G20’s First African Summit: South Africa Urges Rich Nations to Ramp Up Climate Finance

In Alexandra, one of Johannesburg’s oldest townships, volunteers in wetsuits wade into thigh-deep, polluted water in the Jukskei River to repair a garbage-catching net torn by heavy rains. The net helps protect the low-lying shacks from flooding that can cut off schools and livelihoods — a vivid local reminder of the wider climate crisis the G20 leaders will confront this weekend.

G20 in Johannesburg

The Group of 20 — a forum of wealthy and developing economies — is meeting in Johannesburg for the first time on African soil. As host, South Africa is pushing the summit to prioritize issues that disproportionately affect poorer countries, especially responses to disasters amplified by climate change. Johannesburg’s gathering aims to press wealthy nations and international financial institutions for more ambitious support for vulnerable states.

On-the-ground vulnerability

Alexandra’s more than half a million residents live just a short distance from Sandton, South Africa’s affluent financial district. Yet seasonal floods regularly overwhelm bridges and low-lying areas, disrupting education and services. 'It is a big hazard,' said Semadi Manganye, a resident and co‑founder of the Alexandra Water Warriors, a volunteer group that plants trees, cleans the river and repairs community flood defenses.

Disasters hitting poorest countries hardest

Experts and advocates stress that climate disasters disproportionately damage poorer countries. The World Bank reports that the poorest nations experienced nearly eight times as many natural disasters in 2010–2020 as they did in 1980–1990. Southern Africa has been battered by powerful storms and droughts in recent years: Cyclone Idai in 2019 — which scientists say was intensified by climate change — caused around $2 billion in damage across Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe, while Malawi’s gross domestic product is roughly $12 billion. More recently, El Niño triggered one of the region’s worst droughts in decades, devastating smallholder agriculture.

Climate finance under the microscope

Climate financing is a central point of contention between wealthier and poorer nations. At last year’s U.N. climate summit, richer countries pledged to pool at least $300 billion a year by 2035 to help developing states cope with climate impacts. Independent analysts, however, estimate that developing countries may need on the order of $1 trillion a year by 2030 to build resilience and adapt effectively.

The summit’s prospects for a strong, unified declaration are complicated by diplomatic tensions: the United States is not attending the Johannesburg meeting in a diplomatic boycott linked to allegations about South Africa that have sparked controversy.

Domestic challenges in South Africa

South Africa itself faces acute domestic problems that intersect with climate risk. An analysis released ahead of the summit warned that millions live in informal settlements without adequate housing or services, often in vulnerable, low-lying areas near rivers. Floods in the Eastern Cape earlier this year killed more than 100 people; officials said the deaths were worsened by poor housing and failing infrastructure, even as leaders pointed to climate change as a contributing factor.

Local responses and green jobs

Grassroots initiatives are filling critical gaps. The Alexandra Water Warriors, formed in 2021, have expanded community stewardship by planting native trees to reduce urban heat, clearing refuse from waterways and maintaining flood-control measures. About 3,000 people now receive modest stipends through a public–private donor pool that supports these local projects, up from 250 participants when the effort began in 2022. 'When the 25th of every month comes around, you begin to smile,' said Ntombi Maponya, a program participant, describing the relief provided by the regular payment.

Growth through resilience

Economists argue that climate resilience can be a development strategy. 'Green, sustainable and resilient growth can actually accelerate development,' said Vera Songwe, a Cameroonian economist and former U.N. Economic Commission for Africa executive secretary, noting that investments in low-carbon infrastructure and adaptation can yield faster, more inclusive growth.

The Johannesburg summit will test whether major economies can translate pledges into the scale of financing and policy action needed to protect the world’s most vulnerable communities from worsening climate shocks.