G20 Environment
By Lerato Mpembe
South Africa has commenced its leadership of the Group of Twenty (G20) Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG), with Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment, Dr. Dion George, spearheading the initiative. This leadership role aligns with South Africa’s overarching theme for its G20 Presidency: “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability.”
Strategic Objectives and Priorities
The inaugural virtual meeting of the G20 ECSWG, scheduled from 25 to 28 March 2025, aims to establish a unified strategic direction among G20 member states on critical environmental and climate change issues. Minister George will outline South Africa’s vision and present a proposed work plan focusing on five key areas:
1. Biodiversity and Conservation: Implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework and promoting the biodiversity economy.
2. Land Degradation, Desertification, and Drought: Achieving land degradation neutrality targets.
3. Chemicals and Waste Management: Advocating for sustainable chemicals management, circular economy practices, waste-to-energy initiatives, and extended producer responsibility (EPR) implementation.
4. Climate Change and Air Quality: Facilitating a just transition, addressing loss and damage, enhancing adaptation strategies including climate-resilient development, securing climate finance, and improving air quality.
5. Oceans and Coastal Management: Advancing marine spatial planning, ocean governance, and combating marine plastic pollution.
G20’s Role and Composition
The G20 serves as a premier forum for international economic cooperation, comprising 19 countries and two regional bodies—the European Union and the African Union. Collectively, G20 members represent about two-thirds of the world’s population, approximately 85% of global GDP, and over 75% of global trade. South Africa’s G20 Presidency, spanning from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025, offers a unique platform to champion the aspirations of emerging economies and advocate for Africa’s developmental agenda.
Engagements and Outreach Initiatives
Throughout its presidency, South Africa plans to host three ECSWG meetings and a ministerial meeting:
• First Meeting: 25–28 March 2025 (Virtual)
• Second Meeting: 14–18 July 2025 at Kruger National Park
• Third Meeting and Ministerial Meeting: 2–8 October 2025 in Cape Town, with the ministerial meeting held back-to-back with the third ECSWG meeting.
In the lead-up to these meetings, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment will conduct outreach and awareness activities nationwide to amplify the messaging on the ECSWG’s focus areas. A notable initiative is the Kruger-Kirstenbosch-iSimangaliso Iconic Status Strategy (KISS), aimed at transforming these iconic sites into world-class destinations that set new standards for conservation, education, and sustainable tourism. 
Global Context and Challenges
South Africa’s leadership comes at a time when global cooperation on environmental issues faces challenges. The G20 is experiencing tensions due to differing stances among member countries on multilateralism and climate policies. For instance, the United States has shown a growing hostility towards multilateral agreements, complicating consensus-building on vital global issues. In this context, South Africa’s role is pivotal in fostering dialogue and collaboration among G20 members to address pressing environmental concerns. 
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