G20 and Investment The G20 is promoting a new investment paradigm for itself and inviting the world to follow suit. What are the stated G20 goals and commitments in relation to this topic? What does “investment” mean? What is the progress so far and what are the challenges in relation to this topic? What is the desired future direction of the G20 with respect to the topic? By Motoko Aizawa
Infrastructure investment and Public Private Partnerships The scale of the infrastructure and PPP initiative championed by the G20’s national and multilateral banks could privatize gains and socialize losses on a massive scale. The G20 should take steps to ensure that this scenario does not unfold. By Nancy Alexander
Macedonia: a captured society The hostile environment created by the government makes the work of civil society actors practically impossible. To be a human rights activist in Macedonia is to be a person that is constantly threatened, attacked, and demonized. By Xhabir Deralla
G20 and Trade Trade has contributed to inequalities in many countries. Therefore the G20 should ensure that its trade agenda does not conflict with that of the WTO or the United Nations. Many processes need to be revised to reduce so inequalities can be reduced. By Motoko Aizawa
The Solar System of G20: Engagement Groups Seven “Engagement Groups” circle around the G20 and attempt to influence its decisions. However, their relative power to influence outcomes differs greatly. By Nancy Alexander and Dr. Heike Löschmann
Commitments on Global Health The Ebola crisis prooved, that the G20 aims to ensure infectious agents to not cross borders rather than acting in disease prevention. This is why there is a serious concern that public health needs of poorer countries will be ignored. By Marwin Meier and Birthe Redepenning
“Live as you wish, but make sure other people do not know” Discrimination in the healthcare system, exclusion from society, limited job opportunities - in South Caucasus LGBTI persons are still victim of discrimination and violation. An owerview of Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. By Edita Badasyan
The Marrakesh Climate Negotiations – a Mirror of a Divided World and Silent Europe Compared to COP21 where the EU had a decisive bridge-building role between developed and developing countries in leading a strong climate coalition, in Marrakesh Europe appeared silent and divided. By Dr. Radostina Primova, Damjan Bogunovic and Oksana Aliyeva
The Italian constitutional referendum: a victory for democracy and civil society Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi decided to stake everything on the referendum: his personal credibility and his political legitimacy. His failure leads us to the question what kind of change Renzi was actually representing. By Armanda Cetrulo
Geoengineering is not the only answer Parties to the CBD need to send a strong message to their climate counterparts to find real solutions that work for ecosystems and people instead of offering quick technofixes. By Lili Fuhr