South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Delivers G20 Leaders’ Summit Closing Address

Africa's Leadership and Priorities

• 🌍 South Africa's presidency marked the first time the G20 was hosted on African soil, a significant milestone for the continent.
• 💡 The summit aimed to place Africa's growth and development interests at the core of the G20 agenda, recognizing its potential for prosperity.
• 🌱 South Africa built upon the developmental agenda of previous Global South presidencies (Indonesia, India, Brazil) to prioritize issues for developing economies.

Addressing Global Challenges

• 🕊️ The summit called for an end to global conflicts and the pursuit of a just, comprehensive, and lasting peace.
• 🎯 Key imperatives included ending poverty in all its forms, reducing inequality, and combating climate change, which are major obstacles to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• 💰 The G20 pledged to support low and middle-income countries in confronting debt vulnerabilities, aiming for a cycle of reduced debt and inclusive economic growth.

Climate Action and Resilience

• ⚡ South Africa mobilized the G20 to strengthen disaster resilience and response, introducing high-level voluntary principles for investment in disaster risk reduction.
• 📈 Significant progress was made in mobilizing finance for a just energy transition, increasing climate finance for developing economies and strengthening multilateral development banks.
• ✅ The G20 reaffirmed its dedication to energy security, affordability, and universal access, emphasizing support for low-carbon emission transitions and scaling up climate finance.

Economic Development and Future Vision

• ⛏️ Support was reaffirmed for the G20 critical minerals framework, a blueprint for driving prosperity and sustainable development through mineral resources.
• 🔍 A "G20 at 20" review was undertaken to ensure the forum remains fit for purpose in an ever-changing world, with recommendations to guide its future.
• 🤝 The Leaders Declaration represents a commitment to concrete actions and a renewed dedication to multilateral cooperation, recognizing that shared goals outweigh differences.

Summit Conclusion and Legacy

• 🚀 The summit aimed to accelerate progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the Pact for the Future.
• 🤝 President Ramaphosa emphasized building a foundation of solidarity to achieve justice and prosperity for a more secure and just world where no one is left behind.
• 🇺🇸 The G20 summit was formally closed, with the gavel passed to the United States for the next presidency.