What is the G7 and why is it important in 2021?

The Group of Seven more commonly known as the G7 is an organisation made up of: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The G7, originally G8 (before Russia was uninvited), was set up in 1975 as an informal forum of leaders from the world’s most advanced economies. The G7 holds annual summits and are a platform that can shape political responses to global challenges. Because of their wealth and power the group is positioned to make things happen around the world.

The G7 claims that it has taken action to strengthen the global economy, save 27 million lives from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and supported the education of millions of children in the poorest countries. In 2015 its members led the way in helping secure the historic Paris Climate Agreement to limit global emissions.

The summits are held annually, and hosted on a rotation basis by the group's members. This year the UK holds the G7 presidency so it is the turn of Prime Minister Boris Johnson to host the event in June. The world’s leaders will be gathering in Cornwall at Carbis Bay, near St Ives.

Because of the coronavirus pandemic the 2020 summit was cancelled. So 2021 is important leaders are going to address shared challenges like Covid-19 and climate change

The government’s priorities are yet to be finalised but the Uk’s G7 website states that the Prime Mister will ask leaders to seize the opportunity to build back better from coronavirus, uniting to make the future fairer, greener and more prosperous. We are also coordinating a group of NGOs in developing recommendations for the UK government on using the G7 Presidency to lead the way in tackling food insecurity and malnutrition.

We are hoping that hunger and nutrition will feature as part of building back better and making a fairer future. Back in 2015 they made a commitment to lift 500 million people in developing countries out of hunger and malnutrition by 2030. With news that the economic impact of Covid has exacerbated food shortages in many parts of the world, now is not the time to deprioritise the challenge of tackling hunger.