Ramaphosa opens historic G20 Summit with call for climate action and economic solidarity
South Africa Hosts First-Ever African G20 Summit: Ramaphosa Urges Climate Finance Reform
Image: English Itumeleng
In a landmark address opening the first-ever G20 Leaders Summit on African soil, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a clarion call for global economic solidarity and urgent climate action, emphasising the intertwined futures of financial stability and environmental sustainability.
Standing at the Cradle of Humankind on Saturday, President Ramaphosa underscored the gravity of South Africa’s stewardship of the G20, highlighting its evolution from a forum focused on macroeconomic issues to a comprehensive platform tackling trade, sustainable development, energy, and climate change.
“Our theme of ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’ reflects the imperative to build an inclusive global economy that leaves no one behind,” Ramaphosa said.
He stressed that economic disparities - whether by wealth, gender, race, or geography - are “not only unjust and unsustainable. They are also one of the greatest impediments to sustainable growth.”
He positioned economic inclusivity as vital for global development, drawing attention to the priorities set during South Africa’s year-long presidency.
Among them was scaling up climate finance to enable developing countries to undertake a just energy transition, acknowledging both the moral and pragmatic necessity of accelerating actions against global warming.
“Climate-induced natural disasters hit hardest where recovery costs cannot be borne, disproportionately affecting low-income countries,” Ramaphosa noted.
“It is essential for the global community, international financial institutions, development banks, and the private sector to scale up post-disaster reconstruction.”
The President also emphasised debt sustainability, particularly for African nations, calling for renewed efforts to ease financial burdens that hamper climate resilience and growth prospects.
This aligns with broader calls from the G20 Africa Expert Panel, which advocates unlocking long-term, affordable finance to spur productive investments on the continent.
Central to the speech was the recognition that sustainable development and economic growth are inseparable from climate responsibility.
Ramaphosa reaffirmed the commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), stressing that meeting these targets by 2030 requires accelerated global cooperation.
The summit’s declaration, he said, “sends a message of hope and solidarity,” reaffirming the G20’s role as a multilateral vehicle capable of delivering real progress on economic equality and climate stewardship.
As the world watches this historic summit unfold in Johannesburg, President Ramaphosa’s words resonate as a potent reminder: economic recovery and climate action must advance hand in hand to secure a stable and sustainable future for all.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
IOL Politics