Laser Talks: Canada Hosts the G7 Again

Laser Talk: G7 Backgrounder

This will be the 50th anniversary of the first G7 meetings and near the date of the 15th anniversary of the G8-G20 riots in Toronto in 2010 where over 1000 arrests were made, making it the largest mass arrest in Canadian history.

The 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit will be held in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, 2025. From international peace and security to global economic stability, inclusive growth, and the digital transition, today’s challenges and opportunities demand global cooperation and shared solutions.

This will be the seventh G7/G8 summit hosted by Canada. The previous six were: Rambouillet, Quebec (1976) – Canada’s first participation (not as host), Montebello, Quebec (1981), Toronto, Ontario (1988), Halifax, Nova Scotia (1995), Kananaskis, Alberta (2002), Huntsville, Ontario (2010) and Charlevoix, Quebec (2018)

The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal forum of the world’s most advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The G7 began meeting in the 1970s, with Canada joining in 1976.

In 1997, the G7 expanded to include Russia, becoming the Group of Eight (G8). However, Russia was suspended in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea, and the group reverted to the G7 format.

Laser Talk: Achievements from the G7

Here are some highlights of the achievements from previous G7’s in relation to the climate crisis, development, debt, and human rights.

1. Carbon Pricing Club – G7 Germany 2022
At the 2022 G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Berlin, G7 nations agreed to establish an international “climate club”—a cooperative framework to coordinate carbon pricing, reduce emissions leakage, and accelerate decarbonization globally. The initiative was formally launched in December 2023, with support from the OECD and IMF. Also of note, the first explicit affirmation of LGBTQ rights in a G7 leaders’ communiqué occurred at the 2022 G7 Summit in Elmau, Germany.

Note: In Cathy Orlando’s former role as Director of Programs at Citizens’ Climate International, from 2020-2022, she coordinated over a dozen international CCLers who engaged with the G7’s civil society networks, including Civil Society 7 (C7), Labour 7 (L7), Think Tank 7 (T7), Youth 7 (Y7), and Women’s 7 (W7). Together, they successfully advocated to have carbon pricing included in a G7 Communiqué.

Unfortunately, misinformation about carbon pricing and the onset of a tariff war pushed it off the table for now. But in the end, truth will prevail—especially because so many of us refuse to let it go.

2. Debt Relief for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries – G8 Cologne, 1999
   At the 1999 G8 Summit in Cologne, leaders agreed to enhance debt relief for the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, enabling debt cancellation for the world’s poorest countries and freeing up resources for health, education, and poverty reduction.
3. Established the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria – G8 Genoa, 2001
   At the 2001 G8 Summit in Genoa, leaders pledged support for the creation of the Global Fund, which has since mobilized over $55 billion and saved millions of lives in the fight against AIDS, TB, and malaria—one of the most significant global health wins ever launched at a G8.
4. Support for Universal Education and Gender Equality – G8 Gleneagles, 2005
   The 2005 G8 Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, emphasized commitments to universal primary education and gender equality in education, aligning with Millennium Development Goals. It also included a landmark pledge to double aid to Africa, with education and gender equity as central themes.
5. G7 Commitment to Decarbonize the Global Economy – G7 Elmau, 2015
   At the 2015 G7 Summit in Schloss Elmau, Germany, leaders committed to decarbonizing the global economy over the course of the century, reaffirming the 2°C climate goal ahead of the COP21 Paris Agreement. This marked a clear message from the world’s major economies about phasing out fossil fuels.
6. G7 First Explicit Acknowledgement of Indigenous Rights – Charlevoix, 2018
   The first explicit acknowledgment of Indigenous rights in a G7 leaders’ communiqué occurred at the 2018 G7 Summit in Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada. In the final communiqué, G7 leaders emphasized their commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women and girls, including Indigenous women and girls, recognizing the unique challenges they face. 

Note, that the 45th President of the United States, Donald Trump, did not sign-off on the final G7 leaders’ communiqué at Charlevoix.

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