Pretoria: Climate change is no longer a future problem-it’s happening now and having dramatic impacts, especially on vulnerable countries, including those in Africa. Climate action is necessary on all fronts, encompassing ambitious mitigation to reduce impacts, adaptation to cope with impacts and build long-term resilience, and measures to address loss and damage where impacts cannot be avoided.
According to South African Government News Agency, these initiatives require financing structured in a way that developing countries can afford, alongside enhanced international cooperation. This cooperation is crucial to address climate mitigation and impacts and to progress in meeting sustainable development goals. South Africa is aligning its domestic actions with international priorities to drive real outcomes under its 2025 G20 Presidency, with a focus on unlocking climate finance. Between 2031 and 2050, global climate financing needs are expected to exceed US$10 trillion. Despite this, developing nations with the lowest emissions often have the least access to necessary post-disaster recovery funding and climate finance for long-term transformation.
During South Africa’s G20 presidency, the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group (SFWG) and the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) are spearheading efforts to address climate change and sustainable development challenges. It is critical to address the linkages between the work of these two groups. The ECSWG aims to strengthen the implementation of multilateral agreements on sustainable development and the environment, focusing on six priorities: biodiversity and conservation, land degradation and drought, chemicals and waste, climate change, air quality, and oceans and coasts.
One of the key priorities is ensuring that transitions are just, focusing on people, communities, and economic development. The urgency of scaled, targeted support for developing nations, particularly for adaptation, loss and damage, and capacity development, is paramount. Efforts must reflect the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, acknowledging each country’s unique circumstances and capabilities. The G20 offers a global platform to fast-track action, informed by the results of the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement.
As South Africa leads, it is committed to ensuring developing nations can achieve whole-of-society and economy-wide transitions with access to finance, technology, and skills. Climate change is a threat multiplier, but it also presents an opportunity to build fairer, stronger, more resilient societies and address critical sustainable development challenges. If global action is taken together, both the climate crisis and sustainable development goals can be tackled. There has never been a more crucial time to act.