MPs unite in Cape Town on climate action, debt relief & just energy transitions
Against the backdrop of the climate crisis, unsustainable debt burdens and growing inequality, parliamentary leaders from the world’s largest economies agreed today on bold actions to accelerate climate resilience, ensure fairer energy transitions and unlock sustainable development.
Meeting in Cape Town under the leadership of the Parliament of South Africa and with the support of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Speakers of Parliament from across the G20 closed the 11th Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20) with a pledge committed to addressing the world’s overlapping crises and ensuring that citizens’ voices shape global solutions.
Four high-level sessions focused on: Strengthening disaster resilience and responses; Ensuring debt sustainability for low-income countries; Mobilizing finance for a just energy transition; and, Harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth and sustainable development
Key commitments from the Joint Statement
. Parliaments’ push for climate finance and resilience
Lawmakers pledged to accelerate national climate plans, expand disaster preparedness, and make the Loss and Damage Fund fully operational, ensuring vulnerable communities can access support when crises hit.
. Debt relief for sustainable growth
Recognizing the growing debt distress faced by many low- and middle-income countries, the Summit called for comprehensive reforms to unlock resources for health, education and the Sustainable Development Goals.
. Fair energy transitions and critical minerals
The P20 committed to mobilizing investment in renewable energy, particularly in Africa, and to building responsible supply chains for critical minerals. MPs highlighted the importance of equitable energy access in rural areas, and of the active participation of women and youth in shaping solutions.
. Food security and sustainable farming
Speakers urged faster adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices, expanded research on indigenous and biofortified crops, and fair access to markets and technologies for all farmers, especially smallholders and family farmers.
The outcomes will be presented to the G20 Presidency and shared with parliaments worldwide to guide policy and oversight. The P20 Presidency now passes to the United States for 2026.
Women and youth at the forefront
At the Second P20 Meeting of Women Parliamentarians, delegates called for gender-responsive budgeting, leadership roles for women in climate action, and stronger measures to end gender-based violence.
The inaugural P20 Meeting of Young Parliamentarians urged greater youth participation in politics, digital inclusion, and climate resilience. Young MPs committed to mentoring future leaders and breaking barriers to political engagement.
Quotes
IPU Vice-President, Ms. Gabriela Morawska-Stanecka, said:
“Parliamentary diplomacy has many unique strengths: it allows the legitimately and democratically elected representatives of the people to engage in frank and direct dialogue with their counterparts around the world. Therefore, putting parliamentary diplomacy at the service of global solidarity, equality and sustainability is the mission we must pursue together.
The Speakers of the Parliaments of the G20 have been meeting for 15 years now and have worked to cement the importance of the P20 as a leading engagement group in the main G20 process. The IPU is pleased to have been a part of this development and stands ready to continue to support and help strengthen the P20 in the years ahead.”
About the P20
The P20 is the parliamentary dimension of the G20, ensuring that the voices of citizens are heard in global economic governance.
The Group of Twenty (G20) is an international forum for economic cooperation aimed at developing policies and strategies to tackle current and future global challenges. It accounts for 85% of the world’s gross domestic product, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population.
© 11th Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20)
