As South Africa’s official G20 Presidency commences, it’s fitting from a climate justice perspective that The International Court of Justice began it's public hearings on a request for an advisory opinion on the Obligations of States in respect to Climate Change.
Climate change will be an important point of discussion throughout the G20, not least because of the urgent need to reach US$1.3tr per year in climate finance, via the so-called roadmap from Baku to Belém. But it’s also important because South Africa's stated themes of solidarity, equality and sustainability cannot be effectively addressed without addressing climate change.
Focal areas
President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed the focal areas for South Africa's G20 presidency in his speech on 3 December 2024.
As home to more than two thirds of the world’s population, responsible for 80% of emissions and in control of 85% of global GDP, leadership on climate change by the countries that make up the G20 is essential.
Amplifying voices
As a think tank based in South Africa, we are dedicating a lot of our resources to encouraging this leadership, particularly in the areas of sustainable finance and sovereign debt.
Magalie and Malango spoke during a one-day training session to the media on the G20. Other speakers included Trudi Makhaya, a member of President Ramaphosa’s Economic Advisory Council and the country’s former G20 Sherpa.
Magalie in the media
Magalie spoke on several media channels about addressing the debt crisis in developing countries, including an interview on Newzroom Afrika with Tumisang Ndlovu to discuss the G20 agenda and various pressing issues.
Malango at COP29
Malango addressed the UN Secretary General during his high-level event on the stocktake of integrity matters at COP29 in Baku.
Pictured from left to right:
Dr Sabine Mauderer, First Deputy Governor, Deutsche Bundesbank
Simon Steil, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
Catherine McKenna, Chair of the UN Secretary General's High-Level Expert Group on the net zero commitments of non-state entities
António Guterres, United Nations Secretary General
Sandra Ojiambo, Assistant Secretary General, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact (UNGC)
Helena Viñes Fiestas, Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Net Zero Policy and Chair of the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance
Ravi Menon, Singapore Ambassador for Climate Action and former Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore
Amanda Starbuck, Program Director, The Sunrise Project
Andrea Meza Murillo, Co-Chair of the Taskforce on Net Zero Policy and Deputy Executive Secretary to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)
G20 Sustainable Finance report
We welcomed the publication of the 2024 G20 Sustainable Finance report in September which included the Sustainable Finance Working Group’s guidance on advancing credible, robust and just transition plans, on analysing implementation challenges related to sustainability reporting standards including for SMEs and EMEs and on financing nature-based solutions.
This report is directly linked to our work on net zero for businesses, financial institutions, cities and regions. It’s also linked to the South African National Treasury’s commitment to publish transition finance principles for the financial sector.
Looking ahead to ambitious outcomes
We look forward to seeing South Africa demonstrate the necessary ambition during its G20 presidency to ensure that climate change considerations are embedded in the outcomes.
Find more information on South Africa's presidency on the new G20 South Africa website.
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