Pretoria: South Africa, through the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), is set to host the second technical meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) next week. The event, scheduled to take place from July 14-18, will be held at the Kruger National Park (KNP) in Skukuza, Mpumalanga, bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders.

According to Nam News Network, the ECSWG meeting will facilitate discussions on a range of important topics, including biodiversity and conservation, climate change, land degradation, desertification and drought, chemicals and waste management, air quality, and ocean and coastal issues. The meeting at KNP is part of a series of three ECSWG engagements hosted by South Africa during its G20 Presidency, aiming to integrate sustainability discussions within G20 Working Groups.

The gathering will see the participation of over 250 delegates, comprising representatives from G20 member states, invited countries, international organisations, government officials, and the media. The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, is expected to launch G20 legacy projects at the meeting, including the Rhino Renaissance Campaign, which aims to showcase conservation efforts in combating wildlife crime. A live demonstration of the rhino dehorning process will be conducted by the South African National Parks Veterinary Services in the presence of the minister and selected delegates.

Additionally, leaders will participate in a symbolic tree planting ceremony outside the Nombolo Mdluli Conference Centre, planting 20 trees to represent each G20 member. This initiative is part of South Africa's National Greening Programme, which seeks to plant 10 million trees over five years, aligning with the Presidential imperatives on greening.