Developing Nations Press G20 for Stronger Climate Action, Debt Relief and Fair Financing in Johannesburg

Leaders from developing countries used the Group of 20 summit in Johannesburg to press wealthier nations for bolder climate action, meaningful debt relief and fairer access to finance — issues they say are central to sustainable development.

Shifting the Narrative: Partners, Not Recipients

Delegations also sought to recast themselves as active economic partners, highlighting strengths in mining, technology and artificial intelligence. Several speakers emphasized that developing countries offer significant opportunities for investment and collaboration when financing and trade rules allow them to move up the value chain.

Diplomacy and Participation

South Africa, which will hand over the rotating G20 presidency to the United States, was widely praised for centring the summit on inequality and inclusivity. The United States, however, boycotted parts of the Johannesburg meetings amid President Donald Trump's assertions that South Africa is persecuting its Afrikaner minority.

Voices from the Global South

Delegates from invited guest countries — including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Jamaica and Malaysia — joined the G20 members, the African Union and the European Union in discussions focused on development, climate resilience and financing.

“We are not here to speak of despair, we are here to speak of possibilities and shared responsibilities,”

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told the summit, urging a forward-looking approach to debt and development.

Abiy stressed that debt relief must translate into tangible investments that benefit people.

“In Ethiopia, we have learnt that inclusivity is not charity, it is efficiency.”

Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called for fairer financing conditions, noting that Namibia recently repaid a $750 million bond on schedule but continues to be treated as high-risk by international decision-makers.

“We need fair international financial institutions,”

she said.

Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness warned about the growing toll of climate-driven disasters, citing Hurricane Melissa's devastation and noting that

“one external shock can undo years of progress.”

Trade, Value Chains and Policy Choices

World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged African policymakers to adopt trade strategies that move economies beyond commodity exports. She pointed out that when roughly 60% of exports are raw materials, long-term structural change is difficult without investment in regional value chains and processing capacity.

Nabil Ahmed, director of economic and racial justice at Oxfam, said this G20 agenda was the first to place inequality among its central pillars. He argued that the world must treat inequality with the same urgency as the climate emergency.

Outlook

Delegates left the summit calling for concrete commitments: accelerated climate finance, debt-relief mechanisms tied to inclusive investment outcomes, and reforms to international financing that would treat creditworthy developing countries more fairly. Many participants said such steps are essential to prevent climate and economic shocks from reversing development gains across the Global South.