South Africa Hails G20 Breakthrough on Clean Cooking as Key Legacy of Its Presidency

South Africa has celebrated a significant achievement at the recent G20 Energy Transitions meetings, where the issue of clean cooking was elevated to a central topic among the world’s leading economies. Despite failing to reach full agreement on broader energy matters, the country’s push to address the daily hardships faced by millions without access to safe cooking methods has been described as a “major victory” for Africa. Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa highlighted this success during a media briefing at the end of the gatherings in KwaZulu-Natal.

The meetings, held from 7 to 10 October 2025, brought together energy ministers and experts from G20 nations to discuss global shifts towards sustainable energy. South Africa, holding the G20 Presidency for 2025, used the platform to spotlight challenges often overlooked in international talks, such as the lack of clean cooking options that affects billions worldwide, with Africa bearing the heaviest burden.

Pushing Clean Cooking into the Global Spotlight

At the heart of South Africa’s advocacy was the plight of vulnerable communities, particularly in rural areas. Minister Ramokgopa painted a vivid picture of the reality for many: “You and I could take it for granted but as we sit here, there’s a young girl somewhere in a remote village who comes back from school, drops her books and goes to fetch firewood. That’s what we want to change.”

He explained that around one billion people in Africa – out of the continent’s 1.4 billion population – lack access to clean cooking. This forces them to rely on harmful fuels like coal, wood, animal dung, and paraffin, which pose serious health risks through smoke inhalation and contribute to environmental damage. Globally, the issue affects even more, but Africa’s share is disproportionately high, with 600 million also without electricity.

The Minister stressed that clean cooking is not just an energy issue but a “human rights issue.” Through persistent negotiations, South Africa secured consensus on this topic, ensuring it becomes a mainstay in G20 discussions. “The major victory is…clean cooking. It’s huge for the continent,” Ramokgopa said. “Finally, we agreed. So, the legacy of South Africa’s Presidency is to lift clean cooking into the mainstream agenda of the G20 – the most industrialised powerful countries in the world.”

This breakthrough builds on the launch of the G20 Clean Cooking Legacy Programme, which Ramokgopa unveiled on 4 October 2025. The programme aims to raise awareness about the advantages of clean cooking solutions, such as modern stoves and fuels like liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) or electricity-based options. It also focuses on creating skills development opportunities for communities, enabling local manufacturing and maintenance of clean cooking technologies. This initiative is expected to empower women and girls, who often bear the brunt of firewood collection, freeing up time for education and economic activities.

Details of the G20 Energy Transitions Meetings

The fourth and final G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) meeting took place in Durban on 7 October 2025, followed by the Energy Transitions Ministerial Meeting in Ballito, north of Durban, at The Capital Zimbali resort. These events marked the culmination of South Africa’s G20 energy agenda, with discussions covering renewable energy, fossil fuels, green hydrogen, and infrastructure investments.
A notable side event on 7 October focused on “Advancing Clean Cooking for a Just Transition,” where an Action Plan was presented in collaboration with the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The plan outlines steps to close the clean cooking gap, including funding mechanisms and technology transfers to support African nations. Delegates from various countries, including the United Kingdom’s Energy Minister Michael Shanks, participated in talks on ensuring access to electricity and clean cooking as part of broader energy transitions.

While the meetings achieved unity on clean cooking, other areas saw divisions. Ramokgopa noted the expected challenges: “Given the polarity of views in the energy complex, it was always going to be a very difficult ask for us to be able to get to a consensus that then gets to be lifted into a communique…that all the parties in the room agree on the formulation.”

Debates often split along lines of renewables versus fossil fuels, with some advocating a balanced “all of the above” approach. South Africa, heavily reliant on coal for about 80% of its electricity – much of it from Mpumalanga province – pushed for a just transition that considers economic impacts on workers and communities.

Continuing Momentum Beyond the G20

Even without full G20 consensus on all priorities, Ramokgopa assured that South Africa’s work would not stall. He pointed to ongoing initiatives like the Ten-Year Infrastructure Investment Plan, part of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which aims to boost energy access across the continent. Several G20 partners are already providing support for this.

On green hydrogen, a recent South Africa-European Union (EU) Summit saw President Cyril Ramaphosa and EU President Ursula von der Leyen agree to packages worth €11.5 billion in investments. These funds will target renewable energy projects, including hydrogen production, to create jobs and reduce emissions.

“Although we didn’t find consensus it doesn’t mean the work doesn’t continue. Even though there are some areas where we couldn’t find each other here, we are working together with individual states and the EU. It doesn’t stop that momentum,” the Minister said.

Global Citizen has also amplified the call, urging G20 leaders to commit to powering one million people in Africa through clean energy initiatives. This aligns with South Africa’s vision of the G20 serving as a “beacon of hope” for developing nations, as Ramokgopa stated in his opening address.

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