Those hoping for a selfie at the Trevi Fountain today should come back later. The fountain is one of the places in Rome under high security for the G20, the informal summit this weekend where many of the world’s most powerful heads of government meet in person for the first time since the corona outbreak.
Those in attendance include US President Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Bolsonaro. Because the Netherlands has been invited as a guest at the G20 this year, Prime Minister Rutte can also join the select group. Russian President Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping attend the conference via an online connection.
Focus on climate
The program of the ‘greats of the earth’ includes various themes, including the provision of vaccines for developing countries and the recovery of the world economy. As part of this, Queen Máxima will give a short speech this afternoon about how small and medium-sized enterprises worldwide can become more financially resilient. She does so as a special advocate on behalf of the UN.
Perhaps the most important theme of the summit is tackling climate change. The G20 takes place on the eve of the much-anticipated COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, where world leaders must make decisions about combating global warming. The G20 countries are responsible not only for 80 percent of the global economy, but also for about 80 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Although the G20 is actually an informal meeting, Italian Prime Minister Draghi has made it clear in advance that he still hopes for concrete commitments. “The G20 has pledged to work to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050,” Draghi recalled last month.
Draghi is in the spotlight
It is interesting from a political point of view that Draghi presides over the summit. The former president of the European Central Bank is an experienced administrator and is highly regarded in his own country with his steadfast approach to the corona crisis.
The Italian is also increasingly putting himself in the spotlight in an EU context. After Angela Merkel’s departure, and given Emmanuel Macron’s focus on the election campaign at home, several international media outlets labeled Draghi as a potential new informal leader of the Union.
Draghi has taken on that leadership role several times since the start of his premiership in February. In September, for example, he initiated a global consultation on the situation in Afghanistan after the Taliban had taken power there. Because the climate crisis is an important theme for Draghi, he is expected to do everything he can to, for example, persuade Chinese President Xi to make ambitious commitments.
Impregnable Fortress
Following the summit, the security services in Italy are on high alert. Border controls have been tightened and airspace over Rome is closed. In the center of the city, where the delegations stay in various hotels, thousands of extra agents are on the move. Several metro stops are closed.
The EUR district, where government leaders meet, has been transformed into an impregnable fortress. In a ‘safety zone’ of ten square kilometers only people with special accreditation are allowed. Main roads are closed, officers with explosive dogs are patrolling and snipers are on the roofs in strategic places.
Several groups have announced demonstrations over the weekend. Youth climate movement Fridays for Future, the Italian trade unions and opponents of the corona pass, among others, want to use the international media attention to make their point.
Two large demonstrations are allowed, but are closely monitored. With 5,000 to 6,000 police officers and 1,500 military personnel deployed in the city, the Italian government does not want to leave anything to chance.
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