The T20 (Think 20) midterm review meeting, which brings together think tanks and academic institutions from G20 countries, was held in Brazil. As a member of the T20 International Advisory Council and a participant in the Task Forces, TEPAV attended the meeting and contributed to the Communique.
The midterm review meeting of the T20 (Think 20) Engagement Group under G20 was completed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. During the three-day meetings attended by TEPAV, all topics within the priorities of the G20 Brazil were discussed by representatives of the T20 Brazil Task Forces and Brazilian policymakers.
The T20 Communique, which includes recommendations for officials of G20 member countries, was presented to Brazil's G20 Sous-Sherpa Ambassador Felipe Hees.
More than 300 Policy Briefs Prepared by the T20
A total of 375 T20 Policy Briefs were prepared bringing recommendations for Ministries and official Working Groups of G20 countries. These notes were completed prior to the meeting through joint research and contributions from leading think tanks and research institutions from G20 and other countries.
The recommendations, compiled from numerous policy briefs were brought together under 10 key themes in T20 Communique, are as follows:
- Strengthening multilateral cooperation under the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty
- Employ progressive fiscal policy and repurpose fossil fuel subsidies to reduce inequalities and to promote climate justice
- Leverage affordable climate and sustainable development finance, including resources needed to promote just energy transitions
- Provide capacity building, technology transfer and adequate funding for national transition plans, including measures to leverage climate adaptation and the bioeconomy
- Reform the G20 Common Framework for Dept Relief and the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) lending policy to expand fiscal space for investments in inclusive and sustainable development
- Establish Data20, a multistakeholder platform to enhance cooperation on global data governance
- Improve cooperation to enhance meaningful connectivity, inclusive DPIs, and human-centered AI
- Reform and strengthen the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the main forum for global trade, services and investment facilitation negotiations, including in relation to trade standards that address climate and digital transformation
- Address unequal access to healthcare and promote technology transfers and global cooperation on vaccination, medicines, and strategic health supplies in developing countries
- Translate into actions G20 commitments on gender, racial, and ethnic equalities
The Midterm Conference, hosted by leading Brazilian think tanks IPEA, CEBRI, and FUNAG, and supported by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), comprehensively discussed the proposals of all task forces.
On the first day of the meeting, the topic of multilateral cooperation to prevent hunger and poverty, one of the priority issues under the Brasilian presidency, was discussed in detail. Representing TEPAV at the meetings, G20 Studies Center Director Sait Akman emphasized the importance of trade, financing, and data provision in this area and the activities that can be conducted for this purpose.
TEPAV's Role in Task Forces
Within the scope of T20 Brazil, the TEPAV team actively participated in three out of a total of six Task Forces, co-chairing and contributing to the drafting of three policy notes.
The first of these Task Forces, addressing a current major global challenge, i.e. climate change, is Sustainable Climate and Inclusive Energy Transition. The focus here was on ensuring a fair energy transition for all, achieving economic growth without causing environmental problems, supporting the financing of climate and sustainable development, particularly through Multilateral Development Banks and Climate Funds, utilizing capacity-building and technology transfer opportunities for this purpose, and working on necessary criteria for harmonizing and implementing sustainability requirements for businesses and financial institutions.
Another area where TEPAV actively participated was the Reform of the International Financial Architecture Task Force. This included studies and discussions on reforming the IMF's lending policy, making multilateral development banks more effective, ensuring a fairer global tax system, and enhancing IMF resources for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The third Task Force in which TEPAV participated was Trade and Investments for Sustainable and Inclusive Growth. This Task Force primarily focused on reforming the WTO and the multilateral trade system, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the WTO's role in global trade services and investments, particularly in addressing emerging issues such as food security, poverty, and climate change. It also proposed recommendations for new protectionist measures and subsidy practices that have been increasing in global trade.
T20 Brazil Communique can be accessed here.
