Following the recent COP30 climate talks in Brazil, global attention shifted to South Africa for the G20 Summit in Johannesburg....
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What the G20 Summit in Johannesburg Delivered
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Kate McCann
- 3 minute read
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Following the recent COP30 climate talks in Brazil, global attention shifted to South Africa for the G20 Summit in Johannesburg. Held on 22–23 November 2025, it was the first time the G20 met on the African continent — helping highlight issues such as climate change, debt, clean energy and economic development from the perspective of the Global South.
The summit was hosted under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, setting the tone for discussions focused on fairer growth and long-term resilience. Much of the conversation centred on ensuring developing nations have a stronger voice in global decision-making, particularly on climate and financial reform.
Key Outcomes and Areas of Focus
One of the most notable outcomes was the adoption of the Leaders’ Declaration at the very start of the summit — an unusual step that signalled a desire to move quickly. The declaration covered a wide range of priorities including climate resilience, energy-transition finance, debt reform and updates to global financial institutions.
Climate discussions focused on increasing funding to help countries manage climate-related risks, expanding renewable energy and supporting communities most affected by climate impacts. Debt transparency and support for lower-income nations also featured heavily, with leaders debating how to strengthen financial systems to prevent future crises.
The political backdrop was more complex. The United States did not participate at the highest level, and several other countries sent lower-level representatives. This shift in attendance highlighted the evolving landscape of global influence, with the centre of gravity moving more noticeably towards the Global South.
Energy, Minerals and Development
Energy transition remained a major talking point throughout the summit. Leaders discussed the growing demand for critical minerals — essential for producing clean-energy technologies — and stressed the importance of keeping supply chains stable and secure. As host, South Africa underscored Africa’s role as a key supplier of these resources and positioned the continent as a partner for investment and infrastructure linked to the global shift toward low-carbon energy.
Development was another core theme. Food security, industrial growth, digital innovation and job creation formed part of the wider conversation around equality and opportunity. South Africa used the summit to highlight how developing nations should be treated as equal partners in shaping global policy, rather than simply recipients of support.
A Growing Voice for the Global South
A consistent thread running through the summit was the rising influence of the Global South. For many years, the G20 summit, and COP30, was dominated by wealthier nations, but Johannesburg represented a step toward reshaping that balance. With stronger focus on African development, debt reform and climate-finance flows, the summit pointed to a shift in how global governance is approached.
However, the absence or limited participation of some major powers meant not all commitments carried the same weight. While there was broad agreement on many issues, the practical rollout of some initiatives will depend on how engaged these larger economies choose to be in the months ahead.
The G20 Summit did not produce sudden or dramatic breakthroughs, but it did bring long-standing issues — climate, finance, development and energy — under a more unified agenda. Rather than rapid change, the summit delivered clearer direction and renewed alignment on the global challenges ahead. The next step will be turning these broad commitments into practical progress, something that will take time and continued cooperation across nations.
In summary, the 2025 G20 Johannesburg Summit reinforced the idea that economic and environmental challenges cannot be approached in isolation. Climate transition, financial stability and sustainable growth are now firmly linked within global policymaking. While the journey ahead is gradual, the summit helped define the path the international community aims to follow.