Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is set to launch a new initiative against world hunger in preparation for the upcoming G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro.
Finance ministers from the member states of the G20 will gather in the Brazilian city on Thursday and Friday for one of the final meetings before the summit on November 18-19.
The Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty is the name of the initiative aimed at pooling financial resources to fight world hunger and replicate successful programs on a global scale.
“The fight against inequality, hunger, and poverty cannot be conducted by a single country,” stated Lula in a statement to reporters on Monday, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts among countries.
This initiative is a top priority for Lula leading up to the G20 summit. A report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations highlighting the severity of world hunger will be presented at the meeting to underscore the importance of the cause.
– Taxation of Billionaires –
Alongside the hunger initiative, this week’s G20 finance ministers meeting will focus on discussions regarding taxing the ultra-wealthy, a goal set by Brazil. The discussions involve exploring ways to tax billionaires and high-income earners, with inspiration from economist Gabriel Zucman’s work.
These talks have been contentious, and there is uncertainty about making significant progress. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has expressed opposition to international negotiations on the topic during previous meetings.
The meeting will also address the taxation of multinational corporations, following the signing of an agreement nearly three years ago to develop a plan for this initiative.
Established in 1999, the G20 comprises 19 major economic powers worldwide, along with the European Union and the African Union. Initially focused on economic issues, the organization has increasingly tackled broader global challenges in recent years.
bur-alb/tmo/jgc/mlm
