Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Dion George has officially closed the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group and Ministerial Meeting.
George described the week-long meeting as “a historic moment of global cooperation and shared purpose.”
Speaking at the closing session in Cape Town on Friday, George announced the adoption of two groundbreaking agreements — the Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on Crimes that Affect the Environment and the Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on Equality — both hailed as world firsts under South Africa’s G20 Presidency.
“Under South Africa’s presidency, the environment and climate ministers have achieved two historic firsts — the Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on Climate that affected the environment, and the Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on Equality,” he said.
The minister emphasised that these outcomes, together with the South African Chair’s Summary on Climate Sustainability, form “a comprehensive and balanced conclusion to our presidency.”
Focus on climate justice and equality
The Declaration on Crimes that Affect the Environment recognises that environmental destruction is inseparable from social harm.
It affirms that “environmental protection and the rule of law go hand in hand” and that crimes against ecosystems are “crimes against communities”.
Meanwhile, the Declaration on Equality highlights the human cost of environmental degradation, stating that the “right to clean air is inseparable from the right to health and dignity”.
The agreement commits member nations to reducing pollution, protecting vulnerable populations, and ensuring that “clean air becomes a shared inheritance, not a privilege”.
Strengthening global collaboration
George said the discussions held under South Africa’s presidency had advanced meaningful progress across six priority areas — environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, land and water management, chemicals and waste, climate change and equality, and oceans and coasts.
He added that these outcomes demonstrate the power of evidence-based policy and multilateral cooperation.
“Together, these articles represent the power of partnerships, the strength of evidence-based policymaking, and the will of nations to act collectively for the common good.”
The minister confirmed that the key elements of the Cape Town Outcome Documents will inform the G20 Peace Declaration, to be considered at the G20 Summit in Johannesburg next month.
Closing the meeting, George expressed pride in South Africa’s leadership role and gratitude to delegates for their commitment throughout the year.
“We have proven that global cooperation is not only possible, but powerful in anchoring fairness and mutual respect.
“Let the Cape Town Declaration serve as our compass, guiding us to act decisively, to partner with integrity, and to keep faith with those who depend on our future.”
Original Article by Mmangaliso Khumalo | Jacaranda FM |
