South Africa Is Ready to host the Second G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group Technical Meeting, says Minister George

13 July 2025

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has announced the Department’s readiness to host the second of three G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) technical meetings from 14 – 18 July 2025, at Kruger National Park, Skukuza, Mpumalanga.

“This technical meeting is our first in-person meeting and will ensure alignment with South Africa’s policy priorities and global sustainability commitments,” said Minister George. “After months of planning, we are ready to welcome over 250 delegates including representatives from G20 member states, invited countries, international organisations, government officials, and the media.”

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s (DFFE) deliverables as the coordinator of the ECSWG are:

• Leading and convening three ECSWG meetings (one virtual, one in-person technical meeting and one Ministerial meeting in October) to advance global cooperation on environmental sustainability. 

• Contributing to environmental and climate-related discussions within other G20 Working Groups to ensure an integrated approach to sustainability.

• Engaging with stakeholders and member states to drive collaborative initiatives and secure actionable outcomes in areas such as climate finance, biodiversity conservation, pollution management, and ocean governance

Within South Africa’s G20 Presidency theme of Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability, the meeting will build on the progress made at the first virtual ECSWG meeting held in March and will focus on deepening collaboration within the priorities of the G20 ECSWG. The priorities are biodiversity and conservation, climate change, land degradation, drought, chemicals and waste management, air quality and oceans and coasts.

“We are hosting this meeting at the Kruger National Park which is important for us as DFFE, in support of our Kruger-Kirstenbosch-Isimangaliso Icon Strategy (KISS), which seeks to elevate these iconic natural spaces – the Kruger National Park, Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, and iSimangaliso Wetland Park – into global standards in conservation, tourism, and community empowerment,” said Minister George.

The Minister of Forestry Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George will launch G20 legacy projects at the 2nd Technical meeting of the ECSWG.

Members of the media are invited to attend and cover the technical meeting and side events as follows:

DAY ONE: 14 JULY 2025

PART ONE: Opening of the Technical Meeting of the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) in Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga

Time: 09h00 – 10h00 
Venue: Skukuza Road, Kruger National Park, Hazyview, 1350, Mpumalanga 

PART TWO: G20 Tree planting activity - A symbolic tree planting ceremony, 20 trees, one for each G20 member outside the Nombolo Mdluli Conference Centre. This initiative forms part of South Africa’s National Greening Programme, which aims to plant 10 million trees over five years. It is a bold step toward addressing the Presidential imperatives on greening. 

Time: 12h30 – 14h00 
Venue: Skukuza Road, Kruger National Park, Hazyview, 1350, Mpumalanga 

DAY TWO: 15 JULY 2025 

Launch of G20 Legacy project: Rhino Renaissance Campaign – Demonstrating conservation efforts in fighting wildlife crime – this will include a live demonstration of a dehorning of rhino process to be administered by the world-acclaimed South African National Parks Veterinary Services in the presence of the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and a selected group of delegates. Time: 12h00 to 14h00 Venue: Skukuza Road, Kruger National Park, Hazyview, 1350, Mpumalanga 

DAY FIVE: 18 JULY 2025

G20 Schools Competition – Essay Winners Announcement and Launch of G20 Legacy Project: The Pangolin Pact, starting with the schools awareness campaign, to teach children about wildlife crimes and how South Africa and other G20 nations are combatting the illegal trade of wildlife including pangolins, rhinos and lions. 

Time: 14h00 to 15h30 
Venue: Skukuza Road, Kruger National Park, Hazyview, 1350, Mpumalanga