By Enyichukwu Enemanna
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged the Group of 20 leading economies to admit African Union as permanent member.
The G-20 is composed of the world’s major industrial and emerging economies and represents more than 80% of the world’s gross domestic product.
“We call for continued G-20 support for the African Renewable Energy Initiative as a means of bringing clean power to the continent on African terms,” Ramaphosa told the G-20 summit in Indonesia on Tuesday.
“This can be best achieved with the African Union joining the G-20 as a permanent member,” he added.
The G-20 meeting is taking place at the same time as the UN climate summit in Egypt.
The African Union represents the continent’s 54 countries. The representation would allow African countries to more effectively press the G-20 group to implement its pledge to help the continent to cope with climate change.
Ramaphosa expressed concern at the “lack of progress in key issues” at the multilateral negotiations at the climate conference.
“Industrialized countries in the G-20 need to demonstrate more ambitious climate action and must honor their financial commitments to developing economies,” he said.
South Africa is currently the only African member of the G-20.
