At the Global Solutions Summit in Berlin, participants from the fields of politics, academia and business, as well as think tanks, discuss global challenges. They then address their recommendations to the G20 and G7 states. Germany is holding the G7 presidency this year.

Maximum solidarity among the global community

Maximum solidarity among the global community is the “most important asset we have to defend the principles of global order and re-establish peace in Europe”.
This solidarity was shown last Thursday (24 March 2022), when the heads of state and government of NATO, the G7 and the European Council convened on the same day for the first time.

“Our alliances are more than simply partnerships of convenience,” said Federal Chancellor Scholz. Rather, they were the prerequisite for a quick, targeted and joint response to Russia’s war of aggression. Last week, the G7 agreed on further aid for Ukraine and its neighbouring countries, an obligation to take in refugees, the reduction of energy dependencies, and measures to relieve global supply bottlenecks, particularly with a view to global food security.

G7 to tackle global challenges together

However, Scholz warned that the war in Ukraine should not prevent decisive action against the major global challenges such as the climate crisis and the Coronavirus pandemic. “The G7 also has particular significance here as a community of values consisting of the economically strong democracies.” There are only three more months left to prepare for the G7 Summit in Elmau. Federal Chancellor Scholz wants this summit to set a strong signal for progress, prosperity, peace and security.

Combating the pandemic with responsibility and solidarity

The German G7 presidency aims to accelerate the topic of vaccine equity, since the Coronavirus pandemic is by no means over. Germany is taking responsibility and participating with 1.5 billion dollars for the ACT Accelerator Initiative, which makes vaccines, medicines and tests available worldwide. The ambitious WHO target of vaccinating 70 percent of the global population should not be let out of sight, Scholz emphasised.

Germany is also committed to strengthening and providing better financial support for the World Health Organisation, in order to take precautions against further health crises.
Its aims include accelerating vaccine production in Africa and strengthening the global health infrastructure.

Commitment to open and resilient societies

Especially at this time, the G7 wants to commit even more strongly to defending liberal democracy, social participation and the freedom of the press, and to resisting disinformation and cyber attacks. This also includes applying the G7 presidency in the most open and inclusive way possible. In the course of the year, and particularly in the run-up to the G7 Summit, intensive discussions are being held with trade unions and trade associations, young people, women, NGOs and think tanks.

The Climate Club: an example of new cooperation

Climate policy, the energy transition and environmental protection are key topics of the German G7 presidency. There are enormous challenges on the way to achieving the 1.5°C target. Therefore, Germany wants to intensively promote the idea of an open, cooperative Climate Club with the G7 partners by the G7 Summit in Elmau at the end of June. The following three elements are to ensure the success of the Climate Club:

1. The states commit to ambitious climate protection standards.
2. The Climate Club is to accelerate the green transformation of industry.
3. This Climate Club needs global partners far beyond the G7 who likewise commit to an ambitious climate policy.

Speaking to an international audience, Federal Chancellor Scholz particularly stressed the open, cooperative character of a Climate Club and encouraged international partners to participate. “Because without cooperation between large emitters, emerging and developing countries, we will not progress,” said Scholz. However, the idea of a Climate Club will not replace the existing processes for international climate protection. “We will supplement these and spur them on,” the Chancellor stressed in conclusion.

“Under the German G7 presidency, climate, energy and environmental concerns will be handled jointly for the first time (“G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Track“),” as Federal Minister for the Environment Habeck also emphasised when speaking at the Global Solutions Summit. The German G7 Presidency’s “Finance Track” would predominantly focus on stable financial markets, robust public finances and stable currencies, Federal Finance Minister Lindner stated in his speech. This had “major significance for social cohesion and economic growth,” particularly in view of macroeconomic insecurities due to the war in Ukraine.