South Africa's G20 Moment: Leading a Justice-Driven Energy Transition through Critical Minerals

African Civil Society Organisations are calling on the South African G20 Presidency to lead a justice-driven energy transition by prioritizing value-addition and beneficiation of critical minerals within the Global South. The group advocates for people-centred governance, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), transformed industrial financing, and the establishment of a Global Critical Energy Transition Minerals Skills Compact to ensure that the transition addresses inequality and energy poverty in Africa.

• African Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have submitted a letter to the South African G20 Presidency demanding a just energy transition. They advocate for the support of the African Green Minerals Strategy to increase processing and manufacturing capacities, reduce reliance on raw material exports, and utilize the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to prevent Global South nations from remaining at the bottom of the value chain.
• The CSOs propose a people-centred governance approach for mineral extraction and processing. This includes the implementation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), Community Benefit Agreements, and improved protections for formal and artisanal labour. Lauren Nel of Natural Justice argues that mining should only occur when recycling or reuse of materials is not possible.
• To achieve equitable global green industrialization, the document calls for a transformation of technology transfer and global industrial financing mechanisms. Specifically, it suggests that G20 discussions address the financing of value chains for fertilizers, steel, aluminium, and batteries to help lift 650 million Africans out of energy poverty through public investment in utility battery storage, transportation, and agricultural inputs.
• The statement suggests that South Africa use its G20 presidency to advocate for global accountability and industrial development. Proposed measures include mandatory disclosure of mining payments, the creation of a G20 innovation fund for green mineral value chains, the use of concessional finance, and the establishment of a Global Critical Energy Transition Minerals Skills Compact focusing on youth and women.

APA

Martens, C. (2025). South Africa's G20 Moment: Leading a Justice-Driven Energy Transition through Critical Minerals. Natural Justice. https://naturaljustice.org/south-africas-g20-moment-leading-a-justice-driven-energy-transition-through-critical-minerals/

Chicago

Martens, Claire. South Africa's G20 Moment: Leading a Justice-Driven Energy Transition through Critical Minerals. Natural Justice, 2025. https://naturaljustice.org/south-africas-g20-moment-leading-a-justice-driven-energy-transition-through-critical-minerals/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Martens |first1=Claire |title=South Africa's G20 Moment: Leading a Justice-Driven Energy Transition through Critical Minerals |publisher=Natural Justice |date=26 June 2025 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/south-africas-g20-moment-leading-a-justice-driven-energy-transition-through-critical-minerals/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{martens2025south, author = {Martens, Claire}, title = {{South Africa's G20 Moment: Leading a Justice-Driven Energy Transition through Critical Minerals}}, publisher = {Natural Justice}, year = {2025}, month = jun, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/south-africas-g20-moment-leading-a-justice-driven-energy-transition-through-critical-minerals/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }