New York, March 24, 2025 – The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held an informal plenary meeting today in New York, where South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, Zane Dangor, provided a comprehensive briefing on the country’s vision for its upcoming G20 Presidency. South Africa will assume the presidency from December 1, 2024, to November 30, 2025, marking the first time an African country will lead the world’s premier intergovernmental economic forum.
UN Leaders Highlight G20’s Role in Global Development
UN General Assembly President Philemon Yang underscored the critical role of the G20 in addressing global inequities, particularly in achieving sustainable development and fairer economic policies. “As we advance the implementation of the Pact of the Future, the Group of 20 will be critical to ensuring that inequities are addressed, more resources are provided, and better terms for development lending are negotiated,” Yang stated.
Meanwhile, Li Junhua, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs and UN Group of 20 Sherpa, emphasized the G20’s responsibility in climate action. He noted that as the world’s largest economies, the G20 plays a pivotal role in limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Li also highlighted that South Africa’s presidency provides a crucial opportunity to advance global climate initiatives, particularly in preparation for COP30, through mechanisms such as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which seeks to support developing countries in transitioning to clean energy.
