Chris Hall on the G20
Comments (10)
Wednesday, September 23, 2009 | 12:53 PM ET
World leaders must work together to address global challenges in the 21st century because "power is no longer a zero sum game," U.S. President Barack Obama told the UN today, informally kicking off the meeting of G20 leaders in Pittsburgh this week.
In the speech, Obama highlighted the challenges facing the world, including al-Qaeda and other extremist groups, development and security of Pakistan and Afghanistan, ending the war in Iraq, nuclear proliferation, the Middle East peace process, climate change and the global economy.
What will the leaders focus on in Pittsburgh? What should be at the top of the agenda?
National Affairs Editor Chris Hall took your questions on the G20.
Read his response below.
Chris Hall: Hello everyone,
A clear theme emerged from the questions below, so I thought I’d tackle them all in a single answer on whether these summits lead to meaningful change.
The short answer is — maybe.
Let’s take Pittsburgh, where this organization of developed and emerging economic powerhouses was formalized.
The mere creation of a Group of 20 is touted by some as a sea change in the world economic order. No longer will the Group of Seven — that clubby bunch of free-wheeling, market-promoting nations — act as the unappointed board of directors for the global economy.
That power from now on will be shared with the likes of India and Brazil, countries from continents just now emerging as economic forces. Countries that also represent growing consumer markets with money — lots of money — to spend.
Others say the Group of 20 is just a bigger, multi-hued shade of the previous economic elite. And nothing will change.
I think the latter view a bit short-sighted. This group has moved, and frankly moved as swiftly as any large organization can, towards a common goal. They’ve directed trillions into stimulus spending.
But I also understand the cynicism in all your questions.
It took a crisis for this unity of purpose to emerge.
And as I leafed through the communique there was little to distinguish it from any other communique issued by any other international summit.
There’s the preamble stating broad agreement on principles. That’s followed by the check-off of things accomplished, measures taken, agreements reached and steps to come.
And all of that was negotiated well in advance. At this G20, a news agency released a draft of the final document on Thursday, before the leaders had even met.
The final version was slightly different, but on the substance of what was accomplished, the new regulations and meaningful oversight of bank practices, the vow to link bonuses paid to bankers and brokers to long-term performance, remained the same.
The political leaders will tell you of the value of these face-to-face meetings to discuss common goals. They’ll discuss how differences of opinion are bridged, and unity of purpose is possible.
These meetings are more than photo ops. Or junkets. There will, no doubt, be studies in the future to show that the action taken by the G20 averted a much longer and much deeper world-wide recession.
I guess the real question is whether these gatherings are worth the cost? We’re told security at the Pittsburgh summit ran in excess of $20 million. The entire city shutdown on Thursday and Friday. Offices were closed. People were given the days off. And let’s not forget the expense of transporting each of the leaders and their entourages from countries spread around the globe.
Let me close with this: The G20 is now set up as the primary venue for discussing global economic policy. To me, the real measure of its worth will come in tackling issues that are not crisis-driven.
I’ll be looking to see what future summits accomplish in areas such as climate change financing for developing nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
For signs that the big guys really believe in free trade, when the United States and several others are bringing in more protectionist measures.
So as I said, will the Group of 20 lead to meaningful change? Maybe.
This discussion is now Closed. View the questions.
Chat Questions (10)
Arlan Benn
As a humble citizen outsider, I am wondering if during these summits there are any actual discussions, or just speeches with fiery, inspiring words. I wonder if anyone there will question the seemingly obvious lack of real functionality in the current method the world is governed with.
Thank you for your time, sincerely.
shayla
vancouver
How will you encourage countries to sign on with the (proposed) successor to the failed kyoto protocol? How will you ensure that they will participate this time around? And if they don't follow through with the agreement, will there be consequences?
D.D
Ottawa
Since the G20 includes many other nations besides the notorious top 8, do any of the richer nations even honestly field complaints from smaller countries, without throwing their concerns into the furnace?
I guess what I'm trying to say is, how is this not a gigantic waste of time, and will these summits ever bring about meaningful agreements to combat serious global issues?
J.M.
Calgary
My question is :
With all this talk about global warming/climate change, I am very concerned that world leaders are engaging in the "precautionary principle" - establishing laws that are based on unsound, unscientific, and virtually no proof that global warming/climate change even exists.
I would like to know how the world leaders can even entertain changing environmental laws when no proof of any environmental damage exists ?
Louis Kelemen
Kemptville
Could you let us know if there are agendas of these meetings with a list of problems and action? And, if any agenda items get resolved.
Or is this just for show?
Stephen Leadbeater
Toronto
1. Why, Mr. Obama, have you betrayed your own countries constitution?
2. Why are you going along with the poisoning of your people with the flu shot and the rest of the garbage that is allowed in medication and food.
3. Why do you keep handing money to the very people that caused the economy to be in the state that it is in?
Joanne Martin
I would like to know the "real numbers" on solar power vs. alternatives such as wind turbines. I don't want to hear from those who are making a profit on one or the other, but rather, about efficiency, real impact on the environment, economic sustainability etc. Please give us this information.
A-J
Toronto
Why is the CBC omitting the G-20's hyphen on its broadcasts and the CBC website. The hyphen appears on both the G-20's official website and on CNN.
Is it a "Canadian thing"?
Sue
What positions do you think they mean by 'bankers' -- just 'CEO's' of major banks? The obscene bonus packages are handed out well down thru the executive levels now. Will they now all come under the same scrutiny and performance requirements. If not, they should!
Brian M.
ottawa
Aren't these summits just photo ops and expensive junkets for politicians, their wives, and entourages?
Why in the age of the wireless communications do we need to have these 'summits'
It seems all for show and display of power and control which isn't apparently being used effectively.