G20 Johannesburg Summit 2025: Advancing Global South Priorities

Why in the News?

The 20th G20 Summit 2025 was convened in Johannesburg, South Africa—the first G20 summit ever held on African soil. Under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” the meeting highlighted Global South concerns and culminated in the adoption of the G20 Johannesburg Leaders’ Declaration.

Key Highlights of the G20 Johannesburg Summit 2025

G20 Johannesburg Leaders’ Declaration

• Consensus was reached on a 122-paragraph declaration covering climate action, multilateral reforms, inclusive growth, and global governance.

Ubuntu and Multilateralism

• The declaration drew on the African philosophy of Ubuntu—emphasising shared responsibility and human interconnectedness.
• Leaders called for renewed multilateral cooperation to tackle conflicts, inequality, and humanitarian crises.

UN Security Council Reform

• Supported restructuring the UNSC to reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.
• Advocated enhanced representation for Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

Counterterrorism

• Firm condemnation of terrorism in every form—aligning with India’s long-standing stance.

Climate Action Commitments

• Pledged a shift from “billions to trillions” in global climate finance.
• Endorsed a more equitable implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Women’s Empowerment

• Reaffirmed the need to:
  • Remove structural barriers
  • Ensure equal participation in decision-making
  • Recognise women as agents of peace and development

Debt Crisis & Global Financial Architecture Reform

• Launched a Cost of Capital Commission to correct unfair global credit rating systems and reduce the African risk premium.
• Highlighted Africa’s rising debt burden (USD 1.8 trillion), with many countries spending more on interest payments than public services.

Mission 300

• Endorsed Mission 300—a World Bank–AfDB initiative to provide electricity to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

Critical Minerals Framework

• Welcomed the G20 Critical Minerals Framework to build sustainable and resilient mineral supply chains.
• Stressed investment in exploration and value addition in developing countries.

Youth & Gender Targets

• Adopted the Nelson Mandela Bay Target:
  • Reduce youth NEET (Not in Employment, Education, or Training) rate by 5% by 2030.
• Committed to 25% gender parity in global labour force participation by 2030.

Troika

• The current G20 Troika: Brazil (past), South Africa (current), United States (incoming).

The Spirit of Ubuntu

About Ubuntu

• Ubuntu represents the African idea of shared humanity, expressed as “I am because you are.”
• Embodies compassion, collective responsibility, and mutual upliftment.
• Nelson Mandela championed Ubuntu in guiding South Africa’s peaceful transition post-apartheid.

Relevance to Global Goals

• Sustainability: Encourages development that protects ecosystems and future generations.
• Equitable Growth: Promotes fair access to knowledge, technology, and opportunities—especially for Global South nations.
• Global Security: Supports collective international action against threats such as organised crime and the drug-terror nexus.
• Cultural Preservation: Stresses protection of indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage.

What is the G20 and Its Significance?

About

• Established after the 1997–98 Asian Financial Crisis as a forum for Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors.
• Expanded over time to include issues like climate change, digital governance, health, agriculture, and energy security.
• Upgraded to Leaders’ level during the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.

Composition

• 19 major economies + European Union + African Union.
• Together they represent:
  • 85% of global GDP
  • 75%+ of world trade
  • ⅔ of the global population

Mandate

• Premier platform for global economic and financial governance—covering:
  • Growth and trade
  • Financial stability
  • Climate action
  • Development cooperation
  • Digital economy
  • Health and food security

Structure

• No permanent headquarters; presidency rotates annually.
• Operates through the Troika system for continuity.

Significance of the G20

• Global Economic Governance: Shapes norms on financial regulations, tax reforms, debt sustainability, climate finance, and digital public infrastructure.
• Driver of Sustainable Development: Coordinates international action on climate commitments, food security, and energy transitions.
• Amplifies Global South Voice: Enhances influence of emerging economies like India, Brazil, Indonesia, and South Africa.
• Development Finance Catalyst: Pushes reforms in IMF and World Bank, including better representation such as the proposal for a 25th IMF Board seat for Africa.

How India is Shaping the Global Development Agenda at G20

1. Countering the Drug-Terror Nexus

• Warned about the rise of drug trafficking, especially fentanyl, as a source of terrorism financing.
• Proposed a G20 Initiative focused on financial tracking, border coordination, and enforcement cooperation.

2. Africa-Centric Development Vision

• Emphasised Africa’s centrality in global development frameworks.
• Proposed the G20–Africa Skills Multiplier Initiative to train 1 million certified trainers in 10 years.

3. Leadership in Health, Knowledge & Space

India proposed:

• G20 Global Healthcare Response Team
• Global Traditional Knowledge Repository
• Open Satellite Data Partnership for agriculture, fisheries, and disaster management

4. Critical Minerals & Sustainable Transitions

• Introduced the Critical Minerals Circularity Initiative—promoting recycling, urban mining, and resilient supply chains.
• Called for transparent and diversified mineral sourcing.

5. Responsible and Secure AI Governance

• Advocated a Global Compact on AI based on:
  • Human oversight
  • Safety-by-design
  • Transparency
  • Prevention of misuse (deepfakes, cybercrime, terrorism)
• Invited global participation at the AI Impact Summit 2026 in India.

6. Support for a Just Global Order

• Strong push for UNSC reform to ensure representation for Africa, Latin America, and Asia-Pacific.
• Reaffirmed commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international system.

Significance of the G20 Johannesburg Summit 2025

• First G20 summit hosted in Africa—symbolically empowering the Global South.
• Reinforced equitable climate finance and sustainable transitions.
• Highlighted Africa’s development, energy, and resilience priorities.
• Strengthened global governance dialogue on UNSC reform, AI, debt sustainability, and multilateralism.