Germany seeks joint communiqué at G7, also on climate - official

According to a government official, Germany wants the 8-9 June G7 summit, to be held in the Charlevoix region of Quebec, Canada, to issue a joint communiqué that also covers climate and energy-related issues. In light of the US’ position, agreeing on a joint declaration – which usually includes a commitment to free and fair trade – “is not going to be easier this time than in past years,” said the official in Berlin. Under the German G20 presidency in 2017, a joint declaration was agreed, but the US opted out of provisions supporting the Paris Climate Agreement. One of the main working sessions at the Canadian summit is dedicated to climate change and clean energy, where topics such as the Paris Agreement will be discussed. The Group of Seven is a “community of values, which stands for multilateralism, free and fair trade, and of course also for responsibility in the area of climate,” said the official. “We feel committed to this community.” Having a joint communiqué laying out policy priorities makes sense, because it helps the public assess the extent to which the G7 members fulfil their commitments in the future, said the official. Germany complied with 82 percent of last year’s summit commitments, according to a new report published by the Toronto-based G7 Research Group.

Find the G7 Taormina Summit Compliance Report in English here.

For background, read the CLEW articles Isolating Trump, 19 G20-members say Paris climate deal "irreversible,"  and Merkel calls for honouring Paris Agreement as climate action at home falters calls fo as well as the factsheet The story of "Climate Chancellor" Angela Merkel.