THE G7 SUMMIT

What is the G7?

The G7 stands for the ‘Group of Seven’ and is a assembly of government chiefs from some of the world’s wealthiest nations.

The countries which make up the G7 have met each year since the 1970s. The 2021 summit will be the 47th meeting to take place. It held in UK this year.

The group used to be known as the G8 until Russia was excluded in 2014 because of its takeover of Crimea.

What does the G7 do?

The prime ministers and presidents from the G7 countries meet yearly to discuss problems facing the world – including economic issues, health emergencies and the climate crisis.

Earlier G7 summits have concentrated on subjects ranging from debt relief for developing countries, health emergencies such as HIV and AIDS and global security threats.

Participants, INVITEES AND THEIR probable representatives:

The “Group of Seven” and their representatives are:

  1. Canada was represented by Prime Minister Justin Trudea
  2. France was represented by President Emmanuel Macron
  3. Germany was represented by Chancellor Angela Merkel
  4. Italy was represented by Prime Minister Mario Draghi
  5. Japan was represented by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga
  6. United Kingdom was represented by Prime Minister Boris Johnson
  7. United States was represented by President Joe Biden

This year UK hosted G7 Summit and was held on 11 – 13 June ‘21

Following Countries were invited and were represented by their respective leaders:

  1. Australia was represented by Prime Minister Scott Morrison
  2. India was represented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi
  3. South Korea was represented by President Moon Jae-in
  4. South Africa was represented by President Cyril Ramaphosa

What happened in the Summit?

Topics of conversation included developing a response to the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to call for the G7 to work on a world-wide approach to pandemics to ensure a uniform global supply of COVID-19 vaccines and to avoid future pandemics. He suggested a five-point plan to prevent future pandemics, which includes a worldwide network of zoonotic research hubs, developing global manufacturing capacity for treatments and vaccines, the design of a global early warning system, the agreement of global protocols for a future health emergency and the reduction of trade barriers.

The G7 nations decided to pledge 1 billion vaccines to other countries. Johnson also focused on climate change, a top priority for the United Kingdom ahead of the COP26 conference. UK Secretary for Business Kwasi Kwarteng has indicated that Johnson pursued organized action on carbon border taxes, green finance, the phase-out of coal and helping poorer countries to step up climate action. While the taxes have been backed by the EU and US, EU climate ambassador Mark Vanhuekelen designated that Australia may resist the measures. The G7 nations pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.

India has said it supports a follow-up review by the World Health Organization (WHO) for a new and evident enquiry into the roots of the coronavirus pandemic.

News reports on Friday said G7 leaders in their summit at Cornwall in Britain will call for a new investigation into the origins of the coronavirus while assuring one billion doses of vaccines for countries world-wide.