ieExplains: What is the G20 and why is Ireland attending?

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses reporters following the opening session of the G20 foreign ministers meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday. Photo: AP/Jerome Delay

You may or may not have noticed that there is a G20 meeting in South Africa this week.

If you haven't or are confused by it all, let The Irish Examiner get you up to speed.

What is the G20?

The G20, or Group of 20, is an intergovernmental forum of the world’s leading economies, established in 1999 in the wake of the Asian financial crisis to discuss international economic and financial stability.

Despite the name, the G20 has 21 members. There are 19 nations: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Kore, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and United States, together with the European Union, and as of 2023, the African Union.

Why is it important?

Size and impact, mostly. G20 members represent around 85% of the global Gross Domestic Product, over 75% of the global trade, and about two-thirds of the world population. While the G7 represents just the strongest of those 21 economies — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the EU and the US — the G20 contains emerging economies and, at least in theory, has a broader range of viewpoints. 

It also, unlike the G7, still contains Russia, which was booted out of the then-G8 after annexing Crimea in 2014.

The G20 became something of a leaders' summit throughout the global economic crash of 2008 and this has become a yearly meeting.

Who is there this week?

South Africa took on the presidency of the group in December and will host nearly all of this year's meetings, beginning with this one involving foreign ministers. Next week, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe will attend and in November it will be the turn of Taoiseach Micheál Martin, when world leaders descend upon South Africa.

Is Ireland not always there?

No. In fact, Ireland has never been in attendance at a G20 summit. You may recall a picture of Bertie Ahern in canary-yellow pants and think "was that not?" but that was the G8. That photo was taken at a time when Ireland held the presidency of the EU and was thus representing the union.

Why are we there this time?

Ireland is one of a number of countries invited as a guest by hosts South Africa alongside Nigeria, Egypt, Norway, Netherlands, Spain, Singapore, and the UAE.

Why?

Officially, the word is that Ireland and South Africa have a long-standing relationship on a number of issues and Ireland was a key driver of the establishment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

But, informally, officials here will say that the inclusion of Ireland, Spain and Norway, three countries which recognised the State of Palestine together, is no accident. Ireland formally joined a case brought by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice in January.

How does the G20 work?

The actual operation of the G20 outside of ministerial meetings is done through time-bound task forces and working groups. There will be three of the former: one entitled Inclusive Economic Growth, Industrialisation, Employment and Reduced Inequality, one on Food Security and one on Artificial Intelligence, Data Governance and Innovation for Sustainable Development. 

There will be 22 working groups, which are largely serviced by national officials, but will culminate in ministerial meetings. It is envisaged that more ministers will attend throughout the year.

Like most if not all major international fora, the G20's meetings are largely put together by what are called sherpas. These are usually high-level civil servants or diplomats, who oversee negotiations and discuss the points that form the summit’s agenda and co-ordinate most of the work.

What will Ireland be raising this year?

Ireland will look to amplify the perspective of smaller open economies in discussions on global financial architecture and sustainable development as well as working with hosts South Africa on improving the pace of attainment of the UN's Strategic Development Goals, with a particular focus on "reaching the furthest behind first".