One priority is the Sustainable Development Goals and the need for their localisation”
At the summits in Indonesia in 2022 and India in 2023, what was South Africa’s approach to the debate over Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine? South Africa argued that the Russian invasion should not become the overpowering issue or obstacle on the G20 agenda. Yes, it is a challenge the global community faces and a violation of the United Nations Charter, but there are many other challenges, such as climate change, debt and financing for development. And, yes, it is divisive. South Africa worked closely with the Indonesian and Indian presidencies, and now with Brazil’s, to find language that would allow a joint declaration at the summits’ end. What are South Africa’s priorities for the Rio Summit? One priority is the Sustainable Development Goals and the need for their localisation. With just six years remaining until 2030, the target year for their achievement, it is crucial that they be implemented at the local level. Other important issues, which South Africa will also take forward in 2025, include advancing the just transition and, in terms of finance, reforming the international financial institutions, scaling up lending by multilateral development banks, and making the Common Framework on debt work for African countries. Climate change is particularly important for us and for Africa, including making our Just Energy Transition Partnership deliver at the necessary scale. These climate
discussions will help shape next year’s UN climate conference hosted by Brazil. Another priority is inequality and working with the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. Gender has always been a very important dimension of South Africa’s engagement in multiple forums. Food security is a priority that the AU has identified as one of its G20 priorities, which South Africa supports. Race, discrimination and vulnerable groups are also very important. What do you expect South Africa’s approach will be for its G20 presidency in 2025? The overarching theme for South Africa’s presidency is ‘Fostering Solidarity, Equality and Sustainable Development’. It has been engaging in informal discussions with the Brazilians about the transition. A shared priority is re-energising the SDG agenda so those global goals can make an impact on the ground. Another is facilitating financing for development and using the G20 to support Brazil as host of the 30th session of the climate Conference of the Parties. With the 2025 International Conference on Financing for Development taking place mid-year in Spain, South Africa will seek to build consensus. Other possibilities are building on the inequality agenda and the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, discrimination, and the Bioeconomy Initiative. Another priority is to make the G20 not just an elite government-to-government forum, but one that is meaningful and important for ordinary people.
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2024 — G20 BRAZIL: THE RIO SUMMIT
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