The 47th G7 Summit held in Carbis Bay, Cornwall on 11-13 June 2021 intended to address the following issues:

1. The global response to the Covid-19 pandemic;
2. Climate change;
3. The global approach to pandemics in general;
4. The equal, global distribution of vaccines;
5. The design of a global early warning system;
6. Global policies for future health emergencies and the reduction of trade barriers.

CONCLUDING STATEMENT FROM G7 SUMMIT

Following the conclusion of the summit, the leaders of the Group of Seven released a communique detailing the progress made. Please click here for the communique in full.

HIGHLIGHTS FOLLOWING THE CONCLUSION OF SUMMIT

• Prioritising a unified front against threats by China and Russia
  Addressing the issue at the conclusion of the summit, US President Joe Biden stressed the importance of finding a “democratic alternative”. He stated:
  ‘The leaders’ endorsement of a global minimum tax would help ensure global equity and a proposal to finance infrastructure projects in the developing world would counter the influence of China’.1

The summit raised questions on a number of other Chinese issues including: 2

–  G7 tells Beijing to respect rights in Xinjiang
–  G7 calls for preservation of Hong Kong freedoms
–  G7 urges study in China on COVID origins
–  Expresses concern over situation in East and South China Seas
–  G7 calls for peace in Taiwan Strait

The G7 also insisted Russia to take action against those carrying out cyber-attacks, insisting they ‘Stop destabilizing and malicious activities’3 and criticised Russia over the arrests of Alex Navalny and Roman Protasevich, and their actions in Ukraine and Belarus.

Reaction

In response, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in London said:

“The days when global decisions were dictated by a small group of countries are long gone… We always believe that countries, big or small, strong or weak, poor or rich, are equals, and that world affairs should be handled through consultation by all countries.”4

Immediately after the summit, Joe Biden met with Russian President Vladimir Putin with both agreeing to cooperate on global security (particularly identifying US entities that should be free from ransomware or other cyber-attacks). Both presidents agreed the meeting was ’productive’ and free from hostility.5

•  G7 unable to agree on a timeline to end the use of coal to generate electricity

G7, although were unable to secure a timeline for the cessation of the use of fossil fuels, promised to:
‘Phase out new direct government support for international carbon-intensive fossil fuel energy as soon as possible…To be credible, ambitions need to be supported by tangible actions in all sectors of our economies and societies’.6

Reaction

Climate activists with Extinction Rebellion commented on the summit leaders on their website describing the G7 commitment as a ‘dismal failure to match the urgency of the crisis we find ourselves in’.7

In research carried out by Charity Tearfund together with the Overseas Development Institute and the International Institute for Sustainable Development, in the previous year from January 2020 to March 2021 the current G7 countries committed USD$147 billion to spend on clean energy but spent USD$189 supporting the oil, gas and coal industry.8

• G7 failure to reach COVAX vaccine dose commitment of 1billion.
  The G7 members announced they had secured 870million doses for the COVAX programme, failing short of the promises made prior to the summit to secure one billion doses. (World Health Organisation has highlighted a requirement for 11billion.9)

Reaction

Ex UK Prime Minister, Gordon Brown described this as “an unforgiveable moral failure”.10

Max Lawson, Head of Equality for Oxfam stated:

“Never in the history of the G7 has there been a bigger pay gap between their actions and the needs of the world. We don’t need to wait for history to judge this summit a colossal failure”.11

GENERAL REACTION

COVAX and the Confederation of British Industry described the summit as ‘significant’, with CBI stating the summit had:

“Re-ignited a belief that the international community can come together in a spirit of collaboration to tackle the big issues of our age”.12

Lisa Nandy, Shadow Home Secretary commented:

“By every measure, the prime minister’s summit has come up short. No clear plan to vaccinate the world by the end of 2022. No ambitious commitments to place the world on the path to climate safety”.13

Nick Dearden, Director of Campaign Group Global Justice, now described the summit as not fit for purpose and calling it:

“A pointless exercise in grandstanding without making any substantive progress towards tackling the crises of our lifetimes”.14

Patrick Watt, Director of Policy, Public affairs and Campaigns at Christian Aid, was concerned about the implications the summit had on COP26 stating:

“The success of the COP26 climate summit now hangs in the balance. There is still time for rich nations to deliver a solidarity package that tackles these interconnected crises. Without it, the COP will fail.”15

SUMMIT PROTESTS

More than 20 people were arrested over the course of the weekend for offences including:

Conspiracy to commit public nuisance
Suspicion of obstructing a public highway
Being in possession of an article with intent to commit criminal damage
Being in possession of a hoax device 16

Thousands protested on the streets of Cornwall and London from groups including:

Surfers against Sewage
Free Tigray
Free Kashmir
Oxfam
Extinction Rebellion
Red Rebel Brigade
BLM
Pro Palestine
Animal Rebellion
Kill the Bill 17