G20 china_web

Sustainable development
The G20 should strive for a common
framework of cooperation
Closing the existing institutional gap
is necessary to share experiences
JOERG BOETHLING/ALAMY
Thomas
Fues
It seems essential that sherpas, who
are the leaders’ personal representatives,
assume direct responsibility for the plan.
They are the only ones who could convince
the finance track of the binding nature of
the commitments.
Transformation
In addition to guaranteeing coherence
within the G20 architecture, members would
need to initiate domestic transformation
towards sustainability in critical areas such
as energy, climate, the circular economy,
inequalities and social inclusion.
Limiting G20 activities to the
international space would not be
compatible with the universal nature of
the 2030 Agenda. With regard to global
public goods, the G20 would have to set
priorities, taking into account the interests
of developing countries. Possible items
for its agenda could be the fight against
corruption and corporate tax shifting, as
well as the access of developing countries to
sustainable global value chains.
The G20 should strive for a common
framework of South-South and North-South
cooperation in order to mobilise synergies.
An important challenge here is
Processing sisal fibres at
Tancord in Tanga, Tanzania
to create a global platform that is
acceptable to providers, recipients and
other stakeholders.
Closing the existing institutional gap is
necessary in order to facilitate the sharing
of experiences and mutual learning needed
for effective implementation of the SDGs.
Brazil, China and India have remained
distant from the Global Partnership for
Effective Development Cooperation,
which they regard as dominated by the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development. Because no viable
alternative is in sight, Southern providers
should be encouraged to participate as
observers in the partnership’s upcoming
high-level meeting.
Enhancing global knowledge
The upcoming German presidency should
build on China’s efforts by initiating a
comprehensive monitoring process for
the G20 action plan. This should include
systematic interaction with developing
countries and the G20 engagement groups.
German think tanks are ready to enhance
the role of global knowledge communities
in policy analysis and recommendations
through the Think 20. G20
Senior Researcher
German Development
Institute
Thomas Fues has been with
the German Development
Institute (Deutsches Institut für
Entwicklungspolitik) in Bonn as
Senior Researcher since 2004.
His main research interests
include global governance,
rising powers, United Nations
and international development
cooperation. Fues also heads
DIE’s training department. He
previously worked for the German
parliament, the Institute of Peace
and Development (University
Duisburg-Essen), the government
of North Rhine Westphalia and
the German Advisory Council on
Global Change.
@t_fues
www.die-gdi.de
G7G20.com September 2016 • G20 China: The Hangzhou Summit 161