One innovative feature of the 2030 Agenda involves the integration of its sustainable development goals. The agreement contains multiple targets that refer to several SDGs and span policy fields, and reflect that the main problems of the 21st century have multiple origins […]
1. Continue extending support to the travel and tourism economy in the shortterm Until now, government support has focused on immediate response and mitigation efforts to protect visitors and workers, and ensure business continuity following the imposition of containment measures. Efforts have […]
A. Macroeconomic policies to support the recovery Policymakers will face macroeconomic challenges to support the recovery. Government budget deficits are currently elevated, and public debt is set to rise to exceptionally high levels in many countries. In the double-hit scenario, 2021 government […]
More broadly, the short-term non-health consequences of the pandemic have come about because of the dislocations to the economy. Disrupted supply chains, a recalibration of values, collapse of some business sectors, and the insolvency of businesses have led to unemployment, underemployment, and […]
Redirecting infrastructure priorities toward human capital Three conditions account for today’s crisis: the acceleration of global economic integration, supported by urbanization and integrated infrastructure systems, yet with too little pandemic preparedness, environmental awareness, and capacity for social inclusiveness and without efficient global […]
The key points we propose are as follows: A new G20 Working Group on Pandemic Institutional Resilience and Policy Preparedness (abbreviated as PWG or “Pandemic Working Group”); A G20 peer-review of national pandemic policy preparedness and institutional resilience, assessed by the new […]
The following proposals are not intended to be a comprehensive list of the necessary actions. Instead, this brief focuses on those proposals that appear to be both directly relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic and its social and economic consequences as well as […]
The most effective way to counteract a symmetric shock is to act in a unified and coordinated way from the point of view of both fiscal policy and monetary policy. Hence, the pandemic should be tackled at a supranational level with rapid […]
The challenges described above call for innovative short- and medium-term solutions as well as adequate long-term policy responses from the global community, led by the G20. After an extended period of lockdown, most governments have realized the need to reopen their economies […]
Healthcare and food value chains during COVID-19 The production of medical goods has taken center stage since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and has demonstrated that countries are highly dependent on each other. Approximately 80% of personal protective equipment (PPE) sold […]
We propose a five-pronged approach: (1) Globally coordinated fiscal stimulus for health measures (2) Measures to promote infrastructure finance in developing nations (3) Measures to address the widening income inequality gap (4) Financial support for severely affected sectors such as small- and […]
While the COVID-19 pandemic has unveiled systemic and structural flaws and challenges, it also presents an invaluable opportunity to rebuild with better and stronger policies that ultimately strive for sustainable transport systems. This policy brief provides the following proposals for policy frameworks […]
A climate-friendly recovery program from the COVID-19 crisis needs to build on four pillars, which are derived from the desire to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and are likely to be impacted […]
Institutionalize an integrated crisis-sensitive planning approach for immediate-, medium-, and long-term education response and recovery. Extend cross-sectoral approaches prioritizing vulnerable groups The pandemic will exacerbate existing inequities in education in all countries with further implications for low-resource and crisis contexts (Elston et […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all formal education, with academic studies disrupted or halted for many students across the globe (World Bank 2020a, 2020b). Most G20 countries[2] have been subject to country-wide school closures affecting 70% or more of school-going children (see […]
An equitable pandemic response should be viewed through the lens of both physical resources and the funding and focus of research. An equitable distribution of physical resources is important for ensuring an effective response at the local level, which would then significantly […]
The COVID-19 pandemic provides the G20 leaders with an opportunity to act unanimously in addressing this unfolding mental health crisis. It is vital to include stakeholders from various public and private sectors in the development and implementation of policies (McDaid 2005). Their […]
Universal health systems to ensure universal health coverage as a right to mitigate inequities in health care access Privileging integral primary care To reduce inequalities, the G20 members should advocate health as a human right; they must transmute this into the right […]
This Policy Brief considers Global Public Goods (GPGs) for health as being essential to address the systemic and structural health inequities that impose significant social, economic, and inter-generational costs globally, even as the wealth gap continues to increase. This consideration is presented […]
There is general agreement that the bioeconomy holds the potential to provide global environmental benefits and promote the much-needed transformation at the national level, through new cycles of innovation and investments. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that many of its components could […]
To address the true cost of the food challenge, we propose a leadership role for the G20 in mandating the measurement of the true cost of food, coordinating reforms of harmful policies, and setting the agenda for the introduction of beneficial policies. […]
Proposal 1. Improvements in the Measurement of Sustainable Practices in Crop Production Increasing productivity and total food availability must be achieved while considering the impact of the production systems on climate change and natural resources sustainability. These purposes require a careful and […]
1. Design individual policies for the electricity and transportation sectors to prepare them for change and avoid inefficiencies in the transition. The power industry faces major technological, economic, and institutional challenges. Combining PV panels with batteries and demand appliances (DERs) can help […]
We recommend five actions for the Group of Twenty (G20) to undertake in order to achieve sustainable and equitable clean energy access and associated water and food security. These actions are: (1) to develop an understanding of accessible water resources and optimal […]
We propose five recommendations and actions for G20 engagement on non-fuel minerals for future energy pathways. Framing: Batteries for EVs and Battery Minerals and Materials First, energy storage is integral to all “new” energy system schemes. Second, mobility itself is complicated. This […]
Policy Recommendations The policy brief will identify key solutions for addressing the issues related to increasing urbanization affecting the quality of life, as well as resilience against unexpected threats such as COVID-19. The following policy recommendations involve the promotion of emerging digital […]
To design a credible proposal plan, there are important tradeoffs to be considered. By preventing global temperatures increasing above unsustainable levels, climate policies may improve water, energy, and food security. Such policies may prevent desertification and mitigate its consequences for agriculture activities […]
The WEF nexus approach is becoming an imperative enabler for addressing the resources challenge in the MENA region and achieving the countries’ global mandates as defined by the SDGs and their NDCs. Implementing the nexus approach, that is, adopting integrated resource planning […]
Action 1: The G20 should create a working group with the mandate of identifying opportunities and challenges for the implementation of emergency measures to improve the downstream waste sector. Introducing emergency measures to combat the harmful effects of waste generation in sub-Saharan […]
The current challenge is to ensure that both infrastructure and institutional fortitude and market stability continue and expand into the future, despite the uncertainty surrounding the future of global energy markets. It is timely to offer recommendations on how to ensure the […]
Key proposal 1: Create a G20 workflow on energy and desalination to support knowledge sharing, policy dialogue, best practices, and cross-border cooperation Collect data and develop metrics for the full cost and benefits of water desalination In water-scarce regions, “a synergistic approach […]
We recommend prioritizing and incentivizing sustainable agriculture by refocusing existing agricultural and food policies and designing new policies to support the transition to and scaling up of sustainable agriculture, particularly among farmers with limited capacity and access to finance. Additionally, we consider […]
More transparency in large-scale agricultural investments There is a clear need for reinforced efforts to increase transparency in large-scale agricultural investments. Ever since the discussion on “land grabs” by foreign investors emerged in the late 2000s, most of these large-scale land transactions […]
Access to modern energy services is critical for continued global economic growth and achieving a better quality of life. Thus, it is critical to appropriately address emerging risks to all dimensions of energy security, including energy availability, affordability, accessibility, and acceptability, while […]
Leveraging hydrogen allows fossil fuel producing countries to participate in the global goal of reducing CO2 emissions, and to valorize their resources and storage capacity. It enables them to diversify their economies, to export, or use a clean energy vector domestically, partially […]
This brief offers two concrete policy proposals along with some specific actions to be taken by the G20. First, it calls for the significant expansion of public support to agrifood systems research in developing countries. Second, it proposes that the G20 should […]
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and robotics has generated both positive and negative by-products. These new technological advancements are creating newfound capabilities and offering both higher productivity and greater job quality. A leading financial technology company in China, […]
Job creation vs. job sustainability Improving economic conditions is key to managing irregular migration. Job creation plays an important role; however, the creation of jobs alone is not enough to ensure the improvement of living conditions. The concept of decent jobs, therefore, […]
The 1951 Geneva Convention remains the most relied upon international instrument when it comes to respecting the rights of refugees, integration rights of recognized refugees in particular. This is further complemented by international human rights laws that apply to all individuals, regardless […]
Labor market 1. G20 countries should identify the local populations in the labor market that are adversely affected by the refugee inflow, and implement policies to protect them. In the hosting countries, it is generally the most vulnerable groups in the local […]
First, this policy brief will assert the notion of integration as the principal act of incorporation of migrants into host communities. Second, the policy brief will utilize the push–pull theory in the field of migration to clarify which migrant-sending and -receiving countries […]
As the primary goal of the Think Tank (T20) has been to develop concise and evi dence-based policy recommendations to enable a broader vision in directing policy-making processes, enhancing quality and standards is key to ensuring that education is mutually beneficial for […]
The following proposal defines the basic principles of a joint action treaty on forced migration. It is analogous to the Kyoto Protocol (UN 1998) and called The G2020 Protocol on Forced Migration (GPFM). The GPFM is a governance framework established to solve […]
Digitalization and greater access to Internet-connected technologies create a variety of new opportunities for development and humanitarian agencies to support displaced populations and refugees (Martin-Shields 2017). There are examples of governments from municipal to national levels in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and […]
G20 summit leaders should agree to do their share to meet the global goal of planting at least one trillion trees by 2030 by immediately hiring workers for implementation, preventing deforestation and loss of mangroves and coastal wetlands, assisting others in such […]
To date, the development of in vitro diagnostics has largely remained an enterprise of the private sector. As a result, their development priorities have been driven by markets that have become highly specialized, often by disease and geographic region. For example, diagnostics […]
Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG 4) and human rights covenants speak to the need to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” The SDGs frame education as a route to poverty eradication, and international covenants speak […]
To address and prepare for the impacts of demographic change, four policy recommendations are proposed based on the different stages of demographic transition in G20 members to ensure fiscal sustainability. Improve Productivity To maximize potential gains from demographic dividends and mitigate the […]
G20 measures to address debt crises in LICs As LICs will find it difficult to respond effectively to the pandemic without assistance, the international community has a shared responsibility to engage with these countries. The G20 can play an important role in […]
We call on the G20 community to investigate the risks and impact of privately issued stablecoins on the international monetary system. Approximately 70% of the additional value generated by the global economy is expected to come from digital platforms over the next […]