// EDITORS' INTRODUCTIONS
Prospects for the G20’s Johannesburg Summit
future for the next 20 years. South Africa continues the trend of democratic, emerging powers hosting the G20, as it succeeds Indonesia in 2022, India in 2023 and Brazil in 2024. It is the sixth G20 summit hosted by a member of the BRICS. It precedes the G20 presidency of the United States in 2026, which will launch the second cycle of G20 summitry. It takes place alongside the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Belém, Brazil, to control the existential threat of climate change. The Johannesburg Summit confronts many interconnected global challenges: wars and conflicts, climate change, pandemics, poverty, rising debt levels in poor countries, terrorism, inequality, unemployment – especially among youth – gender, migration, artificial intelligence, growing geopolitical tensions, unilateralism, nationalism, protectionism and isolationism. Under President Cyril Ramaphosa, G20 leaders will seek to lead global governance under the summit’s key themes of ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability’. Its four specific priorities are strengthening disaster resilience and response, ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries, mobilising finance for a just energy transition, and harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and
The Johannesburg Summit marks a milestone moment for Africa and the G20, highlighting the continent’s growing global role and setting the stage for a new era of solidarity, equality and sustainability
T he G20’s 20th regular summit in Johannesburg, South Africa – the continent’s biggest economy and democracy – on 22–23 November 2025, is highly significant. It is the first time an African country has held the G20 presidency, doing so just after the African Union became a full member of the group. Its summit will highlight Africa’s growing global economic and political importance, with some of the world’s fastest-growing economies, and a young, rapidly expanding population embracing technology and innovation. It will also emphasise that Africa suffers from climate change, widespread poverty and high debt, requiring African voices to
John Kirton, director, G20 Research Group
be better heard on the key issues of sustainable growth, the digital economy and green industrialisation. It takes place during the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, at the start of the last five years to reach the struggling Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. As the 20th summit since the start in November 2008, Johannesburg marks the 20th anniversary of G20 summitry, where leaders will receive their G20@20 report that assesses their achievements and working methods and charts the G20’s
38 // G20 SOUTH AFRICA: THE JOHANNESBURG SUMMIT 2025
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