G20 Leaders Respond to COVID-19 Pandemic
Written by: Charlie Estes and Emilia James
Since the coronavirus (COVID-19) first broke news headlines a few months ago, the world has been overtaken by the spread of the virus and its effects, including unprecedented shutdowns of daily life. After the World Health Organization (WHO) labeled this virus as a global pandemic, governments of the world were announcing new policies and safety measures by the hour. From hospitals at or above capacity to unemployment rates increasing to students receiving an education via screens, the world seems to have a slew of unanswered questions regarding how the lives of its citizens are to adapt to this new way of life.
In this current global health crisis and the ensuing financial panic, the need for a forum which allows world leaders to discuss an appropriate response is most apparent. With this in mind, the Leaders of the G20 countries and international organizations met using an online video call platform last Thursday for just that reason. The call lasted approximately 90 minutes and resulted in a Leaders’ Statement outlining shared concerns and dedicated actions by member nations and organizations to boost fiscal spending by $5 trillion.
“We commit to take all necessary health measures and seek to ensure adequate financing to contain the pandemic and protect people, especially the most vulnerable.”
Though many have been critical of the G20 for being slow to respond to the pressing crisis, the Saudi Presidency called this meeting as a show of unity and to call for action, not unlike the initial 2008 convening of G20 Leaders. At the beginning of the meeting, King Salman of Saudi Arabia expressed the need to work together to ensure that necessary medical supplies are still in circulation among countries and that markets remain active. The UN and WHO shared these sentiments, voicing the need for leadership and collective effort when moving forward in this battle against the virus.
The Leaders' Statement, which was released at the conclusion of the video conference, named six objectives for taking action “both individually and collectively” in response to COVID-19:
Protect lives
Safeguard people’s jobs and incomes
Restore confidence, preserve financial stability, revive growth and recover stronger
Minimize disruptions to trade and global supply chains
Provide help to all countries in need of assistance
Coordinate on public health and financial measures
In order to ensure these objectives are met, the Leaders called upon their Health Ministers to keep a productive line of communication by meeting as needed to guarantee that the nations are able to share ways in which to best combat the virus. Further, the G20 placed emphasis on the need to improve “national, regional, and global capacities” to respond to such an outbreak in the future, should something of this magnitude reoccur. Included in this commitment is increased preparedness spending, focus on medical research, and crucial awareness for vulnerable populations.
The G20 remains committed to facilitating the productive discussion of the most pressing issues of our time. Now is not a time to become divided and halt or slow open communication efforts. Rather, it is a time to come together, listen, and make a concerted effort to protect the people of member nations and the rest of the world. Furthermore, it is the obligation of G20 nations and organizations to set an example for the rest of the world. Leaders and Health Ministers will continue to meet as needed in order to ensure not only the sharing of information, but also the sharing of necessary medical supplies to see an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.
*Note: The 2020 Model G20 Summit scheduled for October 9-11 2020 is moving forward as planned. Please remain aware of any updates in the coming weeks and months should this change. We understand this is a confusing, uncertain time. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out via modelg20summit.org/contact. Additionally, early registration is now open at modelg20summit.org/register