The G20 needs to show leadership in addressing the climate crisis, says Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George.
“The existential crisis of climate change is posing significant threats not only to human health and wellbeing, but is also exacerbating biodiversity loss, land degradation and other environmental complexities,” George said on Thursday at the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers' Meeting in Brazil.
The G20 is a group of 19 countries, as well as the African Union and the European Union, which defines itself as the premier forum for global economic cooperation. It brings together leaders and policymakers from the world’s major economies to discuss key economic, development and social issues. G20 members represent around 80% of global GDP, 75% of global exports and 60% of the global population.
The Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) deals with current issues on the environmental and climate sustainability agenda, with a view to encouraging cooperation between G20 members on concrete and innovative solutions.
The group's main aim is to discuss preventive and emergency adaptation to extreme events, payments for ecosystem services, oceans, as well as waste and the circular economy.
“As such, key areas of collaboration are proposed related to mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage and importantly, climate finance - building on the discussions and outcomes of previous presidencies.
“As a primary outcome, South Africa would like to explore ways that the G20 can leverage opportunities to increase the scale and flows of climate finance critical for both mitigation and adaptation efforts, whilst ensuring that the required investments reach the most vulnerable of society.
“In this regard, it would be important to continue the fruitful discussions with the finance colleagues to enable the development of an effective, outcomes based financial model,” George said.
South Africa is expected to take over the presidency of the G20 from Brazil from 1 December this year to November 2025.
READ | SA's G20 Presidency to prioritise Africa and Global South
Under the South African Presidency, the G20 ECSWG will broadly focus on several pillars, namely, biodiversity and conservation; desertification; oceans and coasts; climate change and air quality, as well as chemicals and waste management, each with specific priorities.
“South Africa recognises that oceans play an important role in socio-economic development. In this regard, the G20 provides a platform to exchange best practice in advancing marine spatial planning that could further support the sustainable utilisation of the ocean and coastal environment and combat illegal fishing.
“Plastic pollution is a major threat to the coastal and marine environment. Discussions on plastic pollution have been long ongoing in the G20, and South Africa will continue to foster collaboration among G20 members to address this pressing issue collectively,” the George said.
He said waste management and the circular economy are recognised as areas of focus critical for transition to a low carbon, climate resilient economy.
“During South Africa’s G20 Presidency, we aim to foster enhanced collaboration on waste management policies and legislative instruments, including on waste to energy initiatives,” the Minister said.
Waste to energy initiatives include various technologies that convert non-recyclable waste into usable forms of energy including heat, fuels and electricity. - SAnews.gov.za
