JOHANNESBURG — The G20 summit in Johannesburg ended with a broad declaration aimed at addressing climate change, inequality and Africa’s development, marking a diplomatic victory for host South Africa even as the United States staged a boycott, organizers said Friday.
President Cyril Ramaphosa described the outcome as a reaffirmation of multilateralism and said the summit elevated African priorities on the global agenda. The declaration commits the group to measures intended to advance renewable energy, strengthen disaster resilience, pursue financial reforms and guide responsible artificial intelligence innovation to support inclusive, sustainable growth.
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The summit’s final document listed a series of initiatives and policy priorities designed to accelerate the energy transition and boost infrastructure and economic development in Africa. Organizers said those priorities were foregrounded throughout negotiations and reflected host-country demands that the G20 more directly address the continent’s financing and development gaps.
Key commitments included:
- Increased support for renewable energy deployment and energy access in developing countries.
- Enhanced disaster preparedness and resilience measures to protect vulnerable economies.
- Financial reforms aimed at improving capital flows and debt sustainability for low-income nations.
- Principles for responsible AI research and deployment tied to inclusive growth and risk mitigation.
Despite the declaration, the summit was overshadowed by the absence of the U.S. delegation. Ramaphosa noted publicly that he would “hand over to an empty chair,” a reference to the boycott and Washington’s rejection of some climate change commitments, according to South African officials. Organizers said the U.S. did not participate in the final talks that produced the Johannesburg declaration.
Officials framed the final document as an outcome that can be built on through follow-up work by G20 members and partner institutions. They emphasized implementation as the next test, saying commitments must be translated into funding mechanisms, project pipelines and international cooperation that reach vulnerable countries, particularly across Africa.
Observers noted the political symbolism of a G20 summit that, in the hosts’ view, reflected a shift toward greater recognition of African development needs, even as divisions among leading powers persisted. The absence of the United States underlined lingering geopolitical tensions and will complicate efforts to present the declaration as a fully unified position.
South African officials said they regard the declaration as a step forward in placing Africa’s growth and climate resilience at the center of global economic discussions and pledged to press for concrete follow-through in the months ahead.
By News-room
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
