Address by the Prime Minister on "Fight against hunger and poverty"

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President Lula, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

It has been a privilege for Norway to be a partner country during Brazil’s G20 presidency, and it is a great honour to participate at this Summit here in Rio.

In a world with serious challenges related to climate and poverty, and with armed conflicts and polarization, we urgently need more international cooperation.

And we need the G20 to chart the way, develop solutions, compromises – and lead – and inspire a follow-up, in the UN and its agencies, and in other decision-making institutions.

Fellow leaders,

We are approaching the final five years of the Sustainable Development goals. It is evident that we must intensify our efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger – as these challenges are also causing instability and conflict.

I therefore congratulate Brazil, and you personally President Lula, for successfully putting poverty, and the fight against hunger and inequality on top of the G20 agenda.

Norway wholeheartedly welcomes the Global Alliance against hunger and poverty.

We are proud to have formally joined it. We commit to supporting its objectives politically and financially.

In joining the Alliance, we acknowledge that international support can and should complement the building of welfare systems in developing countries. But most importantly, we underline the need to advance domestic resource mobilization for this purpose.  

A good, progressive tax system at the national level is the backbone of social security and development.

We are grateful for the crucial role the G20 is playing in the advancement of international tax cooperation. Under the G20s leadership important achievements have been made to combat tax avoidance and tax evasion.

We welcome intensified international cooperation on tax matters.

In that regard, we continue to support the efforts of the G20-initiated Inclusive Framework and Global Forum, and will engage in an active and constructive manner in the negotiations of a UN Framework Convention on international tax cooperation.

I agree with Singapore on trade and jobs.

We need a well-functioning trade system. I thank the WTO Director-General Ngozi for your efforts in challenging times.

President,

In order to mobilize the financing needed to fight hunger, poverty and climate change, we need bigger, better and more efficient multilateral development banks.

And we need to make maximum use of their leveraging capacity, rather than establishing new financing mechanisms.

The ongoing IDA21 replenishment is a critical process for providing large scale, leveraged financing to low-income countries.

IDA21 will be key in delivering on the ambitions of the Global Alliance – as well as other important development priorities. 

I am therefore pleased to announce that Norway will pledge an increase of 50 percent in our IDA contribution in December.   

We encourage other donors to follow, so that we together can secure a robust and impactful replenishment, in line with what the G20 is asking for.

Nothing is worse for preventing hunger than war and conflict. Therefore, the suffering in Gaza and the war in Ukraine must end.

Colleagues,

We trust that South Africa, during their upcoming G20 presidency will build on Brazil’s achievements and take them forward.

And finally, we look forward to convening at the next UN Climate Conference (COP30) here in Brazil – to further strengthen international climate action, and to combat poverty and food insecurity.

Thank you!