The G20 Summit continues its quest to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The G20 Summit continues its quest to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In the past few days, Johannesburg topped the international scene by hosting theG20 Summit, where the major countries of the world gathered; In order to discuss ways to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This year’s summit had an exceptional character. Because of the economic and geopolitical challenges, and because it is an opportunity to redraw the priorities of international cooperation and advance growth in developing countries.

The G20 summit and its goals

The G20 Summit is an international forum founded in 1989 that brings together 19 countries, in addition to the European Union, and aims to enhance international financial stability and discuss economic policies.

The countries participating in the summit represent about 85% of global gross domestic production and 75% of international trade. This makes it a major summit to discuss global issues. Among its most prominent members: Argentina, China, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United States of America.

Johannesburg takes the lead

The G20 Summit was held this year between the 22nd and 23rd of this month amid a geopolitical storm, with the participating countries insisting on completing the process of development and growth, overcoming the ongoing economic and financial challenges, and even pushing the wheel of growth for poor countries to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The G20 summit focused on three main axes: She is:

Solidarity: Strengthening multilateral cooperation and addressing global inequalities.Equality: Supporting shared prosperity and reducing the gap between rich and poor countries.Sustainability: Confronting climate change and advancing sustainable development and green transformation.

Key Issues

As for the main topics discussed by the G20 countries, they were as follows:

التعافي الاقتصادي

As the world heads toward economic recovery after the Corona pandemic, the issue of inflation remains a source of great concern for most countries. Therefore, the G20 countries discussed policies to stabilize markets, control high interest rates, and support emerging economies most vulnerable to debt distress. In order to achieve comprehensive sustainable development consistent with global visions.

Climate Action

With the end of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development approaching, the topic of accelerating the transition towards clean energy was of great importance at this year’s G20 summit.
In addition to some related topics, such as:

• Green Finance Initiatives.
• Gradually eliminating dependence on fossil fuels.
• Promoting carbon markets and clean technologies.
• Protecting biodiversity.
• Governance of artificial intelligence and digital transformation.

Main Challenges

Discussions of countries at the G20 Summit revealed that the climate financing file is still one of the most divisive files. While developing countries demand the provision of about a trillion dollars annually – in order to support the green transition – rich countries are slow in fulfilling their previous pledges. Therefore, African negotiators pushed towards setting clear timetables and binding commitments, instead of being satisfied with vague promises.

America refuses to attend the summit

Another challenge is that US President Donald Trump denounced South Africa’s presidency of the G20, and announced that he would not attend that summit, based on allegations related to the discrimination of white farmers in the country. For his part, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that he told Trump that the information related to the alleged persecution of whites was completely incorrect, but this news dominated the discussions of the G20 summit.

Despite these challenges that cast a shadow on the G20 summit, there was cautious optimism about the possibility of achieving tangible progress at the Johannesburg summit, as South Africa’s leadership emphasized a practical approach rather than symbolic rhetoric, and focused on achieving actual results rather than being satisfied with symbolic gestures.

Results and recommendations

At the end of the G20 summit, world leaders approved a declaration on ways to deal with climate change, and the leaders also stated that they would seek to protect the global value chain of vital minerals from any disruption, whether it was caused by geopolitical tensions, unilateral trade measures that do not comply with the rules of the World Trade Organization, or natural disasters.

Just and lasting peace

The declaration touched on major global conflicts, calling for the achievement of a “just, comprehensive and lasting peace” in all countries of the world, based on the United Nations Charter, and then called on countries to refrain from threatening or using force against the unity, territorial integrity or political independence of any country.

Combat discrimination and inequality

South Africa also placed the fight against discrimination and inequality among its main priorities during the presidency of the G20 summit, as President Cyril Ramaphosa directed the preparation of an expert report on the problem, and called for the establishment of an international committee to review disparities in wealth.

Climate

The Climate Declaration was also adopted, which called for a rapid and significant increase in climate financing, before the final declaration issued by the G20 summit pointed to inequality in access to energy, especially in Africa. It also called for increasing investments in the transition to renewable energy, and diversifying sources of financing.

Amid these events that are ravaging the region,Earth Defenders Foundation sees that the G20 in 2025 in Johannesburg was a historic opportunity for Africa; An opportunity that redefined the continent’s relations with global economies, and also re-introduced the world to the capabilities of the African continent.