provided by the G20 Research Group
G20 Summits |
G20 Ministerials |
G20 Analysis |
Search |
About the G20 Research Group
[English]
[Français]
[Deutsch]
[Italiano]
[Portuguesa]
[Japanese]
[Chinese]
[Korean]
[Indonesian]
|
G20 Information Centre provided by the G20 Research Group |
|
|
G20 Summits |
G20 Ministerials |
G20 Analysis |
Search |
About the G20 Research Group
|
||
Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group: Chair's Summary
Published October 22, 2025
[pdf]
1.1 G20 Members and Invited Countries welcomed the South African Presidency’s theme of “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability” and its Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) priorities to address these interconnected environmental challenges and crises through a holistic, integrated and collaborative approach. Members exchanged views on the importance of gender equality and its role in environmental and climate action to support implementation. Members recalled the Brazilian G20 ECSWG Declaration that acknowledged that the G20 represents over 80% of the global GDP, over 80% of the world’s population, approximately 80% of greenhouse gas emissions, material and energy use, and 75% of waste generation, noting the varying contributions and circumstances among countries in the context of their respective efforts to promote sustainable development and eradicate poverty.
1.2 The ECSWG Chair notes views of the Members on their commitment to implementing the Rio Conventions, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Goals (SDGs), taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development, and respecting national policies and priorities, and acknowledging the economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Members also called for the implementation of these measures in a balanced manner that supports development efforts and the eradication of poverty.
1.3 Members shared their views on accelerating progress towards achieving the SDGs by 2030 while respecting national policies and priorities, and respective commitments in relevant multilateral environmental agreements, and recognize the importance of mobilizing significant additional financing from all sources.
1.4 The Chair notes Members commendation of South Africa’s leadership under the ECSWG, and the substantial progress that has been made during its Presidency, including the preparation of 20 Presidency Technical Papers prepared under the Presidency’s responsibility, which have provided valuable scientific, technical, and policy information that facilitated the exchange of knowledge among members, invited guests, and international organizations.
1.5 In October 2025, G20 Members and Invited Countries met, in Cape Town, South Africa, and welcomed the issuance of the ECSWG Chair’s Summary reflecting the Group’s deliberations.
2.1 G20 Members discussed the essential role that biodiversity, including nature-based solutions and ecosystems-based approaches play in maintaining ecosystem services, ensuring food security, mitigating and adapting to climate change, providing clean air and water, and supporting sustainable livelihoods and disaster risk reduction. Members also acknowledged the importance of mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors and relevant processes in line with national circumstances, priorities, and needs.
2.2 Members shared views on the possible role of ecosystem services, including the use of natural capital valuation, as appropriate and encourage enhanced collaboration among G20 members to share experiences on approaches, methodologies and best practices in its development and application.
2.3 Members that are Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),reaffirm their commitment to the swift, full and effective implementation of the Convention, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and call for the scaling up of biodiversity finance from all sources to support the effective and equitable implementation of the KMGBF, including the development of innovative financing instruments, including payment of ecosystem services and nature credits.
2.4 The ECSWG Chair notes the reflection of G20 Members that welcomed the outcomes of COP16, including biodiversity finance, the multilateral mechanism for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, the Planning, Monitoring, Reporting and Review mechanisms, Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas, and the establishment of a Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) and Other Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity Related to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, in recognition of their role in conservation, sustainable use of biodiversity and benefit sharing objectives. Members shared their views on the decision that established the Cali Fund for the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources to support sustainable biodiversity conservation, including through mobilizing private finance.
2.5 Members discussed the need for enhancing efforts to communicate updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and the timely submission of 7th national reports, as appropriate, to facilitate a comprehensive Global Review of collective implementation progress at CBD COP17.
2.6 Members shared their views on the threat that invasive alien species have on biodiversity, health, infrastructure, national economies, and the livelihoods, in particular on Indigenous Peoples and local communities and acknowledge the need for the management and control of such species in line with the goals of the KMGBF.
2.7 Members reflected on the importance of recognizing that forests provide crucial ecosystem services at the global and local level for the environment, people and its important role for global climate change mitigation and adaptation and the conservation of biodiversity. In this regard, Members exchanged views on the need of enhancing efforts towards halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030 and stress the importance of accelerating the implementation of the voluntary United Nations Strategic Plan for Forests 2017-2030 (UNSPF) and the achievement of its Global Forest Goals and targets, and acknowledge the importance of enhanced resource mobilization for forest conservation including the plans to launch the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) at COP30 and as an innovative tool for forest conservation. G20 Members shared their views on the protection, conservation, restoration and sustainable management of forests, and efforts on tackling deforestation.
2.8 ECSWG Chair notes the appreciation for South Africa’s efforts on the biodiversity economy, which is aligned with, and a key contributor towards the G20 High-Level Principles on the Bioeconomy adopted in Brazil, as a means of promoting conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This approach holds specific significance for countries, in particular developing countries, as it provides an essential tool for addressing the social and economic challenges faced by biodiversity-dependent communities. The development of new and existing innovative biodiversity-based activities, products and services is a fundamental contribution to fostering employment, generating income opportunities, and advancing sustainable livelihoods through relevant national strategies. In this context, views were shared on the importance of continuing the work on the sustainable bioeconomy and relevant multilateral fora, within which the biodiversity economy plays an important role.
3.1 ECSWG Chair noted Members exchanging views on the need to acknowledge that Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought (DLDD) are affecting ecosystem health and threatening livelihoods of millions of people, exacerbating poverty, and contributing to the displacement of peoples in vulnerable situations, and the need to also acknowledge that unsustainable water management and the degradation of freshwater ecosystems exacerbate these adverse impacts.
3.2 ECSWG Chair notes Members’ views reflecting their concern on over 100 million hectares of productive land degraded each year, threatening food security, livelihoods, and ecosystems. Members exchanged views on the importance of integrated approaches that combine sustainable land and integrated water management with sustainable development, poverty alleviation strategies and resilient agriculture and food systems. Members shared views on the need to build drought resilience and to strengthen action that aims to address the root causes of different types of droughts, including through the increase of scientific studies, exchange of best practices and knowledge, development of innovative actions that enhance drought resilience at national and regional levels, integration of drought risk management, robust early warning systems, and sustainable land and water management practices.
3.3 Members shared their views on scaling up efforts under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), in the frame of its Strategic Framework 2018 – 2030, including the voluntary adoption and implementation of the voluntary Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets, and the need of share best practices and experience in formulating investment plans for resource mobilization to implement the LDN targets, in accordance with Article 20 of the UNCCD, and efforts to mobilize additional finance from all sources.
3.4 Members exchanged their views on the G20 Global Land Initiative (GLI), which aims to prevent, halt, and reverse land degradation, and to reduce degraded land by 50% by 2040. Members shared their views on the GLI targets, and discussed that it requires sustained political leadership, collective efforts, and active engagement by all G20 members. Members also shared their views on the positive results of many successful GLI activities and aimed to translate this shared ambition into concrete national and international actions, in accordance with respective circumstances, and encouraged the exchange of knowledge and experiences, consistent with the G20 Global Land Initiative’s Implementation Strategy and Work Plan, including strengthening the business case for private sector financing, investment, and active participation in ecosystem restoration.
3.5 ECSWG Chair acknowledges the views of Members on large-scale restoration efforts, such as the Great Green Wall (GGW) Initiative of the Sahel and the Horn of Africa, and on the Southern Africa GGW Initiative, which was endorsed by the 16 Member States of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and its planned investment efforts, and other regional restoration initiatives undertaken by G20 members.
3.6 ECSWG Chair noted Members views on the outcome of the UNCCD COP16 held in December 2024 in Saudi Arabia. The outcome aims to avoid, reduce and reverse land and soil degradation, and the rehabilitation of degraded lands and the promotion of sustainable land management practices, in agricultural lands and rangelands. These efforts are essential for enhancing soil health, increasing agricultural productivity, improving food and water security, increasing drought resilience, enhancing biodiversity, and strengthening ecosystem services.
3.7 Members exchanged views and concerns at the increasing frequency, severity, and intensity of droughts causing ecosystem dysfunction or collapse, biodiversity loss, threatening agricultural systems, food and water security, incomes, and livelihoods, destabilizing communities and societies, and contributing to displacement of persons. Members shared their views on the need to build on the progress made at UNCCD COP16 and possible adoption of a response that promotes synergies among environmental policies and actions, thereby ensuring that efforts to combat land degradation contribute effectively to climate action and biodiversity conservation.
3.8 Members shared views on their efforts to implement, as appropriate, the outcomes of COP16 of the UNCCD, and launch a process at COP17 that shifts predominantly efforts from reactive to proactive measures to address drought, with a view to considering a comprehensive instrument and/or outcome that enhances drought resilience.
3.9 Members exchanged views on the invitation to join the Riyadh Drought Resilience Partnership, launched at the UNCCD COP16, as a voluntary, collaborative platform to strengthen proactive drought management, enhance land restoration investments, and promote knowledge sharing and innovation in drought resilience partnerships at national and regional levels.
3.10 Members shared their views on the need to strengthen water resource cooperation to provide guidance on water quality and implementing globally more efficient, fair and equitable use and protection of water resources. Members exchanged views on the outcome of the 2023 UN Water Conference, including the Water Action Agenda, and commended preparation of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference to Accelerate the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 and the 2028 United Nations Conference on the Final Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the Objectives of the International Decade for Action, “Water for Sustainable Development”, (2018–2028). Members shared their views on the need to work towards constructive outcomes, and the possible role of an intergovernmental arrangement on water.
3.11 Members shared their views on water resilience as an important component of addressing environmental challenges, and on cooperation in implementing integrated water resource management and resilient water practices at all levels, including transboundary water cooperation, scientific cooperation, conservation and restoration including sustainable use of water-related ecosystems, and effective and inclusive governance and financing, and in line with the resolution on effective and inclusive solutions for strengthening water policies (UNEA 6/ 2024), and 2023 UN Water Conference, and noted the outcome of the One Water Summit, held in December 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
3.12 ECSWG Chair noted Members extending their appreciation for the South African Presidency for holding the Sixth G20 Water Dialogue on 2 October 2025, bringing together G20 members, invited countries and international organizations to exchange experience and best practices amongst others on integrated water resources management, strategic water resources planning and reconciliation, and restoration initiatives such as the Hartbeespoort Dam. Members shared their views on the Presidency’s intention to issue an outcomes report, and continued knowledge sharing through the Dialogue under future G20 presidencies.
4.1 Members exchanged views on concerns regarding the growing threats to human health and the environment posed by the generation of waste and use of harmful chemicals, and pollution, and the need to transition producing non-toxic, safer and more sustainable chemicals. Members also acknowledged the role of chemicals driving innovation and supporting economic growth. Moreover, Members exchanged views that hazardous chemicals disproportionately impact developing countries, including through illegal transboundary movements and recognize the need to strengthen all multilateral partnerships for environmentally sound management of chemicals.
4.2 Members shared views on sound management of chemicals and waste in order to prevent, reduce and address pollution, taking into account the opportunities offered by the circular economy approaches.
4.3 Members shared views on multilateral cooperation and effective use of multiple approaches including the One Health Approach, which recognizes that the health of humans, animals, plants and the wider environment, including ecosystems, are closely linked and interdependent.
4.4 Members expressed their views on the implementation of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) on chemicals and waste, including the Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm conventions, Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and the Minamata Convention, and Members also shared views on the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC) for a Planet Free of Harm from Chemicals and Waste.
4.5 Members shared their views on the UN’s Global Harmonized System (GHS) of classification and labelling of chemicals. ECSWG Chair notes the views that acknowledge that most developing countries need support to accelerate the GHS implementation in their countries, in line with their national circumstances and priorities, to facilitate responsible trade in chemicals.
4.6 Members shared views on the operationalization of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution (ISPCWP), and on the Circular Economy.
4.7 The ECSWG Chair noted that Members expressed their views on sustainable consumption and production approaches, including through circular economy approaches, offer opportunities to decouple economic growth from resource consumption and pollution by designing out waste, through inter alia improving the circularity of products and materials, and regenerating nature, and thereby eliminating waste and keeping resources in use for as long as possible through circular flows of materials and energy, maintaining their highest value.
4.8 The ECSWG Chair noted that Members exchanged views on collaboration on developing circular economy measure, as may be appropriate, amongst others, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), policies and legislative instruments, at national, sub-regional and regional levels.
4.9 The ECSWG Chair noted that Members expressed their views on circular economy and policy action for priority waste streams and sectors, such as packaging, fashion and textiles, electronics and secondary batteries, food, and the built environment, including the need to enhance the ability to digitally trace materials and products.
4.10 Members shared views on strengthening cooperation, knowledge sharing, and technical assistance to enhance understanding of measures throughout the full lifecycle of products, promote transparency and disclosure throughout the value chain, raise consumer awareness, and support actions to tackle pollution.
4.11 The ECSWG Chair notes Members appreciation on the successful convening of the 2025 G20 Resource Efficiency Dialogues, which highlighted, among others, the role of national legislatives on EPR in advancing resource efficiency and circular economy approaches and encouraged continued knowledge and good practice exchanges to achieve circular economy objectives.
4.12 With over two billion tons of waste generated annually, the ECSWG Chair recognized the urgent need to reduce such pollution.
4.13 Members shared their views to enhance efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle, promoting repair measures to extend product life. Recognizing this may bring the best value to consumers and support the overall sustainability of materials and products.
4.14 Members exchanged views and the Chair acknowledged the importance of supporting the informal sector integration through design of domestic policies to support waste picker integration and opportunities for the development of innovative waste collection systems in developing countries.
4.15 Members shared views on efforts to reduce all waste and/or material can be prevented, reused, or recycled. One solution, where materials are suitable, is waste to energy, among others, which can have several co-benefits and reduces landfilling. Noting that this process has its own challenges, the application of best available technologies is vital to minimize environmental impacts such as air pollution, and sharing knowledge, experience, expertise on policies, regulations, practice and technology.
5.1 The ECSWG Chair notes that climate change impacts continue to rise, resulting in environmental, infrastructure, economic and social challenges.
5.2 The ECSWG Chair recalled G20’s leadership role, and its steadfast commitments, in pursuit of the objective of UNFCCC, to tackle climate change by strengthening the full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement and its temperature goal, reflecting equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances, that highlight the importance of ambitious action on all pillars of the Paris Agreement taking into account the best available science. At the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Paris Agreement, Members shared views recognizing its historic contribution to fostering universal climate action. Members pledged their support to the incoming Presidency of the 30th Conference of the Parties and commit to successful negotiations in Belém.
5.3 Members shared views on the importance of scaling up of financial resources for mitigation and adaptation, in a balanced manner to enable implementation of climate action in developing countries, while recognizing the importance of making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low-GHG emissions and climate-resilient development, in a nationally determined manner, in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty.
5.4 Members shared their views on the timely implementation of the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) adopted by the 6th Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA6) at COP29.
5.5 ECSWG Chair takes note of the decision of the United States of America to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.
5.6 Members shared their views and the ECSWG Chair recognizes the importance of mainstreaming adaptation into relevant public policy, to implement the United Arab Emirates Framework (UAE) for Global Climate Resilience and its targets, including by using an iterative process based on the four stages of the adaptation cycle: impact, vulnerability, risk assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and learning.
5.7 Members shared their views and the ECSWG Chair noted the importance of promoting and supporting the development and implementation of early warning systems and action on the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events and support disaster risk reduction solutions. ECSWG Chair notes Members views reiterating the urgent need to protect all countries through universal coverage of early warning systems and call for the implementation of the Early Warnings for All initiative by 2027.
5.8 Members shared their views and the ECSWG Chair encouraged all countries to formulate and implement adaptation efforts, which may include National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), policies or strategies, as appropriate, that include actionable project pipelines. The ECSWG Chair calls for collaborative efforts to support the formulation and implementation of the adaptation actions of developing countries. The Chair further calls for strengthening adaptation efforts by coming forward with, and regularly updating as appropriate, robust NAPs, adaptation policies and or strategies contributing to the goals of the Paris Agreement.
5.9 Members shared their views and the ECSWG Chair highlighted the importance of capacity building for data collection and monitoring and evaluation tools, to support the preparation and implementation of national adaptation policies, and address challenges in collecting, analyzing, and reporting adaptation data due to financial and technological constraints.
5.10 Members shared their views and the ECSWG Chair recognized the importance of cross-country and cross-sector collaboration to harness science, technology, and innovation in deepening collective understanding of the impacts of climate change including from global average temperature changes, and to advance evidence-based adaptation measures to protect lives and secure livelihoods.
5.11 Members shared their views and the ECSWG Chair acknowledged that responding to loss and damage is a necessity. The Chair also called for the need to enhance resources and collaboration, including technical partnerships, are needed to support the implementation of strategies to achieve effective adaptation and resilience, particularly in developing countries.
5.12 Members shared their views and the ECSWG Chair recognized the need to enhanced collaboration in averting, minimizing, and addressing Loss and Damage in developing countries, associated with climate change impacts, including technical support, capacity building, including through the Santiago Network and the sharing of experiences and best practices.
5.13 Members shared their views and the ECSWG Chair called for the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage to urgently support efforts of developing countries, that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in responding to economic and non-economic loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events and slow-onset events.
5.14 Members shared their views on the importance of sharing experiences and best practices on monitoring loss and damage, including the development and sharing of methodologies for assessing its impacts.
5.15 Members shared their views on the need for increased ambition and strengthened implementation of climate action to achieve the global goals of the Paris Agreement. Members shared their views on submission of their respective nationally determined contributions (NDCs) reflecting highest possible ambition before COP30 or as soon as possible, informed by the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake and in line with the Paris Agreement and its relevant decisions, and expressed support to those that have done so. Members discussed the importance of means of implementation to developing country Parties to be provided in a timely and adequate manner.
5.16 Members shared views and the ECSWG Chair recalled the Paris Agreement temperature goal to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and views to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in line with 1.5°C pathways. Members shared views on their efforts to achieve global net-zero greenhouse gas emissions/carbon neutrality by or around mid-century, in line with sustainable development, poverty eradication needs, equity, and with different national circumstances.
5.17 Members shared their views on the strong interlinkages between sustainable development and climate change action and acknowledge that the transition to low-carbon development pathways may present short and mid-term socio-economic challenges and opportunities to advance international and domestic development goals, including inter alia economic growth, industrial development, energy access, job creation, poverty reduction, and public health.
5.18 Members shared views on integrating climate and sustainable development approaches and promoting policy coherence across sectors to mainstream climate action with sustainable development co-benefits across relevant tiers of public policy.
5.19 Members shared views on enhancing international cooperation and on a supportive and open international economic system to ensure the coherent and consistent application of integrated climate-development approaches towards achieving the transition to low-carbon development pathways.
5.20 Members shared views on the importance of promoting and developing innovative partnership approaches that link mitigation and adaptation action with development strategies and economic opportunities. Members shared views on the importance of scaling up and expanding financial resources for just transitions programs that support both mitigation and adaptation efforts.
5.21 Members shared views on just transitions pathways as a key enabler for climate action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, leaving no one behind, by encompassing a whole of economy and whole of society approach, in support of efforts to eradicate poverty, promote human rights, workers’ rights and gender equality, and the rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, while fostering meaningful social and economic opportunities.
6.1 Members shared views on the work of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and the need for increased science and knowledge on deep–sea ecosystems. Members also shared views on the role of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and on ISA Council decision ISBA/28/C/24.
6.2 Members shared views on the importance of reducing emissions of maritime transport and promoting sustainable shipping practices.
6.3 Members shared views on the value of spatial and non-spatial approaches to ocean planning, including Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) as an integrated approach to strengthen ocean governance. MSP enhances decision-making, enables the coexistence of multiple oceans uses, and supports environmental protection by aligning planning with national development goals and ecological priorities.
6.4 Members shared views on embedding MSP, as appropriate, within national development, climate, and biodiversity strategies, to foster policy coherence and maximize long-term environmental, social, and economic benefits, and support the implementation relevant multilateral arrangement. Members noted the receipt of the necessary number of ratifications for the entry into force, in January 2026, of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ), and Members of the Agreement shared their views to implement the Agreement, as appropriate, in line with national policies.
6.5 Members shared their views on the voluntary High-Level Principles for Sustainable and Resilient Blue/Ocean- based Economy, adopted under the Indian G20 Presidency in 2023, and on their implementation through integrated, ecosystem-based ocean management, strengthening conservation and restoration of coastal, marine and aquatic ecosystems and advancing a sustainable, inclusive blue economy.
6.6 ECSWG Chair noted that the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee could not agree to adopt an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including the marine environment, in Geneva in August 2025. Members shared their views on renewing their commitment to engage actively and constructively in the spirit of collaboration and consensus-building in the future negotiations to reach an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution based on a comprehensive approach in line with the mandate of UNEA Resolution 5/14.
6.7 Members shared their views on enhancing the understanding of plastic losses and leakage from Abandoned, Lost and Discarded Fishing Gear (ALDFG) and plastic pellet losses, and sharing best practices to prevent and address ALDFG, and efforts by the IMO and FAO to support relevant initiatives in this regard.
6.8 Members shared their views on the importance of a practical approach to marine management, including by promoting a clean and safe ocean, investing in ocean science and technology, and supporting responsible ocean-based industries.
Source: Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, South Africa
This Information System is provided by the University of Toronto Library
and the G20 Research Group at the University of Toronto.
Please send comments to:
g20@utoronto.ca
This page was last updated
October 24, 2025
 |
 |
 |
 |
All contents copyright © 2025. University of Toronto unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.