Democracy Works Foundation (DWF) recently engaged a group of students about the African Union (AU) joining the G20 to interrogate its meaning for Africa’s climate change response.
South Africa, a permanent member since the inception of the G20 summit in 1999, and the African Union, as the 21st permanent member since 2023, are the only two seats representing the continent. With control of 84% of the global economy, G20 nations are the key influencers for development and growth. As a block, G20 nations are responsible for many of the environmental issues facing the world today. According to the Climate Change Performance Index, G20 members account for more than 75% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, placing the mitigation responsibility squarely on them.
Climate change is a key issue for the Brazilian presidency of the G20 summit in November’ 24. Focusing on poverty and hunger, climate change cuts across 22 out of 28 working groups, Ana Toni said at a recent Foundations 20 meeting. Brazil is pushing for environmental and climate agendas (circular economy, value of ecosystem services, oceans and adaptation finance) across ministries.
2025 will be the first time that Africa is represented by more than a singular voice at the G20. South Africa, as incoming presidency should consider its strategic priorities. The focus on hunger and poverty resonates painfully on the continent. Related is the need to connect climate and development agendas because climate change impacts are already exacerbating Africa’s existing development needs. Climate adaptation finance needed for Africa is estimated at US$579.2 billion between 2020–2030. Financial flows have thus far been insufficient – the “adaptation gap” is pegged at around US$125.4 billion/ or approximately US$52.7 billion annually (Global centre on adaptation). Unlocking climate finance for adaptation and resilience building are important for Africa and G20 is one platform to raise this. Pushing for integration of climate and development plans presents opportunities which, according to Toni, are around unlocking climate finance and supporting the financeable and implementation capacity of recipients.
Good climate governance in terms of accountability, transparency of processes and the rule of law are essential components to attract legitimate investments and activate “green” financial flows. Active participation of civil society are important pieces of this puzzle. In South Africa, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) often represent the vulnerable and marginalised. They often fill gaps in local government service delivery, as mostly non-politically aligned interest groups – making it their business to demand good and responsive governance. CSOs have been part of the democratic structure in developmental and human rights spaces. Supporting them to continue with and adapt their work to climate change presents an opportunity. The Presidential Climate Change Commission (PCCC) has shown the value in building cross sectoral partnerships highlighting issues around fair representation and meaningful participation when climate change related decisions are made.
Climate justice requires us to interrogate the ability of those most impacted to direct the response, because impacts are not felt uniformly across countries or communities. South Africa first introduced the concept of a Just Energy Transition at COP26. It plans a transition away from fossil fuels to a “zero carbon future”. The transition must be “just” (fair and inclusive), create decent work opportunities and leave no one behind. In Africa, where many marginalised communities are already suffering from climate change impacts, the transition must address existing inequalities rather than exacerbate them. “Leaving no one behind” means we need to actively listen to and understand the different experiences of and approaches to climate change. This can only occur through active, facilitated, equal and fair participation – as a starting point.
Back to our students on a late summer afternoon in Gauteng, at a dialogue hosted by Yale Model African Union. Students felt that Africa cannot be represented by two seats. The discussion raised issues around representation and agency, the need for collaborative African solutions, and brave leadership.
The representative capacity of the African Union and unity amongst its leaders was pinpointed:
“We should bring our issues to the African Union itself. All African countries have unique and different roles to play. But we have to unite and work together and collect what we have as a continent. If we were united we could appear at these platforms and dictate that we are entitled to fix African problems that the global north has caused regarding climate change but also caused through colonisation.”
There was agreement that the global north needed to listen to and act on the impacts that climate change is already having on the continent. The imbalances of power at the G20 raised concerns that despite having the resources Africa does not have the economic and political weight as the other countries. While “a seat at the table” does provide an opportunity, the scales are far from balanced.
“African countries are required to make climate commitments in the midst of very dire development challenges. By having a seat at the table we can force the global north to allow us to make decisions that benefit ourselves. We can learn from the global north how to develop ourselves by ourselves, but we need to adapt it to the African way rather than allow the west to control us.”
Students felt that the work of getting people to understand the issues at stake and finding innovative, homegrown solutions still needed to happen. The AU can use its convening power to coordinate and let the voices of those who have to live with the impacts caused by chief polluters. South Africa can showcase what collaboration with its vibrant and active civil society has already achieved. The activation of the African Union as an organising force for young people to get involved in climate change governance through its Climate Change Resilient Development Strategy Action Plan provides fertile ground to enhance governance and cross sectoral collaboration. It calls for inclusive climate approaches, enhanced collective development, participation, implementation, monitoring and platforms public private partnerships essentially advocating for a governance culture that “leaves no one behind”.
As the youngest continent, Africa needs to prepare its youth to continue adapting and to deepen the demand for a culture of accountability and transparent governance. Expanding the existing agenda to ensure that Africa’s youth is ready to take part in the Just Transition, for the sake of combatting climate change and the continent’s social and economic development. As a young continent Africa needs to spark the imagination of its young people to start preparing its youth for life in an uncertain climatic future.