In recent days the G20 is celebrated in the capital of Italy by the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Scotland. At the center of attention are various topics, which are intertwined: environment, sustainable economy, fight against epidemics, aid to poor countries, protection of human rights, migration, international relations and security. The leaders of nations are said to have a multilateral vision, a propensity to defend creation and the ability to “walk together”.

Of course, there is a red thread that connects Rome to Glasgow, the G20 with the Cop26. And it is no coincidence that events on the calendar follow each other. Because the two appointments, participants and stated purposes for different mixed, show common characteristics. The first of which is multilateralism, properly defined by Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi as “the best answer to the problem we see today. In many ways the only possible answer”.

An essential element is exactly this: having a global political and economic vision that seeks to solve the complexity of problems, their intersectional, providing credible and genuinely viable answers.

Be it a sustainable economy, response to climate change, taxation and the international financial system, the fight against this and the next pandemics, development of backward countries, migration, the fight against terrorism, building irreversible peace in regions suffering on earth, human rights respect and gender equality in every corner of the earth.
The final G20 document focused on several of these points. Starting with a commitment to limit global warming (Paris ratifies agreement, keeps global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius, continues efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees, but without indicating an exact date) Global minimization tax up to $100 billion a year in favor of poor nations. Now the ball goes to the United Nations conference in Scotland, which, while focusing specifically on environmental issues, will inevitably have to take into account all these other aspects: acting on different fronts is indeed a prerequisite, and a guarantee. Is. Successful productions step by step over time, involving political, economic and social actors.
In this sense, it is necessary to correct the doubts shown by the young Greta Thunberg, according to which a real change on the climate front – if anything – will come not from “top” political decisions, but only from actions of integral ecology (expression Pope Bergoglio) originated “from below” in daily life. A change in the cultural paradigm and “eco-friendly” lifestyle is definitely needed, as the youth of Friday for Future teach us; But strategic decisions and actions are equally important, starting with institutional leaders, be it heads of state and government, parliament, regional and local administrators. Those elected by citizens (at least in democratic countries) must answer about their commitment to a planet that is habitable today and for generations to come.
At this point it is probably worth pointing out two other features that great meetings like the G20 and Cop26 must attend in order to reach truly ambitious agreements, and then the results.In addition to multilateralism (the denial of nationalism and populism, which runs through a large part of world politics, including Italy), we need intelligent, that is, achievable environmentalism, and – pass the expression “borrowed” from the religious level. – Religious meeting.The latter, in fact, requires us to walk together, to listen (to the people, to the wounds of the earth and to the people, to mutual requests…) and to consider at the community level before making decisions.
Some signals have been launched in Rome. Now can the synodal style be expected to apply in Glasgow?