Policy paper

Explanatory Presidency Document: guest countries at the 2021 G7 climate and environment ministerial track

Published 8 June 2021

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

The G7 Climate and Environment Ministers met on 20 to 21 May 2021 to show leadership on net zero by 2050 at the latest and protecting our planet's biodiversity.

Ministers committed to urgent action to mitigate further temperature rises, species decline and environmental destruction, as well as build resilience and support those most vulnerable to these effects.

This Ministerial meeting showed how leading democratic nations are working together to build back better. Ensuring a sustainable future for people and planet ahead of the United Nations climate change conference COP26 and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP15.

The UK G7 Presidency invited the Commonwealth of Australia, the Republic of India, the Republic of Korea, and the Republic of South Africa to participate in the G7 Climate and Environment Ministerial meeting.

To strengthen collaboration among between some of the strongest democracies tackling the crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, which are already being experienced worldwide.

We welcome the support all four guest countries have shown in joining the G7 in their ambitious action on climate and environment.

These are important steps toward net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the latest globally, constituting real progress in sectoral planning to keep the 1.5 degrees target in reach and to resetting our relationship with nature to bend the curve of biodiversity loss.

From the Commonwealth of Australia

We thank Australia for the support expressed for G7 priorities during our Climate and Environment ministerial meeting.

Recognising the importance of practical action to achieve net zero carbon.

As well as to reverse biodiversity loss both domestically and internationally was central to Australia's Ministerial interventions, in particular focusing on green technology and bringing costs down.

We thank Australia also for highlighting their important domestic action underway on protecting marine eco-systems and blue carbon sinks in line with the G7 Climate and Environment agenda.

Response to G7 Joint Climate and Environment commitments

Australia has expressed support for a number of the commitments outlined in the Joint Section of the communiqué which recognises the need to tackle the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity in together.

This includes the commitment to build back better, as well as reaffirming the commitment to international cooperation and multilateralism, ensuring commitments are informed by the best available science.

Considering the views and participation of climate change affected communities and groups including women, youth and Indigenous peoples. As well as supporting others wishing to enhance their evidence-based policymaking processes.

Furthermore, Australia has expressed their support for G7 commitments to increase efforts at international, regional, and national level to conserve and sustainably use the world's oceans.

Australia's has made efforts in this area, including:

• financial investments
• steps taken to establish new marine parks to protect marine ecosystems
• supporting coastal and indigenous communities who rely most heavily upon them

Response to G7 Climate Commitments

Australia has emphasised their shared focus with the G7 on practical action to support decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors in a manner that is consistent with economic growth and prosperity.

Australia has reaffirmed that they will release their long-term strategy ahead of COP26.

Australia has further reaffirmed their intent to reach net zero as soon as possible, and preferably by 2050, and will join with the G7 in taking global action to make this practically achievable for all countries.

Similarly, Australia has expressed support for the G7's commitment to achieve a sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and for the G7's focus on accelerating the development of low emissions technologies, and to playing their part to keep 1.5 degrees within reach.

Australia has stated they are already targeting greater levels of innovation funding to lower the costs of industrial decarbonisation technologies, including the use of hydrogen, energy storage and CCUS. .

We recognise Australia's domestic efforts in this area, including newly announced investments and funding, taking Australia's expected investment in decarbonisation technologies to $20 billion over the decade to 2030.

Australia has said it will join the G7 in supporting the ongoing work of Mission Innovation and the Clean Energy Ministerial.

Australia has supported the G7's focus on of maintaining energy security and will join the G7 in developing actions that enhance the focus on the secure supply of innovative, clean, safe, and sustainable energy technologies.

Australia has reaffirmed, like the G7, its commitment to the collective developed country climate finance goal to jointly mobilise US$100 billion annually by 2020 through to 2025 from a variety of sources.

We note that Australia has significantly increased its climate finance commitments to help countries in its region transition to low emission, climate resilient economies, and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Australia has supported G7 commitments to advance action on adaptation, in particular the commitment to submit an adaptation communication to the UNFCCC ahead of COP26.

Further, Australia has also committed to developing a new National Climate Resilience and Adaptation strategy.

Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to the implementation of the Paris Agreement, and to a successful outcome at COP26, emphasising the importance of finalising the outstanding mandates relating to the Paris rulebook, particularly on transparency and Article 6.

Australia will participate in relevant G7 commitment to action activities, recognising that working together ensures that countries can pool resources and expertise on technological innovation, helping to bring down costs and multiply innovative capability.

Response to G7 Environment Commitments

Australia praised the G7's determination to stop and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Australia also supported G7 action on conserving our global ocean and promoting sustainable forest management.

We welcome Australia's support for G7 commitments to increase efforts to avoid further biodiversity loss and note that Australia affirms their commitment to take action to address the five direct drivers of biodiversity loss.

We are delighted that Australia joins the G7 in championing the successful implementation of an ambitious and effective post-2020 Global Biodiversity framework.

Australia supported the inclusion of 30by30 targets in the G7 communiqué, noting Australia's commitment to increase their own marine protected areas from 37% to 45% by 2030 through the establishment of new marine parks.

Australia furthermore affirmed their support to mainstreaming nature and welcomed the contribution of the Dasgupta review on the economics of biodiversity.

We also welcome Australia's commitment to nature-based solutions.

Australia joined the G7 in committing to a protected and productive ocean and reaffirmed their commitment to tackle the increasing issue of marine litter.

Australia's domestic work highlighting the inextricable link between climate change and the global ocean.

Through, investing $100m AUD in increasing fish stocks, protecting marine ecosystems and the coastal and indigenous communities that rely most heavily on them.

Australia also praised the G7's effort to prevent and combat zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance using a 'One Health' approach.

Australia indicated that it stands ready to work with the G7 and the global community to overcome the challenge of tackling zoonoses together.

Australia recognised that the illegal trade of wildlife is a global problem and joins the G7 in their efforts to tackle this cruel and exploitative crime.

Agreeing that it has an immeasurable impact on biodiversity and the welfare of the animals themselves.

Australia also has an ambitious food loss and waste agenda in line with SDG 12.3 including their Food Waste to Healthy Soils Fund.

We are pleased that they welcomed the ongoing work of the G7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency to support the global achievement of a clear reduction household food waste.

Response to G7 Environment Initiatives

We are delighted that Australia has committed to join the new International Zoonoses Community of Experts (IZCE), established under this G7 Presidency, which will increase international collaboration and cooperation as we continue to grapple with the impacts of the ongoing pandemic.

Australia also endorsed the G7 Ocean Decade Navigation plan, commending it's focus on practical action in support of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

We look forward to working collaboratively with them, where appropriate, throughout the decade.

We are also pleased that Australia welcomed the G7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency document highlighting examples of best practice across the G7 to address food loss and waste.

From the Republic of India

We welcome India's support expressed at the Ministerial meeting for action on tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss and echo their call for continued ambition and international cooperation at upcoming international forums including COP26.

We furthermore welcome India echoing the G7 call for new and additional climate and nature finance.

Similarly, we commend India for the domestic decarbonisation efforts their Ministers highlighted, including notably the 450 Gigawatts (GW) renewables target.

We share in India's call for more funding to be made available for developing countries to support climate adaptation and mitigation, as well as their observation that finance is needed to simultaneously tackle health and education inequalities, malnutrition, and poverty.

As such, we welcome India's commitment to their long-term goal of sustainable and equitable economic growth.

Response to G7 Climate Commitments

We welcome India's expression of support for near-term action and note with appreciation their support for continued collaboration with the G7 and other international partners through a range of established, valuable international platforms and initiatives.

This includes our shared support for the third phase of the Clean Energy Ministerial, including our fruitful collaboration to develop the Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative and our continued support for the Super-efficient Equipment Appliance Deployment Initiative.,

As well as our shared backing of the second phase of Mission Innovation.

India will also continue to provide constructive leadership in this critical year for climate action through the Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council and the Energy Transition Council, in line with their domestic policy priorities and international commitments.

G7 Climate and Energy commitments to action

India has joined G7 members in signalling support for the global decarbonisation of power systems in line with declared NDCs and will participate in a 'Dialogue on Net Zero Power Systems'.

To explore collaboration to accelerate progress towards decarbonising global power systems, including affordable storage and other appropriate technologies required for balancing the grid.

India has also welcomed the new Industrial Decarbonisation Innovation Mission.

As our co-leads in the coalition to decarbonise industrial products coordinated through the Clean Energy Ministerial's Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative, India welcomes the interest shown by some G7 members in supporting this initiative.

Response to G7 Environment Commitments

We welcome India's support of the G7 commitment to take urgent action to address the five direct drivers of biodiversity loss and reset our relationship with nature.

India has voiced support for commitments, including:

• addressing the overexploitation and illegal exploitation of resources
• the successful implementation of an ambitious and effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted by parties at CBD COP15
• conserving or protecting at least 30% of global land and at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030

As key proponents of multilateral action on the issue of biodiversity loss, we welcome India's support for G7 commitments to build on existing synergies to break down silos and support linkages at the domestic and institutional level across relevant Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

Furthermore, we welcome India's domestic efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss including land degradation neutrality by establishing new targets to restore 26 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.

We also welcome India's supports the of G7's commitments to drive a transition towards sustainable and legal use of natural resources, this includes delivering on commitments within the 2018 London Declaration to strengthen efforts to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.

We are pleased India support the international effort to reduce the illegal wildlife trade and reduce the demand for illegal wildlife trade products.

We welcome India sharing the G7 commitment to support the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021 to 2030).

Furthermore, we welcome India's commitment to uphold the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and work to expeditiously conclude, if possible by the end of 2021.,

The negotiation of a new and ambitious international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

We also welcome India as supporting the commitment by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to develop a representative system of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the Convention Area.

We are pleased India is working to reduce Food loss and Waste in its value chain by bringing efficiency into the production, transportation, storage, and consumption stages.

From the Republic of Korea

We welcome the Republic of Korea's expansive support for our G7 Climate and Environment agenda as expressed during Korea's ministerial interventions.

These include commitments to tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity through multilateralism, championing nature-based solutions and progressing an inclusive, green economic recovery.

We furthermore thank the Republic of Korea for highlighting the alignment between Korea's domestic initiatives and G7 commitments and look forward to their leadership at upcoming dialogues such as the partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) summit.

Response to G7 Joint Climate and Environment commitments

We are delighted that the Republic of Korea supports all commitments in the joint section of the communiqué.

The Republic of Korea fully endorses the G7 approach to building back better and greener as a way to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to putting climate and nature at the centre of this green recovery.

Further, the Republic of Korea supported the G7 commitment to a credible pathway to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 at the latest to keep the 1.5 degrees target in reach, stop and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

We are pleased to note that they have confirmed their support for the G7 commitment to increasing finance for climate and nature.

The Republic of Korea also highlighted their support for the G7 commitment to ensure a just and inclusive transition. Further,

They are planning to launch a Climate Change Response Fund to aid those vulnerable regions and populations experiencing difficulties in the transition to a carbon-neutral society.

The Republic of Korea have also expressed their general support for gender equality and environmental justice across sectors.

Response to G7 Climate Commitments

The Republic of Korea have expressed an exceptional level of support for the climate and energy content of our Ministerial communiqué.

They have expressed their endorsement for the entirety of the climate and energy portion of the communiqué.

However, they remain undecided on paragraph 35, indicating that they have not initiated the discussion on the timing of 2025.

We welcome the Republic of Korea's endorsement of the G7 commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and our call for significantly increased NDC targets.

We also note President Moon's announced that the Republic of Korea will present a more ambitious NDC to the UNFCCC within this year.

Further, the Republic of Korea support the G7 intentions to accelerate adaptation action, and we note with appreciation the five-year rolling national adaptation plan and dedicated adaptation centre that they already have in place.

They also support the G7 emphasis on finalizing outstanding elements of the Paris Rulebook at COP26.

On energy transition, the Republic of Korea has expressed its support for the SEAD Initiative and its critical goal of doubling the efficiency of four key product categories.

They have also expressed their support for increasing renewables in their power mix, and welcome G7 leadership and commitments to accelerating the energy transition.

The Republic of Korea aim to move towards a clean energy future, and we welcome President Moon's announcement that the Republic of Korea will stop their public financing for new overseas coal power generation.

They plan to minimise their domestic coal use and support the G7 commitment to do so.

The Republic of Korea is a member of Mission Innovation and the Clean Energy Ministerial, and we welcome their support for the next phases of both initiatives.

They have expressed support for G7 efforts to scale up hydrogen as well as their emphasis on CCUS.

G7 Climate and Energy commitments to action

The Republic of Korea has joined the G7 in signalling support for the global decarbonisation of power systems.

They are willing to participate with us in a 'Dialogue on Net Zero Power Systems' to explore collaboration to accelerate progress towards decarbonising global power systems.

Further, they have affirmed their continued support for working through the Zero Emission Vehicle Transition Council, to address key challenges and opportunities in the transition to Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs).

They also expressed interest in participating in a G7 workshop on 3 June 2021 to discuss how we can facilitate the shift of the industrial base towards ZEVs.

The Republic of Korea have joined us in calling for international collaboration on tackling the challenges of industrial decarbonisation.

They have confirmed that they will join G7 members for a post-ministerial workshop to review the international landscape of institutions and Ministerial forums for cooperation in decarbonising high-emitting sectors.

They also plan to participate in a G7 post-Ministerial workshop on gender equality and diversity in the global energy sector to showcase progress and share best practice.

Response to G7 Environment Commitments

The Republic of Korea has also expressed an exceptional level of support for environment commitments, endorsing all commitments in the resetting our relationship with nature, preventing and combatting zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Using a One Health approach, transition to sustainable and legal use of natural resources and Ocean Action sections.

The Republic of Korea have highlighted their support for the G7 commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, recognising the pressing need for global collaboration on this, and has expressed unwavering support for 30by30 targets.

The Republic of Korea is drafting their 5th National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (2021 to 2030), where measures to promote nature-based solutions and the expansion of protected areas will be included.

The Republic of Korea have shown support for the G7 commitment to mainstream nature into all sectors and policies.

They also welcome the contribution of the Dasgupta Review on the Economics of Biodiversity.,

Supporting the G7 commitment to work collaboratively to build on its insights, as appropriate, to support efforts for economic and financial decision-making to account for the goods and services we derive from, and the intrinsic value attributed to nature.

The Republic of Korea commends the G7's focus on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and supports the G7 commitment to recognise that the release of antimicrobials into the environment can select for AMR.

As well as committing to accumulate knowledge on this and work with ministerial colleagues to develop and agree standards for the safe concentrations of antimicrobials released into the environment.

The Republic of Korea highlight their domestic work in this area to consider ways to examine and safely manage antimicrobials released into the environment.

The Republic of Korea furthermore supports the G7's aim to transition to the sustainable and legal use of natural resources.

We are pleased to note that the Republic of Korea has affirmed their continued support for working through the FACT dialogue and support the G7's commitment to increase support for sustainable supply chains that decouple agricultural production from deforestation and forest degradation.

We note wanted to highlight the important work on cooperative projects such as Peace Forest Initiative for the restoration of degraded forestlands in developing countries. .

Lastly, we are delighted that the Republic of Korea fully supports G7 commitments on Ocean Action.

The Republic of Korea endorses the G7 commitment to work through relevant international and regional frameworks to address Ghost Gear, including collaborating through concrete actions, such as:

• gear marking and retrieval
• the implementation of the UN FAO voluntary guidelines on the marking of fishing gear

We look forward to the 7th International Marine Debris Conference to be hosted in Busan, Korea, and note the Republic of Korea's domestic measures to tackle the marine litter issue, including the deployment of biodegradable fishing gears or develop electronic identification system.

G7 environment initiatives

We are delighted that the Republic of Korea has committed to join, on a voluntary basis, the new International Zoonoses Community of Experts.

Similarly, we are also happy delighted that the Republic of Korea has endorsed the G7 Ocean Decade Navigation Plan and look forward to working collaboratively with them.

Where appropriate, during the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.

From the Republic of South Africa

The Presidency welcomes the Republic of South Africa's shared recognition of the importance of addressing the climate and biodiversity loss crises, and the need for this to be placed at the heart of our pandemic recovery.

We support South Africa's view that such efforts must consider socio-economic considerations.

The Republic of South Africa has underlined its commitment to undertaking a fair share of emissions reduction and transitioning towards a low carbon, climate resilient economy.

We commend South Africa for taking concrete steps through their efforts to undertake a Nationally Determined Contribution consultation process.

As wells as, and the adoption of the new climate change adaptation strategy and the establishment of a Presidential Climate Change Commission.

Furthermore, South Africa shares the G7's estimation of the importance of sustainable development and a just transition that leaves no one behind.

We welcome the Republic of South Africa's continued commitment towards a multilateral approach in adapting and mitigating climate change and environmental degradation.

We were also interested in South Africa's domestic work protecting marine ecosystems against increasing human activity despite the economic value they present.

This includes South Africa's Ocean Economy Programme and Marine Spatial Planning act, providing implementation of a planning system to enable facilitate responsible use of the oceans, and to preserve them for present current and future generations.

The Republic of South Africa has called for greater mobilisation of finance to support developing countries in mitigating and adapting to climate change and addressing biodiversity loss and for developed countries to meet their commitments in this regard.

The Presidency notes that this aligns with commitments made by the G7 in our communiqué.

Particularly the G7's commitment to the collective developed country climate finance goal to jointly mobilise US$100 billion annually every year by 2020 through to 2025 from a wide variety of sources.

As well as the commitments already made by some of the G7 to increase global climate finance.

We welcome the central role the Republic of South Africa plays within the G77 and in support of the Africa Group of Negotiators, ensuring that the concerns of Africa are amplified and heard within the negotiations.

We thank South Africa for highlighting the particular challenges African nations face in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises.

As well as South Africa's role leading negotiations on behalf of African nations at the upcoming CBD COP15, and look forward to engaging with them further in such forums.

We note the importance placed by The Republic of South Africa on ending the illegal wildlife trade and share in their call for urgent action to adopt international standards to drive down demand.

Lastly, we are pleased to note the Republic of South Africa's calls to place the conservation and enhancement of nature at the heart of pandemic recovery plans, aligning with our G7 Climate and Environment agenda.

We commend their leadership, as Chair of the Africa Ministerial conference on the Environment (AMCEN), in developing the African Green Stimulus programme, and their its adoption of it.