The first-ever G20 leaders’ summit-hosted in Africa, brings a ray of hope for mitigating climate change and other induced emergencies, debt included, occurring globally-a call for an unequivocal and joint action.

The historic summit under the South African G20 Presidency held from 22-23, themed: “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” held in pursuit of, and in conformity with, the founding mission of the G20, South Africa, sought lasting and durable solution to the recurring climatic, debt induced and other challenges that have befallen the continent and stagnated growth.

A joint and signed declaration by various G20 leaders, acknowledges the need for joint effort to address major global challenges and discusses ways to promote solidarity, equality and sustainability as key pillars of inclusive growth.

Recognizing that disasters and shocks are increasing in frequency, intensity and geographic extent, hindering progress towards sustainable development and strain both national capabilities and the international system’s ability to respond.

This is despite whether the risks are induced by natural hazards, human made or exacerbated by climate change, there is an urgent need for redress to avert disasters affecting countries.

Disasters recurring globally, need special attention chiefly those already disproportionately impacted by disasters and that cannot afford the costs of adaptation, disaster mitigation, preparedness and recovery in particular, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

There is a need to moot integrated, inclusive, people-centred and comprehensive approaches to disaster risk reduction.

There is an urgent need to strengthen disaster resilience and response.
This includes taking coordinated action to reduce the incidence and negative impacts of disasters, including earthquakes, extreme heat, floods, droughts and wildfires, desertification, and ensure our readiness to help each other, and partners, when needed.

The leaders unanimously encouraged the global community, including donors, international financial institutions, development banks and the private sector, to address post disaster recovery and reconstruction and adaptation, disaster mitigation, preparedness and rebuilding measures.

This, according to the communique, be done in ways that promote sustainable resilience, particularly for developing countries and those most vulnerable, respecting their national circumstances and priorities.

“There’s is an urgent need to invest in building sustainable resilience, prioritising prevention and taking anticipatory action, rooted in evidence-based policy making. “the leaders said

This approach, they agreed, can include the expansion and greater use of affordable, inclusive and accessible pre-arranged financing mechanisms, to strengthen exante disaster risk reduction and preparedness for timely, flexible, effective, comprehensive and equitable disaster response and recovery.

This can take place while placing people’s lives and livelihoods at the core. There is also a dire need to include financing that motivates ex-ante Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).

These include parametric insurance, risk pools, contingent credit, catastrophe bonds, insurance guarantee facilities linked to elective delivery mechanisms, particularly adaptive social protection systems, and take note of initiatives such as the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

This can help reduce climate and other induced disasters.
The meeting welcomed the G20 Voluntary High-Level Principles for Investing in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and encouraged international collaboration on strengthening investment in DRR and for G20 Members.

It’s imperative for invited countries, where appropriate, to incorporate these into national and sub-national planning and financial systems across all relevant sectors and at all levels in line with national circumstances, priorities and needs.

The delegates recognised the Recovery Readiness Assessment Framework, developed under South Africa’s G20 Presidency, as a valuable voluntary tool for proactive, inclusive, and sustainable recovery planning to incorporate priority actions for resilient recovery.

Increasing large-scale disasters disproportionately affect people in vulnerable situations in ways that exacerbate poverty and inequality, especially for low come groups.

The G20 leader summit did not mince its resolve to fight inequalities and reduce vulnerabilities. The developing countries require an enhanced provision of means of implementation, including adequate, sustainable and timely resources,

This can be done through international cooperation and global partnerships for development, and continued international support, to strengthen their efforts to reduce disaster risk, with a call for natural approach solutions.

“We welcome nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches as measures to minimise risk and build resilience to certain hazards while providing ecosystem services.

The meeting noted the importance of strengthening partnerships to promote mutually beneficial technology cooperation and the exchange of good practices, as well as the need for inclusive, sustainable and quality infrastructure investment as a foundation for stronger recovery and resilience and long term-development.

There is an urgent need to protect all countries through universal coverage of early warning systems and highlight the importance of the call for the implementation of the UN Early Warnings for All Initiative by 2027.

South Africa was commended for being the first country to launch its Roadmap under the initiative.

The leaders have since reaffirmed the importance of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) 2015–2030 and acknowledge the strong synergies between the SFDRR, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement.