G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit to discuss parliamentary responses to global challenges

President Cyril Ramaphosa will officially open the 11th G20 Parliamentary Speakers’ Summit (P20), which will bring together Speakers of Parliament and Presiding Officers from G20 member countries to discuss parliamentary responses to global challenges.

Kleinmond in the Western Cape, located about an hour and 20 minutes outside of Cape Town, will be a hive of activity this week with Parliament hosting the summit from 1 to 3 October 2025 at the Arabella Hotel.

The landmark event coincides with South Africa’s G20 Presidency and the recent inclusion of the African Union as a member of the G20. The summit will provide the country and the African continent with an opportunity to lead discussions that shape global governance and legislative priorities.

The summit is also expected to draw international attention to the country and provide a platform to engage in parliamentary diplomacy.

This year’s Speakers’ Summit will be held under the theme: “Harnessing Parliamentary Diplomacy for the Realisation of Global Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”.

The theme highlights the role parliaments can play in driving inclusive, sustainable and collaborative solutions to global challenges, advancing shared responsibility for shared prosperity.

In the lead-up to the event, the 2nd P20 Meeting of Women Parliamentarians and the P20 Young Parliamentarians Conference will also be held in Kleinmond from 29 to 30 September 2025.

The P20 Meeting of Women Parliamentarians is a platform for dialogue, focusing on gender equality (Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5) and reducing inequalities (SDG 10). The P20 Meeting of Young Parliamentarians ensures youth perspectives are included in discussions.

The summit will address pressing global challenges through working sessions on:

• Disaster Resilience – early warning systems, preparedness, and protection of vulnerable communities.
• Debt Sustainability – transparency, accountability, debt relief, and collaboration for low-income countries.
• Just Energy Transition – renewable energy funding, climate adaptation, food security, and community support.
• Critical Minerals for Growth – responsible extraction, gender equality, local development, and public-private partnerships.

Among the outcomes expected from the summit is the adoption of the Cape Town Declaration from the 2nd P20 Meeting of Women Parliamentarians and the adoption of the P20 Young Parliamentarians Outcome Statement.

The declaration of the 11th P20 Speakers’ Summit is another outcome that will guide global parliamentary contributions to the work of the G20. The P20 aims to inform parliamentary deliberations on issues such as employment, education, healthcare, and sustainable development in South Africa and globally.

Previously, Speaker of the National Assembly, Thoko Didiza, and Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane, said in a statement that they take immense pride in hosting the first-ever P20 on African soil.

“The G20 serves as an essential international platform for shaping policies and strategies to address contemporary and emerging challenges and simultaneously upscale models and approaches to advance global peace, economic cooperation and sustainable development.

“Intensifying global warming, poverty, and inequality coupled with the rising global debt levels, protectionism sentiments and artificial intelligence risks, all calls for a unified parliamentary action across the globe. Now more than ever, there is a necessity for collective action from the parliamentarians to drive development, prosperity, and safeguard the future of humanity,” they said.

“Under the theme, we reaffirm our commitment to leveraging our legislative power to advance inclusive growth and sustainable development. Through fair trade, investment, and job creation – with a particular focus on empowering women and youth – we strive to contribute to a world grounded on solidarity, equality, and sustainability.

“As parliamentary leaders, we are uniquely positioned to influence global decision-making and legislative action. Let us collectively resolve to promote cooperation, uphold democratic values, and advance a more prosperous world for all,” they said.

theolin.tembo@inl.co.za