The Group of Twenty
Critical minerals, policy, and the energy transition
Facilitating market development across the G20
he Group of Twenty (G20) is an intergovernmental forum consisting of 19 of the world's largest economies and the European Union. Its members include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Established to address global economic challenges, the G20 focuses on promoting international cooperation, financial stability, and sustainable development. The G20's agenda spans a wide range of critical issues, including economic policy coordination, trade, climate change, global health, and security. By fostering dialogue among its members, the G20 aims to build consensus on policies that drive sustainable economic growth and development. Additionally, the G20 engages with non-member countries and international organisations to collaboratively address global challenges. In recent years, the G20 has prioritised contemporary issues such as digital transformation, pandemic response, and environmental sustainability. Significantly, the G20 plays a pivotal role in the energy transition, advocating for a shift to renewable energy sources, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting energy efficiency to combat climate change. Through its annual summits and ongoing discussions, the G20 continues to shape global policies, supporting a more interconnected, resilient, and sustainable world economy.
Formed in 1999 in response to financial crises in the late 1990s, the Group of 20 (G20) is an influential coalition of major advanced and emerging market economies. Its foundational goals include enhancing policy coordination among its members, fostering global financial stability, and modernizing the international financial architecture.
Prior to the 2008 global financial crisis, the G20's finance ministers and central bank governors met regularly to deliberate on international monetary policies, reform financial institutions, and tackle development challenges. The severity of the crisis highlighted the need for such an international forum, leading to the first G20 Leaders' Summit in November 2008. Through subsequent summits in 2009, the G20 increasingly addressed broader global economic issues, eventually being designated as the premier forum for international economic cooperation at the Pittsburgh Summit.
More recently, the G20 has begun integrating energy transition into its agenda, reflecting the growing recognition of sustainable development as integral to global economic stability. This includes discussions on how economies can transition to sustainable energy sources while maintaining financial and economic stability. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) supports the G20 by providing analytical insights that help shape these discussions. Although decisions made at G20 meetings are not legally binding, they are highly influential and often inform policy decisions within the IMF and among member countries.
The membership of the G20 includes leaders, finance ministers, and central bank governors from the G7 nations, twelve additional key countries, and the European Union, represented by the European Central Bank and the rotating Council Presidency. Prominent international figures, such as the IMF’s Managing Director, the President of the World Bank, and the chairs of the International Monetary and Financial Committee and the Development Committee, also participate in G20 meetings. Brazil is set to take over as Chair from India in 2024. This leadership rotation emphasizes the G20’s global approach and its role in addressing both traditional and emergent global economic challenges, including those related to the energy transition.
Meet the Critical Minerals team
Trusted advice from a dedicated team of experts.
Henk de Hoop
Chief Executive Officer
Beresford Clarke
Managing Director: Technical & Research
Jamie Underwood
Principal Consultant
Ismet Soyocak
ESG & Critical Minerals Lead
Rj Coetzee
Senior Market Analyst: Battery Materials and Technologies
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