Skukuza: South Africa, through the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), is set to host the second technical meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) from 14-18 July 2025 at Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga. This significant event will facilitate high-level discussions on critical topics such as biodiversity and conservation, climate change, land degradation, desertification and drought, chemicals and waste management, air quality, and ocean and coastal issues.
According to South African Government News Agency, this meeting aims to build on the progress made during the first virtual ECSWG meeting held in March, focusing on deepening collaboration within the G20 ECSWG priorities. The DFFE is coordinating the ECSWG to ensure alignment with South Africa’s policy priorities and global sustainability commitments, emphasizing the promotion of global cooperation for environmental sustainability.
Key activities will include leading three ECSWG meetings, integrating sustainability discussions within G20 Working Groups, and collaborating with stakeholders and member states to achieve actionable results in climate finance, biodiversity, pollution management, and ocean governance. The meeting at Kruger National Park is part of a series of three ECSWG engagements hosted by South Africa during its G20 Presidency and will bring together over 250 delegates, including representatives from G20 member states, invited countries, international organizations, government officials, and the media.
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr. Dion George, will launch G20 legacy projects at the second technical meeting of the ECSWG. One of the highlights will be the launch of the Rhino Renaissance Campaign, demonstrating conservation efforts in combating wildlife crime. This includes a live demonstration of the dehorning of rhinos, administered by the renowned South African National Parks Veterinary Services, in the presence of the Minister and a selected group of delegates.
Additionally, leaders will participate in the G20 tree planting activity, a symbolic ceremony of planting 20 trees, one for each G20 member, outside the Nombolo Mdluli Conference Centre. This initiative is part of South Africa’s National Greening Programme, which aims to plant 10 million trees over five years, addressing the Presidential imperatives on greening.