed are his personal opinions)