Developing Nations Amplify Calls for Climate Justice and Debt Reform at Historic G20 Summit in Johannesburg

 

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — The 2025 G20 Leaders' Summit, held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre on November 22-23, marked a historic first as the gathering took place on African soil. Hosted by South Africa during its rotating presidency (which began December 1, 2024, and concludes with handover to the United States), the meeting brought together leaders of the world’s major economies to address pressing global challenges. Despite the notable absence of the United States, developing nations used the platform to forcefully advocate for climate action, debt relief, and fairer economic partnerships, highlighting the unique vulnerabilities and contributions of the Global South.

The summit was overshadowed by a U.S. boycott announced by President Donald Trump, who cited alleged violent persecution of South Africa’s Afrikaner white minority and land expropriation policies—claims repeatedly rejected by South African officials and independent observers. Trump described the hosting of the summit as a “total disgrace” in a Truth Social post, further straining bilateral ties. The decision, which also scrapped Vice President J.D. Vance’s planned attendance, drew criticism from several leaders. French President Emmanuel Macron called the absence a “serious risk” to the G20’s credibility, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged delegates to stay focused on substantive issues.

In place of the U.S., the summit saw strong participation from the other 18 G20 members, the African Union, the European Union, and numerous guest nations including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Jamaica, and Malaysia. South Africa’s presidency theme—“Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability”—placed global inequality, poverty reduction, and climate resilience at the heart of discussions, aligning closely with the UN’s 2030 Agenda and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

A landmark 122-point Leaders’ Declaration was adopted unanimously on the very first day—an unusual early consensus that underscored the urgency felt by participants. The document committed to accelerating debt restructuring for low-income countries, boosting climate finance, reforming multilateral development banks, and launching the second phase of the G20 Compact with Africa (2025–2033) with World Bank backing.

Developing countries made clear they were not attending merely to plead for aid but to assert their value as economic partners. Rich in critical minerals essential for the green energy transition, and increasingly active in technology and artificial intelligence, many nations positioned themselves as indispensable players in the global economy.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed struck an upbeat tone in his address: “We are not here to speak of despair; we are here to speak of possibilities and shared responsibilities.” He called for debt relief to be transformed into tangible investments in education, health, and infrastructure, and argued that inclusivity is not charity but economic efficiency. Abiy highlighted Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, which has planted over 48 billion trees, and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam as proof of African ambition and capability.

Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah demanded fairer global financing terms, pointing out that despite repaying a $750 million international bond on schedule, her country is still labeled “high-risk” by lenders and charged punitive interest rates. “We seek fairness, not free money,” she stressed, warning that the current financial architecture perpetuates debt traps and inequality.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness brought a sobering personal perspective, describing the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, a powerful storm that struck the Caribbean earlier in November 2025, killing dozens and displacing thousands. “One external shock can undo years of progress,” he told delegates. Holness urged greater support for Small Island Developing States, emphasizing the need for accessible climate finance, debt relief, and resilient infrastructure to withstand increasingly frequent extreme weather.

On trade, World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala challenged African leaders to break the cycle of commodity dependence. “If 60% of our exports remain raw materials, nothing will change,” she warned, advocating the creation of regional value chains to process commodities into finished goods on the continent. She also highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence but cautioned that without equitable access, technological advances risk widening global divides.

Civil society voices reinforced the urgency. Nabil Ahmed, Oxfam’s director of economic and racial justice, praised South Africa for making inequality a central pillar of the G20 agenda for the first time in the forum’s history. “The world already recognizes a climate emergency,” he said. “It is now time to recognize that we have an inequality emergency as well.” Ahmed commended Pretoria for ensuring the interests of Africa and the broader Global South—from debt justice to green industrialisation—were front and center in a space traditionally dominated by wealthy nations.

As the summit drew to a close, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa invoked the King Protea, the country’s national flower that blooms spectacularly after fire, as a metaphor for renewal and resilience. Despite the high-profile U.S. absence, the early adoption of a comprehensive declaration and the vocal leadership of developing nations ensured the Johannesburg gathering will be remembered as a turning point—one where the Global South refused to be spoken for, and instead spoke with clarity, confidence, and a unified vision for a more equitable world order.