G20: a platform where world powers still talk to each other about sustainable development

The 2025 G20 presidency under South Africa served as a symbolic platform for African priorities, including debt sustainability and just energy transition, but faced significant challenges due to the absence of the US and a general lack of collective ambition on climate change. While the presidency successfully advanced discussions on critical minerals and disaster resilience, the Final Communiqué failed to mention transitioning away from fossil fuels, reflecting a broader trend of G20 paralysis on environmental leadership.

• The G20 is experiencing a period of paralysis and diminished leadership on climate change, with major emitters failing to coordinate efforts or meet expectations regarding their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). As of 5 November 2025, NDCs were still missing for Argentina, India, and Korea.
• South Africa's 2025 G20 presidency was the first held in Africa and the first to include representation from the African Union (AU). It focused on an African agenda encompassing food security, illicit financial flows, debt, inequalities, digital catching-up, and a just energy transition.
• Environmental outcomes from the South African presidency were limited; the Final Communiqué omitted any mention of transitioning away from fossil fuels, although it did reiterate targets for doubling energy efficiency and tripling renewable energy.
• The South African presidency advanced specific frameworks for sustainable industrial policy and critical minerals to support green and digital transitions, while also prioritizing natural disaster risk management and resilience building.
• The G20's capacity for action is currently threatened by internal struggles and geopolitical friction, exemplified by the US decision not to attend the summit and the potential for a 'lost year' regarding environment and sustainable finance issues under subsequent leadership.

APA

Kauffmann, C. (2025). G20: a platform where world powers still talk to each other about sustainable development. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/research/g20-a-platform-where-world-powers-still-talk-to-each-other-about-sustainable-development/

Chicago

Kauffmann, Céline. G20: a platform where world powers still talk to each other about sustainable development. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2025. https://saiia.org.za/research/g20-a-platform-where-world-powers-still-talk-to-each-other-about-sustainable-development/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kauffmann |first1=Céline |title=G20: a platform where world powers still talk to each other about sustainable development |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=8 December 2025 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/g20-a-platform-where-world-powers-still-talk-to-each-other-about-sustainable-development/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kauffmann2025g20, author = {Kauffmann, Céline}, title = {{G20: a platform where world powers still talk to each other about sustainable development}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2025}, month = dec, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/g20-a-platform-where-world-powers-still-talk-to-each-other-about-sustainable-development/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }