Johannesburg: World leaders meeting at the G20 summit in Johannesburg adopted a major joint declaration on climate action, global debt and critical minerals, even as the United States stayed away from the talks.
South Africa, which hosted the summit, said the document reflected a strong consensus among member countries and marked an important moment for developing nations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa opened the summit by stressing that Africa’s concerns must be placed at the centre of global decision making. He explained that the declaration highlights the urgent need to help poorer countries deal with rising debt and climate related challenges.
According to the document, growing debt levels are blocking inclusive development, and countries need more predictable and coordinated debt treatment systems.
On climate change, the leaders agreed that global warming remains a serious threat, with poorer nations facing the harshest impacts. The declaration estimates that developing countries will require trillions of dollars before 2030 to reduce emissions and shift to renewable energy. Leaders also supported increasing clean energy capacity and boosting technology transfers to countries that lack resources.
A strong section of the declaration focuses on critical minerals, which are essential for clean energy technologies. South Africa pushed for greater value addition within the African continent rather than exporting raw materials at low prices. Earlier this week, South Africa and the European Union signed an important agreement on minerals and multilateral cooperation, signalling new economic partnerships beyond the United States.
The summit moved forward despite the absence of the United States. President Donald Trump chose not to attend, saying he disagreed with the summit’s direction. The United States later criticised the adoption of the declaration and claimed the process was unfair. South Africa rejected this, saying the work of the G20 could not be halted because of disagreements with one member.
The Johannesburg summit is historic as it is the first G20 meeting to be held on African soil. Many leaders said the event marked a shift in global leadership, with developing countries having a stronger voice in shaping global economic and climate agendas. Several nations praised South Africa for guiding discussions and ensuring that the declaration reflected the needs of the wider Global South.
The next G20 summit will be hosted by the United States in 2026. Observers say it remains to be seen whether Washington will seek to reset the group’s direction or work within the multilateral approach strengthened in Johannesburg.