The G20, held this year in Brazil, was the stage for crucial discussions on global challenges, such as energy transition, overcoming inequalities and reforming global governance. The participation of leaders trained by RenovaBR in the event reinforced the commitment to innovative public policies and highlighted the transformative role of international cooperation.

The meeting provided enriching exchanges between global and regional leaders, as highlighted by Bruno Vianna, a RenovaBR alumni. For him, the event was “a unique opportunity to exchange ideas, strengthen partnerships and seek solutions to global challenges”. This interaction demonstrated the potential of collaborative initiatives to address urgent issues.

Energy transition and economic development

Among the topics discussed, energy transition and social inclusion gained prominence, especially in the Urban20 panels, which included the participation of Izabella Vicente, councilor of Macaé (REDE/RJ), trained by RenovaBR. 

She noted that these issues have attracted global attention, reinforcing the need to align economic development with sustainability and social justice. “The discussions have shown that public policies need to be both innovative and fair to ensure a balanced future,” she said.

Optimization of public health

Public health was another relevant point at Urban20, highlighting the importance of using integrated data to save lives. Daniel Soranz, federal deputy, Secretary of Health of Rio de Janeiro and alumni of RenovaBR, shared the experience of the Rio Operations Center. 

“I talked about how we use health data and various sectors of society to create protocols that aim to save the lives of the population. It was a space to discuss perspectives and challenges of the health protection and social equity agenda,” he said.

Education and representation in focus at the G20

Education was one of the highlights of the event, with a special focus on representation and leadership in schools. Renan Ferreirinha, Municipal Secretary of Education of Rio de Janeiro and a RenovaBR alumni, emphasized the impact of educational initiatives on the global stage.

“We have a team of young journalists, made up of students from Rio’s municipal schools, who are interviewing authorities, delegations and world leaders. When a student from a Rio municipal school sees, for example, a prime minister here, or when a student sees a representative from a country that has the same skin color as them, all of this generates a sense of representation, and they begin to consider leadership paths that they had not considered before,” he said.

G20 Impact

The fact that Brazil hosted the G20 added a special meaning to the meeting. Representing the country as the event’s president, Brazil led the construction of an agenda that prioritized issues such as combating hunger and reforming global governance. Maria Antonia Gouveia, a RenovaBR alumni, described the experience as “a dose of hope and joy” and highlighted the importance of investing in leaders prepared to face international challenges. “Witnessing these discussions reinforces the need to believe in better days and work to make them a reality,” she said.

The leading role of cities in the U20 and G20

At U20, cities were highlighted as agents of change, with discussions about the role of locally managed public policies. Marcelo Calero, Municipal Secretary of Culture of Rio de Janeiro and a RenovaBR alumni, highlighted: “At U20, there are several discussions about the role of cities (…), how much the public policies that are created and managed by cities impact our lives. At G20 Social, important discussions for civil society take place, as well as a broad cultural program. This is a very special occasion in which Rio reaffirms its leading role — not only in Brazil, but in the world — as a host city for important global discussions.”

Gabriela Sabino, Executive Secretary of the Parliamentary Front for Urban Centers and alumni of RenovaBR, highlighted the importance of facing the challenges of climate change in urban centers and reinforced the need for strategic collaboration between the Legislative and Executive branches to build more resilient cities: “At U20, we emphasized the urgency of discussing the impact of climate change on urban centers throughout Brazil. As executive secretary of the only parliamentary front in the National Congress on the official agenda of both U20 and G20, I reinforced the importance of aligning the agendas of the Legislative and Executive branches. Building more resilient cities requires the union of efforts between the political, public and private sectors, and meetings like this are essential to strengthen partnerships and accelerate concrete solutions.”

Security and hospitality in Rio during the G20

The event recognized the host city’s public safety infrastructure. Brenno Carnevale, Secretary of Public Order for Rio de Janeiro and a RenovaBR alumni, emphasized the mobilization of the Municipal Guard and the positive impact it has had on the city’s image. “This is a historic moment for Rio, a recognition of the historical importance of our city, our culture and our hospitality. We will have almost a thousand SEOP and Municipal Guard agents on the streets, 24 hours a day, supporting the organization of this event with global impact and ensuring order in the city.”

Demographic transition and the inclusion of elderly people

The demographic transition also gained space in the discussions. Federal deputy Pedro Aihara, president of the Elderly Commission and leader trained by RenovaBR, shared lessons learned about policies aimed at the inclusion of the elderly, inspired by international practices. 

He highlighted that initiatives such as the Open University for the Elderly (UNAT) promote dignity, socialization and intergenerational learning. “Discussing policies based on data and international best practices reinforces our commitment to a technical, democratic and inclusive policy,” he said.

The event highlighted the importance of diplomacy and dialogue in building global solutions. For RenovaBR leaders, the event was more than a space for debate; it was a moment of inspiration to implement innovative, sustainable public policies guided by collective well-being. “The G20 enabled extremely important meetings and discussions at different levels of public policy. The power of dialogue, participation and humanized exchanges became evident during this experience,” highlighted Natalia Braga, parliamentary advisor and RenovaBR alumni.