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City of Johannesburg Mayor, Cllr Dada Morero, has sent a strong message to G20 conveners, urging them to recognise the indispensable role of cities in addressing global challenges, to provide the necessary resources, and to partner with cities in turning ambition into concrete outcomes.

“The U20 Communiqué is our call to action a demand that the G20 recognise the critical role of cities, provide the resources we need, and work with us to turn ambition into outcomes that matter,” said Morero.

Speaking at the U20 Closing Plenary in Sandton on Sunday, Morero stressed three key priorities for the G20: direct funding for cities, stronger partnerships, and a greater role for local governments in shaping global decisions.

“The U20 Communiqué we have developed is more than words on a page, it is our collective voice. It is a statement that cities are not waiting for permission,” he said.

“We are partners, innovators, and essential actors in shaping a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future. The Communiqué carries the weight of our shared experience, our ideas, and our commitment to leave no city and no community behind,” he added.

Echoing these sentiments, City of Tshwane Mayor, Dr. Nasiphi Moya, confirmed Tshwane’s full endorsement of the Communiqué.

“With over four million residents, this Communiqué speaks directly to the priorities of our city and the daily struggles of our people. As the Council of Tshwane, we stand firmly behind it, recognising that it reflects the urgent needs of our communities,” Moya said.

The three-day Summit which brought together city leaders, experts, and partners for robust discussions on urban priorities and global challenges, Mayor of Freetown and Co-Chair of C40 Cities, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, said the summit provides a practical guide for central government. 

“The U20 summit hasn't been a talk show: every single one of the priorities that have been listed in the U20 Communiqué speaks to the specific issues that our residents face, that citizens around the world face. It reinforces our positions as cities, gives direction and provides central governments with an opportunity to incorporate into their agendas more clearly the work that our cities are doing.

“As C40 Cities, we are committed to ensuring that this communique continues to be amplified because what it contains is what the world needs in order for us to strengthen multilateralism and show that we are renewing our global collaboration in addressing pressing issues.” Said Aki-Sawyer. 

Mark Watts C40 Cities Executive Director said this communiqué signals a new era of multilateralism.

“Partnering with cities is essential to delivering on key climate agreements, as the world faces rising division and slowing climate progress. This communiqué signals a new era of multilateralism, where cities are no longer just bystanders but are co-authors of a shared global future. It is a powerful statement of our collective commitment to a just transition, proving that meaningful climate action is inseparable from social equity”.

UCLG Secretary-General Emilia Saiz said the U20 Communiqué demonstrates cities’ power to drive democratic trust, shape global transformation, and advance a renewed vision of multilateralism.

“The U20 Communiqué shows that local and regional governments can drive the transformations needed to rebuild trust in democracy. We are not only demonstrating what cities can do but offering a new vision for the world and renewed multilateralism.”

The U20 Communiqué was officially received by the Minister for the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) Velenkosi Hlabisa, who promised to deliver it to the G20 Summit in November.

Issued by the City of Joburg