To secure a stable and fruitful future for the G20 as a forum for multilateral agreements and commitments, the goals of the G20 will need to adapt to the recent, dramatic fracturing of geopolitical relations. This piece spells out three critically important aspects of such adaptation.

First, the G20 can take several straightforward steps in response to the current state of fractured geopolitics. In particular, the G20 Troika can be strengthened to allow for longer-term planning and execution of G20 policies. Furthermore, the complementary policymaking efforts of the G20 and UN need to be connected more formally to permit them to reinforce one another. In addition, for issues of long-term global importance, it is advisable to consider strengthening the precedent of concluding G20 agreements without consensus. Finally, multilateral goals will need to be framed in terms of national objectives, in addition to the global public interest. In other words, the pursuit of multilateralism must be driven not only by a whole-world ethic, but also be brought into alignment with the pursuit of nationalism.

Second, the theme of South Africa’s G20 Presidency – solidarity, equality, sustainability – must be put on a concrete, empirically implementable footing, whereby future G20 agreements and commitments may be evaluated. Thereby this theme can turn into a lasting legacy of the recent Global South G20 presidencies of Indonesia, India, Brazil and South Africa, for future G20 problem-solving efforts.

Third, the G20 must make substantial progress towards integrating its top-down macroeconomic recommendations with bottom-up national policies. G20 macroeconomic proposals are rarely, if ever, implementable without complementary national policy initiatives. Furthermore, civil society acceptance of G20 recommendations depends on civil participation at national and more local levels, in line with the principle of subsidiarity.

Enhancing G20 Mechanisms for International Coordination

In an era of complex geopolitical tensions, the G20 must enhance its mechanisms for international coordination to effectively address global challenges. The following strategies can strengthen the G20’s role in global problem-solving.

Strengthening the G20 Troika

The G20 Troika ensures continuity in agenda-setting and policy implementation across G20 presidencies. To enhance its role, the following steps can be taken.

• Institutionalise collaboration: Formalise regular meetings and information-sharing protocols among Troika members to align agendas.
• Expand the Troika’s mandate: Empower the Troika to make interim decisions on urgent global issues, allowing for more agile responses between annual summits.
• Engage a broader range of stakeholders: Include representatives from more international organisations, civil society and the private sector in Troika consultations to incorporate diverse perspectives and enhance legitimacy.

Such measures can mitigate the impact of fractured geopolitical relations by promoting a continuous approach to global governance.

Formalising the G20 and UN Policymaking Connections

While the G20 and the UN address overlapping global issues, their coordination is often informal, leading to potential policy gaps. The following strategies can promote policy coherence and resource utilisation, strengthening responses to shared challenges.

• Establish liaison mechanisms: Create dedicated liaison offices to facilitate communication and coordination between G20 working groups and relevant UN agencies.
• Align agendas: Synchronise G20 priorities with the UN Sustainable Development Goals to ensure coherent policy development and implementation.
• Joint task forces: Form joint task forces on critical issues such as climate change, health crises and economic inequality, leveraging the strengths of both organisations for comprehensive solutions.

Reconciling Multilateral and National Approaches

When the G20 presidency is handed over to the US in December 2025, its agenda will be confronted by the ‘America first’ ideology, leaving the ‘me first-approach’ of other G20 members in its wake. G20 policymaking must be prepared for this transition. This will mean restating multilateral goals in nationalist terms.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, this reframing of the G20 agenda is not difficult to achieve. After all, the G20 is concerned exclusively with global public goods, for which multilateral collaboration yields greater benefits than the sum of uncoordinated national policies. Consequently, it is almost always possible to divide these benefits among countries so that all countries become better off than they would be on their own.

National leaders are generally judged by their ability to protect and promote their country’s welfare. By framing multilateral cooperation as a means to enhance national security, prosperity and sustainability, states can see international engagement not as a dilution of their national sovereignty but as a reinforcement of their own national interests. When multilateral initiatives deliver tangible benefits, these successes can bolster domestic legitimacy. As such international cooperation becomes an extension of nationalist policy, where global solutions serve national ends. This approach allows governments to maintain national pride while engaging constructively on the world stage.

Furthermore, recognising that many G20 member states remain committed to the global public interest per se, the G20 must also frame its proposals in the interests of our shared humanity. The interconnectedness of people and nations is powerfully articulated through the spirit of Ubuntu – ‘I am because we are’.

Concluding G20 Agreements Without Consensus

The G20 traditionally operates on a consensus-based decision-making process, which can lead to gridlock, especially amid geopolitical tensions. In these cases, it is possible to follow precedents for alternative approaches, including

• Coalitions of the willing: Allow subsets of G20 members to advance initiatives collectively, enabling progress among willing participants without requiring unanimous consent.
• Flexible commitment frameworks: Adopt agreements that permit variable commitments, accommodating diverse national circumstances while maintaining collective ambition.

The 19+1 approach to climate action under the German G20 presidency in 2017 set a key precedent for concluding G20 agreements without full consensus. At the G20 Hamburg Summit, the G19 (all G20 members except the US) reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Paris Agreement. A separate clause acknowledged the US position. This approach enabled a major global commitment to move forward despite opposition from one key member.

Implementing ‘Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability’

The G20 has traditionally focused primarily on economic and financial goals, but it has become increasingly clear in recent years that social solidarity, generated in the pursuit of G20 goals, is essential for building trust, creating a sense of shared purpose and mutual responsibility, and upholding the legitimacy of the G20. Solidarity mitigates societal divisions and prevents the social fragmentation that can arise from unequal development. This unity is crucial for creating a stable environment where long-term investments in infrastructure, skills and environmental sustainability can be made confidently.

Equality – particularly equality of opportunity – is essential for promoting personal and social agency. Empowering individuals and communities enhances their capacity to contribute to economic and political life. Such agency leads to more responsive governance and a vibrant civil society. Inclusive participation at all levels ensures that the benefits of economic growth and environmental protection are widely distributed. When citizens feel capable of influencing change they are more likely to support and engage with reforms, leading to more robust and sustainable policy outcomes.

Sustainability is another pillar of G20 problem-solving. The health of the planet is the bedrock on which long-term economic prosperity and social well-being are built. Environmental degradation and climate change threaten not only natural ecosystems but also economic stability and public health. A shift toward sustainable practices is essential to safeguard resources for future generations. Integrating sustainability into economic planning helps prevent ecological collapse, ensuring that growth today does not compromise the well-being of tomorrow.

Looking to the future of the G20, these three goals – solidarity, agency and sustainability – should always accompany the traditional G20 focus on economic growth, which remains a fundamental driver for improving living standards, reducing poverty and creating the fiscal space needed for public investments. However, unbridled pursuit of material gain often exacerbates social and economic inequalities. Solidarity (S), agency (A), gain (G) and environmental sustainability (E) are key to a SAGE approach to G20 policymaking.

But merely identifying these goals is not enough. To influence the G20 policy process, these goals must be measured consistently across countries and through time, much as GDP growth is measured consistently and has become a key indicator of national and international success. A significant step in this direction has been made through the SAGE dashboard, which covers 100-plus countries over the past 15 years and is the subject of ongoing theoretical and empirical research.

Consistent measurement of the SAGE dashboard should be understood as a first step towards the measurement of government policy effectiveness and business performance on this basis. This, in turn, is a first step towards accounting for and reporting on the economic, social and environmental costs and benefits of government and business activities. Without this, there is little hope of constructing a new model of growth and development that embraces traditional economic concerns as well as those highlighted by populists. For nations to succeed, they need to perform well across the entire SAGE spectrum.