Johannesburg, South Africa – November 22, 2025 – The Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Declaration issued on Saturday during the summit in Johannesburg underscored the global urgency of tackling climate change, signaling a clear contrast to U.S. President Donald Trump, who boycotted the meeting. The declaration reflects a strong international consensus on the need to address global warming and the human activities that drive it, marking a notable diplomatic rebuke to Trump’s long-standing skepticism of climate science.

The declaration reaffirms commitments by major economies to pursue greenhouse gas reduction, accelerate the transition to renewable energy, and strengthen international cooperation on climate mitigation and adaptation. By emphasizing the scientific consensus on human-induced climate change, the G20 statement positions the summit as a forum for united action despite the absence of the United States, highlighting the determination of other member nations to move forward with environmental and sustainable policies.

Observers note that this emphasis on climate action also sends a diplomatic message, contrasting sharply with Trump’s continued doubts regarding anthropogenic global warming. Trump’s decision to skip the summit drew attention internationally, yet the G20 leaders’ strong language on the climate crisis reinforces the urgency and importance of multilateral engagement.

The Johannesburg summit comes at a time of mounting global climate risks, including record-breaking heatwaves, rising sea levels, and increasing frequency of extreme weather events. By placing climate change at the center of its declaration, the G20 demonstrates that leading economies recognize both the environmental and economic imperatives of transitioning to low-carbon and sustainable energy systems.

This move is consistent with the broader trend among international bodies, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which have repeatedly called for urgent action to limit global temperature rise and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement.

As the world grapples with escalating climate challenges, the G20’s declaration represents a unified stance from participating nations, emphasizing the necessity of coordinated policies, investment in green technologies, and financial support to vulnerable countries to cope with climate impacts.