G20 Summit: Leaders Meet in South Africa Amid US Boycott
- Leaders of the Group of 20 met in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 26, 2023, for a summit boycotted by the United States.
- The Group of Twenty (G20) is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union.
- The 2023 G20 summit in Johannesburg was marked by the absence of the United States, following indications from President Donald Trump that he would not attend.This decision stemmed...
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G20 Summit in Johannesburg Proceeds Without U.S. Participation Amid Climate Change Debate
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Leaders of the Group of 20 met in Johannesburg, South Africa, on August 26, 2023, for a summit boycotted by the United States. The meeting focused on a draft declaration addressing key global issues, notably climate change, formulated without U.S. input, a move criticized by a senior White House official.
Background: The G20 and its Purpose
The Group of Twenty (G20) is an intergovernmental forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union. It represents approximately 80% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population.The G20 aims to address major economic challenges and foster international cooperation. Official G20 Website
The U.S. Boycott and Draft Declaration
The 2023 G20 summit in Johannesburg was marked by the absence of the United States, following indications from President Donald Trump that he would not attend.This decision stemmed from allegations, widely discredited, concerning the treatment of white farmers in South Africa. A senior White House official described the drafting of the leaders’ declaration without U.S. consensus as “shameful.” Reuters
G20 envoys had already agreed on a draft leaders’ declaration before the summit, with climate change being a central theme. four sources familiar with the matter confirmed that the draft included references to climate change despite objections from the Trump administration, which has repeatedly expressed skepticism about the scientific consensus on human-caused global warming. Reuters
Climate Change as a Key Agenda Item
The inclusion of climate change on the G20 agenda, even in the face of U.S. opposition, underscores the growing international pressure to address the issue. The draft declaration likely reflects the commitments made under the Paris Agreement, an international treaty on climate change adopted in 2015. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – The Paris agreement
the G20’s focus on climate change is notably significant given the economic implications of inaction. Extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and disruptions to agricultural production pose significant threats to global economic stability. The World Bank estimates that climate change could push over 100 million people into poverty by 2030. World Bank – Climate Change
| Country | GDP (USD Trillions – 2023 est.) | CO2 Emissions (Million metric Tons – 2021) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 26.95 | 4,715.9 |
| China | 17.73 | 11,527.5 |
| japan | 4.23 | 1,068.1 |
| Germany | 4.08 | 673.4 |