Through our network, Southern Voice had a strong presence at COP30 in Brazil this month. Representatives from SDPI (Pakistan), Plataforma CIPÓ (Brazil), SAIIA (South Africa), Asuntos del Sur (Argentina), Nkafu Policy Institute (Cameroon), INESAD (Bolivia), and CEDRES (Burkina Faso) contributed to panels, negotiations, and side events focused on climate justice, adaptation, sustainable finance, and the intersections between climate action and inequality. 

Their participation reinforced the essential role of Southern expertise in shaping climate solutions that are equitable, locally grounded, and globally relevant. It also demonstrates the network’s collective strength and its ability to influence global climate debates at the highest levels. Click below as we highlight quotes from Southern Voice members who participated in COP30 and shared their key insights with us:

Our member institution, the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) in Pakistan, was represented at COP30 in Belém by their Executive Director, Dr. Abid Qaiyum Suleri. In two recent articles, he reflected on the summit’s achievements and challenges. The first reviews COP30 midway, highlighting advances in adaptation and climate finance but hurdles on fossil fuel transitions and funding. The second provides a post-summit reflection, noting gains in adaptation and forest initiatives, equity concerns, and the gap between climate promises and action. We invite you to read them!

In addition, we highlight one of our key climate initiatives: a collaborative effort to shape a unified Global South climate change agenda by bringing together member expertise and engaging stakeholders across regions. This initiative is ongoing, and aims to close evidence gaps, amplify Southern perspectives, and strengthen the Global South’s influence in global climate debates. Stay tuned to learn more as the project develops! 

T20: Takeaways from South Africa 

Southern Voice also played a central role in this year’s T20, serving as co-chair of Task Force 4 (Solidarity and SDGs). This task force focuses on identifying practical mechanisms to accelerate the G20’s implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), advancing enablers, addressing negative spillovers, and improving food security through more sustainable food systems. Together with our partners, we contributed research-driven recommendations aimed at strengthening global cooperation and ensuring a more just, coherent, and effective SDG agenda. You can now read this year’s full T20 Communiqué.

We are also pleased to note that two Southern Voice members, SAIIA and the Institute for Global Dialogue (IDG) in South Africa, served as hosts of the T20. Their leadership helped ensure that Global South perspectives shaped the priorities, direction, and outputs of this year’s process, further reinforcing the growing influence and coordination of Southern institutions in global policy fora. Additional members who participated in this year’s T20 processes include: 

  • Dr. Karim Aynaoui (PCNS) and Luciana Servo (IPEA) in the International Advisory Council 
  • Rose Ngugi (KIPPRA) as Lead Co-Chair and Renato Baumann (IPEA) as Member of Task Force 1 (Trade and Investment) 
  • Fabio Veras Soares (IPEA) as Lead Co-Chair, and Ignacio Lara (Asuntos del Sur) and Gala Díaz Langou (CIPPEC) as Members of Task Force 4 
  • Maiara Folly (Plataforma CIPÓ) as Lead Co-Chair of Task Force 5 (Climate and Just Energy Transition) 

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