Trough the Sherpa Track, the following 13 Working Groups, 5 Initiatives and 1 Conferences met under India’s Presidency to discuss priorities and provide recommendations.


Working Groups


As part of the G20 decision-making process, Working Groups, comprising of experts and officials from relevant ministries, lead in-depth analysis and discussions on a range of internationally relevant issues in respective areas of focus.

Agriculture

The G20 Agriculture Deputies Group was created during the French Presidency in 2011 to deal with volatility in global food prices. It has since become an important forum to enhance cooperation among the G20 members on agriculture related issues critical for achieving UN 2030 agenda, especially the goal of zero hunger (SDG 2). The working group facilitates information exchange and cooperation on a range of global issues such as food security, nutrition, antimicrobial resistance, food waste and loss, sustainability, and resilient and inclusive food value chains.

Anti-corruption

The G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) was established in 2010. The Anti-Corruption Working Group reports to the G20 Leaders on anti-corruption issues and aims to establish minimum common standards among the legal systems of the G20 countries, in order to combat corruption. It focuses on public and private sector integrity and transparency, bribery, international cooperation, asset recovery, beneficial ownership transparency, vulnerable sectors and capacity-building.

Culture

The G20 Culture Ministers met for the first time in 2020 and highlighted culture’s cross-cutting contribution to advancing G20 agenda. Recognizing the synergies between culture and other policy areas, and considering the impact of culture, cultural heritage and the creative economy on the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development, culture was integrated into the G20 agenda as a Culture Working Group in 2021. The group aims to strengthen international cooperation and collaboration to support cultural and creative industries.

The Working Group organised a series of four Global Thematic Webinars between March and April 2023 to harness the four priorities set forth by India through shared expertise and best practices to firmly position culture as an engine for propelling inclusive sustainable socio-economic recovery and development. These were organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, hosted and facilitated by UNESCO, as the knowledge partner. For webinar registration.
For more details about the webinars.

Digital Economy

The Digital Economy Working Group, established in 2021, offers inspiration and broad guidance to policy makers on harnessing the digital potential of economies. The Working Group aims at digital transformation to enhance public participation and realize inclusive social and economic growth.

Disaster Risk Reduction

G20 countries have a high level of exposure to disaster risk, with a combined estimated Annual Average Loss of $218 billion or 9% of their average annual investment in infrastructure. G20 Leaders’ declarations have from time to time acknowledged the importance of disaster risk reduction and resilience. However, the issue has not been addressed by the G20 in a comprehensive and sustained manner. A new working group on Disaster Risk Reduction has therefore been established under India's Presidency to encourage collective work by the G20, undertake multi-disciplinary research and exchange best practices on disaster risk reduction.

Development

Development Working Group (DWG) has been acting as the custodian of G20 ‘development agenda’ since its inception in 2010. After the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goals in 2015, DWG has played an important role in supporting Sherpas in both driving the G20 Sustainable Development agenda and in working with other workstreams to better understand the sustainable development intersections of G20 actions with efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

Education

The Education Working Group (EdWG) was established in 2018 during Argentina’s Presidency. EdWG focuses on strengthening learning outcomes and equitable access through technological tools, digitalization, universal quality education, financing, partnerships for education and international cooperation. EdWG also collaborates with Employment and other WGs to address cross cutting issues like skill development and school-to-work transition.

Employment

The Employment Working Group (EWG) started as the G20 Taskforce on Employment – set up in 2011 under the French Presidency – which was raised to Working Group level following the Leaders’ Declaration under the Australian Presidency in 2014. The first meeting of EWG took place under the Turkish Presidency in 2015. The EWG discusses labour, employment and social issues to further develop strong, sustainable, balanced, inclusive and job-rich growth.

Environment and Climate Sustainability

The Climate Sustainability Working Group (CSWG) was established during the Argentine Presidency in 2018, while the Environment Deputies Meeting (EDM) started in 2019 under Japan’s Presidency. EDM and CSWG focus on environment and climate issues which include inter alia resource efficiency, circular economy, ocean health, marine litter, coral reefs, land degradation, biodiversity loss, water resource management, and ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Energy Transitions

Energy has been discussed in the G20 as a critical element for sustainable global economy since 2009. A dedicated Energy Sustainability Working Group was established in 2013 to discuss energy related issues. In 2017, energy was discussed as part of the Climate Sustainability Working Group. During the Argentine Presidency in 2018, the energy issues were de-linked from climate and steered towards discussions on energy transition under the Energy Transition Working Group. The Working Group deliberates on energy security, accessibility and affordability, energy efficiency, renewable energy, innovation, technology and financing.

Health

The Health Working Group was established under the German Presidency in 2017 to enhance dialogue and inform the G20 Leaders on important global health issues. The group works towards creating sustainable well-being societies committed to achieving equitable health for the present and future generations. Issues concerning preparedness of health systems for health emergencies, One Health approach, Digital Health, Universal Health Coverage, Compliance with International Health Regulations, Sustainable Financing, etc. are discussed.

Trade and Investment

The Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) was established in 2016. It focuses on subjects including strengthening the G20 trade and investment mechanism, promoting global trade growth, supporting the multilateral trading system, promoting global investment policy cooperation and coordination, and promoting inclusive and coordinated global value chains.

Tourism

Since its inception in 2020, the Tourism Working Group has brought together the member countries and relevant stakeholders to discuss, deliberate and guide the course of action for further development of local and global tourism, as also mitigating common challenges faced by the sector including the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the sector’s key role in global economy and its progress towards achieving Agenda 2030, making tourism more sustainable and boosting its resilience has been the Working Group’s primary focus in recent times.

The G20 Agriculture Deputies Group was created during the French Presidency in 2011 to deal with volatility in global food prices. It has since become an important forum to enhance cooperation among the G20 members on agriculture related issues critical for achieving UN 2030 agenda, especially the goal of zero hunger (SDG 2). The working group facilitates information exchange and cooperation on a range of global issues such as food security, nutrition, antimicrobial resistance, food waste and loss, sustainability, and resilient and inclusive food value chains.

The G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) was established in 2010. The Anti-Corruption Working Group reports to the G20 Leaders on anti-corruption issues and aims to establish minimum common standards among the legal systems of the G20 countries, in order to combat corruption. It focuses on public and private sector integrity and transparency, bribery, international cooperation, asset recovery, beneficial ownership transparency, vulnerable sectors and capacity-building.

The G20 Culture Ministers met for the first time in 2020 and highlighted culture’s cross-cutting contribution to advancing G20 agenda. Recognizing the synergies between culture and other policy areas, and considering the impact of culture, cultural heritage and the creative economy on the economic, social and environmental dimensions of development, culture was integrated into the G20 agenda as a Culture Working Group in 2021. The group aims to strengthen international cooperation and collaboration to support cultural and creative industries.

The Working Group organised a series of four Global Thematic Webinars between March and April 2023 to harness the four priorities set forth by India through shared expertise and best practices to firmly position culture as an engine for propelling inclusive sustainable socio-economic recovery and development. These were organized by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, hosted and facilitated by UNESCO, as the knowledge partner. For webinar registration.
For more details about the webinars.

The Digital Economy Working Group, established in 2021, offers inspiration and broad guidance to policy makers on harnessing the digital potential of economies. The Working Group aims at digital transformation to enhance public participation and realize inclusive social and economic growth.

G20 countries have a high level of exposure to disaster risk, with a combined estimated Annual Average Loss of $218 billion or 9% of their average annual investment in infrastructure. G20 Leaders’ declarations have from time to time acknowledged the importance of disaster risk reduction and resilience. However, the issue has not been addressed by the G20 in a comprehensive and sustained manner. A new working group on Disaster Risk Reduction has therefore been established under India's Presidency to encourage collective work by the G20, undertake multi-disciplinary research and exchange best practices on disaster risk reduction.

Development Working Group (DWG) has been acting as the custodian of G20 ‘development agenda’ since its inception in 2010. After the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goals in 2015, DWG has played an important role in supporting Sherpas in both driving the G20 Sustainable Development agenda and in working with other workstreams to better understand the sustainable development intersections of G20 actions with efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda.

The Education Working Group (EdWG) was established in 2018 during Argentina’s Presidency. EdWG focuses on strengthening learning outcomes and equitable access through technological tools, digitalization, universal quality education, financing, partnerships for education and international cooperation. EdWG also collaborates with Employment and other WGs to address cross cutting issues like skill development and school-to-work transition.

The Employment Working Group (EWG) started as the G20 Taskforce on Employment – set up in 2011 under the French Presidency – which was raised to Working Group level following the Leaders’ Declaration under the Australian Presidency in 2014. The first meeting of EWG took place under the Turkish Presidency in 2015. The EWG discusses labour, employment and social issues to further develop strong, sustainable, balanced, inclusive and job-rich growth.

The Climate Sustainability Working Group (CSWG) was established during the Argentine Presidency in 2018, while the Environment Deputies Meeting (EDM) started in 2019 under Japan’s Presidency. EDM and CSWG focus on environment and climate issues which include inter alia resource efficiency, circular economy, ocean health, marine litter, coral reefs, land degradation, biodiversity loss, water resource management, and ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Energy has been discussed in the G20 as a critical element for sustainable global economy since 2009. A dedicated Energy Sustainability Working Group was established in 2013 to discuss energy related issues. In 2017, energy was discussed as part of the Climate Sustainability Working Group. During the Argentine Presidency in 2018, the energy issues were de-linked from climate and steered towards discussions on energy transition under the Energy Transition Working Group. The Working Group deliberates on energy security, accessibility and affordability, energy efficiency, renewable energy, innovation, technology and financing.

The Health Working Group was established under the German Presidency in 2017 to enhance dialogue and inform the G20 Leaders on important global health issues. The group works towards creating sustainable well-being societies committed to achieving equitable health for the present and future generations. Issues concerning preparedness of health systems for health emergencies, One Health approach, Digital Health, Universal Health Coverage, Compliance with International Health Regulations, Sustainable Financing, etc. are discussed.

The Trade and Investment Working Group (TIWG) was established in 2016. It focuses on subjects including strengthening the G20 trade and investment mechanism, promoting global trade growth, supporting the multilateral trading system, promoting global investment policy cooperation and coordination, and promoting inclusive and coordinated global value chains.

Since its inception in 2020, the Tourism Working Group has brought together the member countries and relevant stakeholders to discuss, deliberate and guide the course of action for further development of local and global tourism, as also mitigating common challenges faced by the sector including the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the sector’s key role in global economy and its progress towards achieving Agenda 2030, making tourism more sustainable and boosting its resilience has been the Working Group’s primary focus in recent times.

Initiatives

Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG)

Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) aims to enhance, intensify, and strengthen research and innovation collaboration among the G20 member countries. RIIG is furthering the work of the Academic Forum held during the Italian Presidency in 2021, by bringing together science, technology and innovation experts of the G20 member countries.

Space Economy Leaders Meeting (SELM)

SELM, a forum under G20, encourages discussions on the ever increasing contribution of Space activities and partnerships in the growth of the global economy, while ensuring sustainability of the outer space.

G20 Empower

The G20 Alliance for the Empowerment and Progression of Women’s Economic Representation (G20 EMPOWER) was launched during the G20 Osaka Summit in 2019. It aims to accelerate women’s leadership and empowerment in the private sector by leveraging its unique alliance among business leaders and governments across the G20 countries.

G20 Chief Scientific Advisors Roundtable (CSAR)

The G20-CSAR is a new initiative launched during India's ongoing Presidency of the G20. G20-CSAR will bring together the Chief Scientific advisors of the G20 Heads of state/Government with the objective of creating an effective institutional arrangement/platform to discuss global S&T policy issues, which can subsequently evolve into an effective and coherent global science advice mechanism. Furthermore, G20-CASR aims to come up with solutions to some of the issues faced by the global S&T ecosystem. The priority areas of CSAR during India’s G20 Presidency include “One Health” and facilitating shared scientific infrastructure for global good and collaboration in emerging and futuristic technologies & evolving standards. The first meeting of G20 CSAR was at Ramnagar, located in the Kumaon region of the state of Uttarakhand from 28-30th March 2023.

Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS)

Transforming agriculture through research and innovation for providing adequate and nutritious food to all, minimising food waste and loss, boosting digital and precision technology and access to data to the farmers, combating the transboundary pests and diseases, encouraging investment in agricultural research & innovations for sustainably enhancing agricultural productivity while protecting the biodiversity and local food systems in the realm of climate change and diversification in agri-food value chain is essentially required.

The challenges are much formidable than ever before. An innovative and collective effort is required to address such formidable challenges. Hence, in 2011 the G20 Member States decided to address the diverse global challenges in agriculture affecting the people and planet through join agricultural research and innovation strategies as well as implementation of initiatives under new cooperation formats.

Research and Innovation Initiative Gathering (RIIG) aims to enhance, intensify, and strengthen research and innovation collaboration among the G20 member countries. RIIG is furthering the work of the Academic Forum held during the Italian Presidency in 2021, by bringing together science, technology and innovation experts of the G20 member countries.

SELM, a forum under G20, encourages discussions on the ever increasing contribution of Space activities and partnerships in the growth of the global economy, while ensuring sustainability of the outer space.

The G20 Alliance for the Empowerment and Progression of Women’s Economic Representation (G20 EMPOWER) was launched during the G20 Osaka Summit in 2019. It aims to accelerate women’s leadership and empowerment in the private sector by leveraging its unique alliance among business leaders and governments across the G20 countries.

The G20-CSAR is a new initiative launched during India's ongoing Presidency of the G20. G20-CSAR will bring together the Chief Scientific advisors of the G20 Heads of state/Government with the objective of creating an effective institutional arrangement/platform to discuss global S&T policy issues, which can subsequently evolve into an effective and coherent global science advice mechanism. Furthermore, G20-CASR aims to come up with solutions to some of the issues faced by the global S&T ecosystem. The priority areas of CSAR during India’s G20 Presidency include “One Health” and facilitating shared scientific infrastructure for global good and collaboration in emerging and futuristic technologies & evolving standards. The first meeting of G20 CSAR was at Ramnagar, located in the Kumaon region of the state of Uttarakhand from 28-30th March 2023.

Transforming agriculture through research and innovation for providing adequate and nutritious food to all, minimising food waste and loss, boosting digital and precision technology and access to data to the farmers, combating the transboundary pests and diseases, encouraging investment in agricultural research & innovations for sustainably enhancing agricultural productivity while protecting the biodiversity and local food systems in the realm of climate change and diversification in agri-food value chain is essentially required.

The challenges are much formidable than ever before. An innovative and collective effort is required to address such formidable challenges. Hence, in 2011 the G20 Member States decided to address the diverse global challenges in agriculture affecting the people and planet through join agricultural research and innovation strategies as well as implementation of initiatives under new cooperation formats.

Conferences

G20 Conference on “Crime and Security in the age of NFTs, AI and Metaverse"

G20 Conference on “Crime and Security in the age of NFTs, AI and Metaverse” during India’s Presidency of G20 is being organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on 13-14 July 2023 at Gurugram, Haryana. The Conference will bring together G20 countries, invitee/guest countries, international bodies and institutions, apart from technology leaders and Subject Matter Experts from around the world for deliberation and discussions around the crime and security implication of new and emerging technologies.

G20 Conference on “Crime and Security in the age of NFTs, AI and Metaverse” during India’s Presidency of G20 is being organized by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on 13-14 July 2023 at Gurugram, Haryana. The Conference will bring together G20 countries, invitee/guest countries, international bodies and institutions, apart from technology leaders and Subject Matter Experts from around the world for deliberation and discussions around the crime and security implication of new and emerging technologies.