Cape Town set to host the F20 Climate Solutions Forum: A pivotal moment for Africa

Cape Town will host the 2025 F20 Climate Solutions Forum on 27–28 May, marking the first time the global event takes place on African soil. 

Co-hosted by the Foundations Platform F20 and Democracy Works Foundation, the forum aims to put Africa’s climate and development priorities at the centre of global philanthropic and policy discussions.

Timed ahead of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, the event will gather climate leaders, philanthropies, and civil society to drive inclusive governance, sustainable finance, and climate justice. 

With South Africa holding the G20 presidency, the forum supports the theme ‘Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainable Development’.

Profile speakers include EU Ambassador Sandra Kramer, Cape Town Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews, and Dorah Modise of the Presidential Climate Commission.

Sessions will span topics such as food security, democratic resilience, and just energy transitions, with strong focus on trust, transition, and transformation.

The forum is supported by key local and global partners including the Nelson Mandela Foundation, IPASA, and the Clean Air Fund, and will be held in hybrid format at the Old Mutual Conference Centre in Kirstenbosch.

This milestone event promises to elevate Africa’s voice in shaping climate policy and philanthropy on the global stage.

“Africa is now in a strategic position to hold an important space in climate diplomacy, because it can help shape the future of the multilateral system- which is at the momentin tatters but that does not mean we should give up.” said Saliem Fakir, Executive Director of the African Climate Foundation, echoed this call for deeper collaboration.

Fakir stressed that Africa’s growing relevance in critical minerals must be harnessed to build green industries and diversify economies.

"South Africa continues to show that especially in numerous arenas whether it concerns coal, oil or gas and the extractives industries. Peoples participation and voices also bring out important concerns that citizens may have and will have an influence on the allocation of state resources – one critical area is resilience against extreme weather.

He urged unity among African nations, warning that fragmentation weakens the continent’s influence on the global stage. 

"Internal we need to speak with one voice rather than 54 African states trying to act independently. Here we need to ensure the African Union is well resourced to provide this coordination role. Externally – external parties can use Africa’s fragmented political sovereignties as a way to divide us an prevent us from achieving consensus. There are avenues to do so through the AU’s Heads of State Group on Climate CAHOSC, AMCEN and the African Group of Negotiators."

On the link between democracy and climate action, Fakir stressed:

We are in a difficult period this is where the context calls for exceptional leadership. TheG20 is that point as we are at an inflexion point in global geopolitics. The South AfricanG20 Presidency can only succeed if it brings the whole of Africa on board. The South

African Presidency is working hard to make sure African issues receive the attention and prioritisation it deserves.

Katrin Harvey, Secretary General of Foundations Platform F20 agreed and further explained:

“The theme of the Climate Solutions Forum is Trust. Transition. Transformation: Building Relationships for Climate Solidarity, the intention of which is to position community as the key to climate action. 

"We purposefully mirrored South Africa’s G20 priorities which include inclusive economic growth; industrialisation, employment, and reduced inequality; food security as well as data governance and innovation for sustainable development. The 2025 Climate Solutions Forum incorporates these themes while emphasising the intersection of social justice and development with climate action."

Highlighting the South African G20 presidency, Harvey praised its strong regional and Global South collaboration.

The South African G20 presidency will conclude the first G20 cycle as the final of four consecutive Global South G20 presidencies and the first one on the African continent. The uniqueness here is on the one hand the very good collaboration with the Brazilian presidency, in carrying forwards successes and continuing on issues that need more attention.

"It's great to see a strong focus on intersectionality from the South African leadership, a thorough understanding of solidarity that goes beyond the South African borders and includes voices from across the continent and the Global South.

"The evident connection between climate and development is a very important point for the climate conversation, and something that has been clear from the very start of the South African G20 presidency; the same goes for the elevation of the adaptation and resilience components, in addition to climate mitigation.

"There are many other examples, but the final one I'd like to mention is the contribution toward a just approach to all the transitions that we need to navigate as we are taking climate action. This comes out very clearly in the conversations around country platforms, which are locally led and well-coordinated hubs to drive climate action that leaves no one behind."

tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za

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