G20's Evolution: Bali's crisis response to New Delhi's environmental focus

In 2022, the G20 Summit in Bali was dominated by the immediate challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions. However, the 2023 Summit in New Delhi marked a noticeable pivot towards environmental sustainability, signalling a shift in global priorities.

G20 Declarations: New Delhi 2023 vs Bali 2022

Unity & Sustainability:

• New Delhi: Leaders underscored global unity with the phrase, "We are One Earth, One Family, and we share One Future." Emphasis was placed on environmental harmony and sustainable development.
• Bali: The gathering commemorated the 14th anniversary of the inaugural G20, spotlighting collective responsibility during global economic challenges.

Global Challenges:

• New Delhi: The summit addressed the pressing issues of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and land degradation.
• Bali: The discussion revolved around the catastrophic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change, highlighting the slowed global recovery, rising poverty, and setbacks to Sustainable development goals.

Geopolitical Concerns:

• New Delhi: The declaration largely avoided geopolitical topics, hinting that the G20 might not be the apt platform for such discussions.
• Bali: The conflict in Ukraine was recognised as a pivotal challenge affecting global stability.

Diving Deeper: Key Focus Areas

• Climate & Development: The term "climate" saw a notable uptick in the New Delhi declaration, underscoring heightened concern for environmental and climate-related issues in 2023. Concurrently, "development" remained a central theme, with its frequency notably amplified in New Delhi, indicating reinforced global development ambitions.
• Covid-19: The New Delhi Summit exhibited a diminished emphasis on "Covid-19" compared to Bali, perhaps signifying a transition from immediate pandemic countermeasures to long-haul recovery strategies.
• Ukraine: References to "Ukraine" remained consistent, underlining its sustained geopolitical relevance.
• Africa: New Delhi's declaration accentuated "Africa" more than Bali's, possibly hinting at a more expansive engagement approach with the continent or dialogues around its growth and collaborations.

The Bigger Picture: An analysis of both declarations reveals that 30 per cent of the distinct terms in both documents overlap, showcasing thematic parallels between the summits. Nevertheless, New Delhi's statement featured a broader range of unique terms, suggesting a more varied thematic coverage.

The transition from Bali to New Delhi mirrors G20's shifting focus. While both stressed collective accountability and unity, New Delhi veered towards environmental quandaries, whereas Bali emphasised on immediate challenges like the Covid-19 and geopolitical disturbances.