Sustainable development in the shadow of geopolitical tensions

A recent briefing from the Global Policy Forum reports on the key outcomes of the 2022 G7 and G20 processes in relation to the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals. This year, the G20 process took place in Bali under Indonesia's presidency with the theme "Recover Together, Recover Stronger." Because of the war in Ukraine, both the G7 and G20 processes focused for the first time on geopolitics and peace policy issues. Health policy issues and the fight against climate change were pushed into the background.

G20 heads of state and government met for various working sessions, but many of these meetings ended without results. Nevertheless, a joint communiqué was adopted at the end. Two final documents are dedicated to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. Although attention was focused elsewhere due to the Russian war of aggression, issues discussed during the G-processes included food security, pandemic response, and infrastructure financing. A new pandemic fund at the World Bank and a new climate club are planned; how this will develop remains to be seen.

The Global Policy Forum's detailed report on the 2030 Agenda and the 2022 G7 and G20 processes can be found at here.