African environmental organisations have called on G20 leaders gathering in Johannesburg this weekend to commit to ending fossil fuel expansion and redirect public funds toward community owned renewable energy systems accessible to all.
The Green Connection, a South African eco justice organisation, issued the appeal as part of intensified civil society mobilisation surrounding the first G20 summit held on African soil. The group participated in a mass march against TotalEnergies organised by the We, the 99% People’s Summit at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, highlighting concerns about the French oil company’s operations on the continent.
Lisa Makaula, Advocacy Officer at The Green Connection, said governments must develop national and local adaptation plans that are participatory, transparent, and inclusive of those most affected, including women, youth, informal workers, and rural and informal settlement communities. She emphasised that adaptation efforts should protect livelihoods, secure water and food sovereignty, and build grassroots climate resilience.
“This requires ending fossil fuel subsidies, stopping oil and gas expansion, and prioritising grant based climate finance for the Global South,” Makaula said. “At the same time, the justice implications of extracting critical transition minerals must also be addressed as global demand continues to rise.”
The statement emerged from The Green Connection’s G20 Civil Society Symposium on Climate Justice and the Green Economy held in Cape Town earlier this month, which brought together activists, community leaders, and policy experts to formulate the Cape Town Civil Society Charter. The document outlines civil society demands for the summit.
The organisation is part of the Africa CSO G20 Climate, Energy and Sustainable Finance Group (ACG20), a growing coalition of more than 80 African civil society organisations working across financial, climate, health and energy justice that has submitted a comprehensive position paper to South Africa’s G20 Presidency.
Makaula warned that the current fossil fuel economy may not only be destroying the environment but could also deepen inequality while violating human rights. She urged G20 leaders to recognise that communities, not corporations, should guide Africa’s energy future.
“Public funds should shift away from oil and gas projects that risk becoming stranded assets, towards renewable energy systems that are locally owned, environmentally sustainable, and aligned with the 1.5°C limit,” she said. “It makes little sense for Africa to take on more debt for outdated infrastructure while the rest of the world moves towards cleaner technologies.”
The Green Connection called for predictable, accessible, grant based climate finance to support people centred adaptation and ease the debt burden on developing countries that have contributed least to the climate crisis but face its worst impacts. The organisation urged G20 leaders to honour their climate finance commitments, including the 1.3 trillion US dollar annual goal by 2035.
Neville van Rooy, Community Outreach Coordinator at The Green Connection, emphasised the importance of ethical management of Africa’s transition mineral reserves. While these minerals underpin global decarbonisation efforts, he said communities must not face exploitation but should benefit through local value addition, decent jobs, and community ownership.
“This sector cannot repeat the injustices seen in the fossil fuel industry. A just transition must protect communities from harm,” van Rooy said.
Liz McDaid, The Green Connection’s Strategic Lead, described South Africa’s G20 Presidency as a historic opportunity to elevate Africa’s priorities. She called for ethical, transparent leadership that serves people rather than corporate interests.
The 2025 G20 Summit, scheduled for November 22 to 23, marks the first time the gathering is held on African soil. Under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” South Africa aims to shift the centre of gravity of global economic governance toward the priorities of the Global South.
Africa’s first G20 summit will see representatives of 42 countries, but not the United States, a founding member of the group. However, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Thursday that the United States government had indicated a change of mind and wants to participate, with communication arriving at the 11th hour.
From Constitution Hill in Johannesburg on 13 November 2025, the civil society movement We the 99 announced the People’s Summit, which will run from November 20 to 22. With Civil 20 (C20), these civil society efforts involve more than 100 local and international organisations, including trade unions, research institutes and non profits focused on human rights, climate justice and economic justice.
Source: newsghana.com.gh
