Environment ministers from the world's leading economies concluded a G20 ministerial meeting in Cape Town on Friday, striking landmark agreements on air pollution and wildlife trafficking.
But while the deals marked progress, the failure to reach consensus on other key issues -- including waste management and land degradation -- left African leaders frustrated, warning that the continent will continue to face serious environmental challenges without unified global action.
"We've seen how global warming has caused unusual heavy rains, flooding, fires, tornadoes, which has caused loss of lives, unfortunately -- which is our main priority to deal with. We have a responsibility as governments in Africa to ensure that the health of the community is protected," said Narend Singh, South Africa's deputy minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment.
Of the six key priorities on the table, just two gained the backing of all 20 nations: tackling poor air quality and fighting the trafficking of plants and animals such as rhinos and pangolins.
"It's the first time ever that air quality has been on the G20 agenda, and we managed to get full consensus on it. And also, we have the Cape Town Ministerial Declaration on environmental crimes -- and that's specifically focusing on illicit wildlife trafficking, but also fauna, flora, and various other types of trafficking," said Dion George, South Africa's minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment.
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, assistant secretary-general of the United Nations and deputy executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), highlighted the far-reaching impact of environmental threats, stressing that air pollution cannot be viewed in isolation.
"Air pollution touches everything. One may say it is the environment, but it is health. It is the economy. You see, it is social. So again, it shows that cross-cutting nature of environmental issues in air pollution. It's the same also for crimes against the environment," she said.
While landmark agreements at the G20 environment ministerial meeting marked progress, the failure by countries to find common ground on key issues like waste management and land degradation has left African leaders frustrated -- warning that the continent will continue to face serious environmental challenges without unified global action.
"The G20 is the world's largest economies. Eighty percent of global emissions come from these countries. These are the countries that also control 80 percent of global GDP. So, they have the muscle, they have the means. And we really are looking up to them to come out with very ambitious, unified voices. They have not. We are disappointed," said Keriako Tobiko, special advisor on climate change and environmental sustainability at the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD.
As the G20 environment talks wrapped up in Cape Town, global attention now turns to COP30 in Belem, Brazil, and the upcoming summit in Nairobi, where countries will continue efforts to align on climate action and environmental priorities.
Landmark deals on air pollution, wildlife trafficking struck at G20 environment meeting
Landmark deals on air pollution, wildlife trafficking struck at G20 environment meeting
