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Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – President Cyril Ramaphosa has emphasised the importance of unified leadership among developing nations, citing the concurrent presidencies of Brazil in BRICS and COP30, and South Africa in the G20, as a unique opportunity to strengthen multilateral cooperation.
Delivering his keynote address on 6 July 2025 during the “Environment, COP30 and Global Health” session at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Ramaphosa called for urgent global efforts to address development and climate challenges.
“Our shared leadership of these bodies must highlight the need to close the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation gap, bridge the climate ambition gap, and ensure that no one is left behind in just transition pathways,” he said.
He stated that BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – remains key to shaping a fairer model of international cooperation, grounded in equity, sustainability, and inclusive development. He urged that the bloc be leveraged to support climate-resilient growth throughout Africa and the broader Global South.
President Ramaphosa called for the reform of multilateral development banks to ensure they better reflect the priorities of developing countries and promote access to concessional finance. This, he said, would catalyse investments in early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and community-led climate adaptation.
The President also addressed the impact of declining global health funding, particularly the withdrawal of official development assistance, which threatens critical programmes for disease elimination and support for vulnerable groups.
Acknowledging the role of the Global Fund in combating Tuberculosis, HIV and Malaria, Ramaphosa warned that political neglect and funding cuts jeopardise hard-won progress.
As co-host of the Global Fund’s 8th replenishment campaign alongside UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, he urged countries, businesses, and donors to help raise US$18 billion for the 2027–2029 cycle.
“If successful, this will save 23 million lives, reduce the combined mortality rate by 64% compared to 2023, and prevent roughly 400 million infections,” he said.
Ramaphosa also highlighted the importance of investing in health systems and universal healthcare access for vulnerable nations in the Global South.
“BRICS must champion a new inclusive multilateralism. Let us use our collective voice to shape a just global order that uplifts all people and safeguards our planet,” he concluded.
The BRICS Summit, held from 6 to 7 July 2025, also focused on humanitarian crises in Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and Iran, while exploring stronger trade, tourism, and investment ties among BRICS members and their partners.
– SAnews.gov.za
