【GEI Insight】G7 Differ on Climate

From May 26-27, Taormina, Italy is hosting this year’s G7 (Group of Seven) summit. Leaders from the world’s most industrialized countries, namely Canada, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, France, Italy and the United States, along with representatives from the European Union, joined together for high-level talks and outlining of strategies around global and foreign policy issues. 

Photo Courtesy of Associated Press

Talks at G7 are framed around the theme of “Building the Foundations for Renewed Trust,” focused on immigration, climate, and the economy. Among these talks, Russia’s stance on Syria is expected to be highly discussed. So far, leaders have come together to increase efforts against terrorism. 

New to this year's G7 are: Gentiloni (Italy), Trump (U.S.), Macron (France), and May (UK). 

Given that climate remains a centerpiece of these big talks, here’s what we should know going in.

Who’s who and who’s got the biggest (carbon) footprint

As the world’s most industrialized countries, the G7 makes up 1/3 of the world's carbon emissions. German think tank, Germanwatch, created the Climate Change Performance Index for G7 countries, ranking them based on each country’s efforts to curbing climate change. 

Source: Climate Change Performance Index 2017/Germanwatch

For full report: http://bit.ly/2g0yYZZ

From the Index, we can see promising trends including the growth of renewables and the decline in energy intensity.

Germanwatch underlined the importance of a collective commitment toward climate from the world’s industrialized economies, citing that the performance rankings 1-3 remain unoccupied because: 

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… Even after the Paris Agreement came into force, no country has yet done enough to prevent the dangerous impacts of climate change” 

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France, UK, and Italy have ranked highest among their G7 allies, let alone in the world. Their success is attributed in part to their respective, ambitious legislation, such as France's new clean energy law and UK’s Climate Change Act.

Dancing to a different climate beat

Just last month, G7 leaders gathered in Rome, Italy to prepare. They submitted their pledges that would lead to a final communiqué, outlining strategies for issues to later discuss at the summit. 

Photo Courtesy of Mike Segar/Reuters

Energy ministers of each country – except the U.S. –  came forth to collectively uphold the Paris climate accord. The agreement, made after the UNFCCC COP21 Summit in Paris, was signed in 2016 by nearly 200 countries (including the U.S.) to set carbon emissions targets that would curb climate change. 

Throwing a wrench in these talks and Obama-era climate efforts, the Trump administration sought to include more language about fossil fuel development in the G7 communiqué. 

What's next?

It remains unclear if the U.S. will remain committed to the Paris agreement. While the Trump administration has remained skeptical of climate and has even rolled back Obama's  climate work, 71% of Americans are in support of staying in the agreement. 

Pope Francis and former U.S. President Obama urged Trump to uphold the country’s Paris pledge. For environmentalists, the Trump administration’s decisions signal a major stall on progress made during the previous U.S. presidency. 

Regardless the outcome of the U.S. remaining in the Paris Agreement, what's for certain is that there is a great opportunity for climate leadership from China and other countries, especially the G7. 

Photo Courtesy of Denis Balibouse/Reuters

In an address to the United Nations in Geneva earlier in January, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated China's commitment to uphold Paris, explaining: "The Paris agreement is a milestone in the history of climate governance. We must ensure this endeavor is not derailed."

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There is only one Earth in the universe and we mankind have only one homeland. 

- Chinese President Xi Jinping

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Given the latest events, the world - and the planet - shall eagerly await to see who will take on the climate baton.