The G-7 Summit

The G7 summit which is being held in the United Kingdom, between June 11-13th,  involves seven nations considered the world’s most powerful. These countries are the United States (U.S), Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. The leaders are meeting under different circumstances, as against the last four years, where the U.S has a new president interested in global cooperation rather than isolation as promoted by the predecessor.

Globalisation has reduced the world to a spatial and economic village. The intertwined relations between people and countries are not hindered by borders. Invariably, what affects one country affects all countries as seen in the pandemic (novel coronavirus-COVID-19) and Climate Change. Thus, it is encouraging the U.S which is seen as the global leader has at its helm a President who understands and appreciates the dynamics of globalisation.

The summit is expected to have high on the agenda two critical issues. COVID-19 and Climate Change. Both, if not effectively managed, could be debilitating to development and man’s existence. It has been accepted by leading international organisations the importance of mitigating the pandemic given the impact on lives, the consequences for health and wellbeing, the financial impact on the global economy and reversing the progress made in the Human Development Index.

U.S President Joe Biden has led the way in committing to the global vaccination drive. Last Thursday he committed to sending millions of Pfizer vaccines to 100 hundred countries with no precondition.  Since President Biden’s announcement the other six countries have come together and together pledged one billion doses of vaccines to low-income nations. At the time of writing this editorial the global figures are 175 million infected persons and 3.79 million deaths. The virus is having dire consequences on employment, has wiped out businesses, economic dreams, and affecting vulnerable demographics such as women and elderly.

On Climate Change, President Biden has on the first day in Office not only had the United States rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement but in April stated “America’s commitment to leading a clean energy revolution and creating good-paying, union jobs – noting that the countries that take decisive action now will reap the economic benefits of the future.” In that April Summit, hosted by the White House, President Biden said his administration will target reducing emissions by 50-52 percent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels.

Over the next two days the summit will deliberate and as customary will issue their statement and intent in dealing with matters of theirs and the other world economies. The world will look forward to fruitful deliberations on the stated issues.