The G7 will do more against climate change, supply a billion vaccines to developing countries and act as a bloc against China’s emerging economic power. These are the main outcomes of three days of meetings in Cornwall, England, with the seven largest industrialized countries in the West: the US, Canada, Japan, Italy, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. This afternoon became the final statement (.pdf) published.
It has been agreed to limit the use of coal worldwide. Not only do the countries do this themselves, but they also free up money for alternatives to coal use in developing countries. By 2030, C02 emissions must be halved and by 2050 economies must be climate neutral.
As far as the G7 is concerned, coal can only be used if there is technology to capture the emissions. In total, the countries must raise an amount of 100 billion dollars per year for joint climate aid to poor countries. The countries did not agree on a concrete date when coal should be banned permanently.
The G7 also plans to help developing countries with more vaccines. By the end of 2022, the participants want to deliver 1 billion doses. The International Monetary Fund welcomed the deal, but said 1 billion doses is just the beginning.
Chinese does
A major topic of discussion throughout the summit was China. It was agreed to jointly form a power bloc against China, including the initiative for a major infrastructure project in developing countries. In this way, the G7 hopes to counter the influence of China in those countries.
There were also some smaller teasing punches. The G7 spoke out against forced labor in general, but put the magnifying glass on China. The group wants to “counteract state-sponsored forced labor of vulnerable groups and minorities”. This refers to the forced labor that Uyghurs have to perform in Xinjiang, in western China.
The six other G7 countries also supported a call from US President Joe Biden to re-examine the origins of the coronavirus, which they say China has not provided enough clarification on. It also took a stand against Beijing’s increasing meddling in Hong Kong.
Sausage from Toulouse
There was not only unanimity during the summit. In the margins, a riot unfolded between the United Kingdom and France over Northern Ireland. The status of Northern Ireland was one of the most difficult files during the Brexit negotiations and still leads to tensions.
The stumbling block was now a conversation about sausages. Northern Ireland is part of the UK, but because it shares a border with Ireland, the country actually still follows many EU rules. Goods transported from the rest of Great Britain to Northern Ireland must therefore be subject to a check, is the agreement with the EU, but those rules are not strictly observed.
British Prime Minister Johnson asked French President Macron during the summit how he would feel if sausages from Toulouse were not allowed to be sold in Paris. Macron then said the comparison did not hold because Toulouse and Paris are in the same country. According to the British, Macron implied that Northern Ireland is not part of the United Kingdom.
–
