SEforALL Helps Shape a Stronger Energy-for-Development Focus in the G20
“Energy has emerged as the fulcrum of justice, resilience and survival.”
With these words, the G20 Presidency unveiled its new coffee-table book, produced by SEforALL, which is a two-decade look at how energy has moved from the margins of G20 discussions to a defining global priority.
When the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg concluded at the end of November, that shift was unmistakable: energy now sits at the centre of international economic cooperation and development policy. South Africa used its Presidency to further link energy access and energy security to shaping jobs, investments and long-term economic stability.
G20 countries agreed to expand access to clean, modern household cooking solutions, and to follow up on the USD 2.2 billion pledged in 2024 to support Africa’s clean energy transition. They strengthened targets on renewable energy and energy efficiency, prioritised new regional power grid links across Africa, and called for changes in global finance so developing countries can invest in clean energy at lower cost.
Four Global South Presidencies Pushing for Energy
This momentum did not start in Johannesburg.
Indonesia set the direction in 2022 with the Bali Energy Transitions Roadmap, uniting G20 countries around shared goals on energy access, clean technologies and financing. India advanced this in 2023 through its LiFE agenda, highlighting how energy efficiency and everyday choices can cut emissions, and making access to safe, modern cooking fuels, known as clean cooking, a priority. And Brazil’s 2024 Presidency strengthened the ambition by securing agreement to triple global renewable energy capacity and double the pace of efficiency improvements by 2030.
South Africa built on this foundation by making energy access and affordability central to its Presidency. It prioritised new cross-border grid projects to strengthen Africa’s regional power pools, while calling for changes to the global finance system so that developing countries can borrow at lower cost and get more support when investing in clean energy.
How SEforALL Advances Energy as a Core G20 Priority
SEforALL has played a decisive role in driving this shift, providing continuity across successive Presidencies.
A major part of this contribution has taken place through the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG), where SEforALL has been an active partner since working with the Japanese Presidency in 2019. The ETWG is the main vehicle used by G20 governments and experts to shape positions on energy access, affordability, security, efficiency, renewables, technology and finance. SEforALL’s inputs have fed directly into ministerial communiqués and, ultimately, into the Leaders’ Declaration.
During India’s Presidency, for example, SEforALL worked with government partners on energy efficiency and lifestyle-based behavioural change, shaping the LiFE agenda. Our long-standing work on clean cooking has also influenced the G20’s agenda, from the first energy-access discussions under Saudi Arabia in 2020, through India and Brazil, and now into South Africa’s push for clean cooking infrastructure investment.
SEforALL has also been active in the G20’s transition finance discussions. We have pushed for solutions that make clean energy investments cheaper and less risky for developing countries, and for international financial institutions to better support countries that struggle with high borrowing costs. This has helped put energy access and fairness at the centre of the G20’s economic agenda.
Historic Momentum for More Clean Energy
Johannesburg set a clear direction for expanding energy access and accelerating renewables and efficiency. It also put scaled clean cooking and stronger regional grids firmly on the agenda.
SEforALL will help move this work forward by supporting governments and partners in translating political commitments into practical solutions, through targeted technical assistance, data-driven planning tools and convening power that connects policymakers, financiers and communities. The commitment across four Global South Presidencies of Indonesia, India, Brazil and South Africa has created historic momentum. SEforALL’s continued partnership with the G20 will help ensure it turns into impact.
Photo credits: UNCTAD
