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As the G20 summit continues in Johannesburg, international relations analyst Dr Oscar van Heerden emphasised the critical need for G20 funding commitments to support sustainable energy transitions that directly benefit communities reliant on coal, particularly in developing countries.<\/span><\/p>\n The G20 leaders pledged ambitious targets, including tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030. <\/span><\/p>\n They also underscored \u201cthe crucial role of technologically neutral, integrated, and inclusive approaches to energy security and energy transitions,\u201d while committing to \u201ccatalysed, scaled-up investment from all relevant financial sources and channels\u201d to bridge the broad funding gap in clean energy.<\/span><\/p>\n On Saturday, the summit communiqu\u00e9 highlighted facilitating low-cost financing mechanisms – such as concessional finance, innovative blended finance, and risk mitigation instruments – aimed at accelerating the sustainable energy transition globally.<\/span><\/p>\n Welcoming the commitments, Van Heerden urged that funding must be structured to ease financial burdens on affected coal-reliant communities.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe need financing that does not have such a high servicing cost. If financing is better structured, it means more money flows directly to governments, like South Africa\u2019s, to support essential public services such as healthcare,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCommunities in Mpumalanga, including Nkomati, rely heavily on coal – if those coal plants shut down without adequate support, people will suffer. The funds must be oriented toward introducing new technologies and economic opportunities in these areas.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Van Heerden also highlighted the continent\u2019s strategic role in the extraction of critical minerals, noting that nearly 30% of minerals mined in Africa are processed elsewhere and stressing the need for a united approach to beneficiation.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe days of extracting minerals like platinum or resources from the DRC for technology abroad are numbered if we don\u2019t speak with one voice. If we don\u2019t ensure beneficiation on the continent, <\/span>ordinary African youth will not benefit from these resources<\/span>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The G20 leaders, recognising the growing demand for critical minerals, acknowledged the challenges faced by producer countries, including underinvestment and limited value addition. <\/span><\/p>\n They welcomed the new G20 Critical Minerals Framework as a \u201cvoluntary, non-binding blueprint\u201d to make mineral resources drivers of \u201cprosperity and sustainable development.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond policy, Van Heerden praised South Africa\u2019s hospitality during its historic G20 presidency – the first ever hosted on African soil.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe spirit of ubuntu – \u2018I am because you are\u2019 – was on full display this weekend as the world descended on South Africa. From the moment our guests arrived, the warmth and generosity of our people were evident.” <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis summit was not only a government effort but a collective showcase of Africa\u2019s hospitality, professionalism, and openness to partners worldwide.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n As the G20 leaders continued their meetings, Van Heerden stated that South Africa\u2019s successful hosting highlighted its emerging role as a pivotal player in global multilateralism and climate diplomacy, with a clear message that funding for just clean energy transitions must reach and uplift vulnerable communities long dependent on coal.<\/span><\/p>\n thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za<\/p>\n Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n As the G20 summit continues in Johannesburg, international relations analyst Dr Oscar van Heerden emphasised the critical need for G20 funding commitments to support sustainable energy transitions that directly benefit communities reliant on coal, particularly in developing countries. The G20 leaders pledged ambitious targets, including tripling global renewable energy capacity and doubling the annual rate […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":262880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[961,19775,1529,13006,12564,6185,8912,7070,11766],"class_list":{"0":"post-262879","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-politics","8":"tag-calls","9":"tag-coaldependent","10":"tag-energy","11":"tag-expert","12":"tag-g20","13":"tag-protect","14":"tag-regions","15":"tag-summit","16":"tag-transition"},"yoast_head":"\nGet your news on the go. Download the latest App for Android and IOS now.<\/em><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"