Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, has urgently called for global leaders to address climate action and provide the necessary support for mitigation and adaptation.

Singh was speaking during the second Group of 20 (G20) Environment and Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting at the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga, on Monday. 

“I wish to reiterate what was said during the first G20 ECSWG meeting in March this year: we are less than five years away from our deadline to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the end of this critical decade for climate action. 

“Yet, we are still far from attaining these goals and action targets,” he said. 

According to the Deputy Minister, poverty levels are worsening, pollution from hazardous chemicals has been increasing, and greenhouse gas emissions reached record highs last year.  

“This calls for an urgent acceleration of our efforts. Our commitment to achieve these goals must not waver, as we are all negatively affected. That is why South Africa has placed solidarity, equality and sustainability at the centre of our G20 Presidency.” 

South Africa’s G20 Presidency has outlined an ambitious agenda for this Working Group following the successful convening of the inaugural virtual meeting earlier this year. 

Singh said the five interrelated priorities have now been expanded into six, with the splitting of the climate change and air quality priorities into separate areas of focus. 

“This will provide us with an opportunity to delve into these two key issues more deeply and systematically.” 

During this five-day meeting, delegates from G20 member nations will focus on several key priorities. 

These include biodiversity and conservation; land degradation, desertification, drought; chemicals and waste management; air quality; oceans and coasts; and climate change, with a particular emphasis on Just Transitions.

According to Singh, Just Transition encompasses energy transition, adaptation, resilience, loss and damage.

“This priority also includes a sub-priority on mitigation within the context of low-carbon economic development and other co-benefits beyond the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.” 

Singh stated that the G20 process offers a chance to discuss and agree on actions that can expedite climate action and support at the necessary scale, as highlighted in the results of the first global stocktake.

As a primary outcome of South Africa’s G20 Presidency this year, the country will explore ways that the G20 can leverage opportunities to increase the scale and flows of climate finance. 

“It is paramount for developing economy countries to be actively supported in their efforts to achieve ‘whole of society and whole of economy’ Just Transitions to sustainable development on the ground, through scaled access to low-cost finance, technology, capacity development, and skills transfer,” the Deputy Minister said.

Singh believes that the blue economy approach can make a significant contribution to the livelihood of coastal communities around the globe, as well as addressing climate change. 

“It’s sustainable, long-term development should be promoted and enhanced through collective action at the level of the G20. 

“It is also recognised that plastic pollution poses a significant threat to coastal and marine environments, affecting marine life, human health, and livelihoods, which needs to be addressed in an integrated and coordinated manner.” 

Singh announced that the final meetings of the Working Group and Ministerial sessions will be held from 13-15 October in Cape Town. 

During these meetings, the final versions of the technical papers and the draft of the Ministerial Declaration will be discussed.

This will be followed by the G20 ECSWG Ministerial meeting scheduled for 16 - 17 October in Cape Town, where the Ministerial Declaration and other deliverables of the Working Group will be presented. –