G20 leaders adopt Johannesburg Declaration with focus on global inequality
Leaders gathered in Johannesburg under South Africa’s G20 presidency have adopted a 122-point declaration at the start of the summit, signalling a coordinated shift toward the priorities of developing countries, including climate resilience, debt restructuring and reform of global financial institutions.
World leaders meeting in Johannesburg have endorsed the Johannesburg Declaration, a wide-ranging agreement adopted at the outset of the 2025 G20 summit hosted by South Africa. The decision to approve the declaration at the beginning of the meeting, rather than at its conclusion, reflects the presidency’s effort to secure early consensus and ensure discussions remain anchored to shared priorities throughout the summit.
The 122-point declaration places a strong emphasis on the challenges facing low- and middle-income countries, particularly those most affected by climate change, debt pressures and structural inequality. It calls for expanded international cooperation to strengthen climate resilience, increase concessional finance, support debt restructuring efforts, and direct greater investment toward clean energy and critical mineral value chains. These themes align with the summit’s motto: Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability.
A central element of the declaration is its call for a more inclusive global governance structure, including reforms to international financial institutions, improved representation for emerging economies and more equitable participation in global supply chains. The text highlights that sustainable development requires fairer global economic arrangements, improved technology transfer and long-term partnerships that support the needs of the Global South.
The declaration also addresses several ongoing conflicts, urging just and lasting solutions in Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Palestinian territory. While not prescribing specific political outcomes, leaders emphasised that global stability is indispensable to economic recovery and cooperation.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stressed in his opening remarks that the G20 must uphold its credibility by delivering on multilateral commitments. The South African presidency confirmed that the declaration was approved by consensus among attending members. The United States did not participate in the summit due to diplomatic tensions with the host country, but its absence did not prevent agreement among the remaining members.
Whether the commitments outlined in Johannesburg will translate into coordinated action remains to be seen, but the declaration places the priorities of climate-vulnerable and highly indebted countries at the centre of the G20 agenda in a way not seen in previous years.
