Rio de Janeiro
At the 2024 G20 Summit in Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva launched the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, urging world leaders to take immediate action against these issues. He emphasized that hunger and poverty are not caused by scarcity, but by political decisions that exclude large portions of humanity. The G20 nations, which represent 85% of global GDP and two-thirds of the world’s population, have the responsibility to end these injustices.
Lula pointed to alarming statistics from the FAO, which predicts that 733 million people will face undernourishment in 2024, equivalent to the combined populations of Brazil, Mexico, Germany, the UK, South Africa, and Canada. This, he said, is unacceptable, especially in a world that produces enough food to feed everyone but still spends trillions on military budgets.
The Global Alliance, launched with 148 members including 82 countries, international organizations, and NGOs, aims to eradicate hunger and poverty. It has set ambitious goals, including reaching 500 million people with cash transfer programs and expanding school meals to 150 million children in poverty-stricken regions by 2030.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also supported the initiative, highlighting the impact of the global crises on the Global South and emphasizing the need to prioritize their concerns. He endorsed the Alliance as a vital step towards food security.
