Cape town: The third and final G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) Technical and Ministerial Meetings are set to begin on Monday. These meetings, which will take place in Cape Town, are slated to be led by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dr. Dion George. The gatherings will see participation from delegates representing G20 member states, invited guest countries, international organizations, research institutions, and other entities.

According to South African Government News Agency, the Ministerial Meeting is anticipated to adopt the concluding G20 ECSWG Ministerial Declaration. This declaration is expected to embody the consensus positions on global environmental governance, focusing on the six priorities identified by the South African Presidency of the G20 ECSWG. The meetings are scheduled to occur from 13-17 October 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) in the Western Cape. The first two meetings were conducted via a virtual format in March and an in-person technical session at Kruger National Park in July 2025.

Throughout the year, the department has facilitated multiple dialogues and workshops to dissect the ECSWG priorities. Most recently, the G20 ECSWG Science-Policy Dialogue took place from 10-12 September 2025 in Cape Town, in partnership with the South African Institute of International Affairs, to enhance engagement on technical recommendations and the Ministerial Declaration. The forthcoming ECSWG meeting will include legacy components such as the announcement of the winners of the Pangolin Pact G20 Schools Competition and a commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

These engagements will also serve as an opportunity to underscore South Africa’s Climate Change Act, the Just Energy Transition Investment Plan, and initiatives to bolster the biodiversity economy through strategies like the Kruger-Kirstenbosch-iSimangaliso Icon Strategy.