The 47^th Group of Seven (G7) Summit was held recently in Cornwall, England with the group determined to beat the COVID-19 pandemic and build back better.

The Group of Seven is an inter-governmental political forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

The group met for the first time in two years in Cornwall, on the south west of England, on the 11-13 of June and shared their agenda for global action to build back better. 

This included action to “end the pandemic and prepare for the future” which according to the Summit Communique is to be done by driving an intensified international effort, starting immediately, to vaccinate the world by getting as many safe vaccines to as many people as possible, as fast as possible.

“Total G7 commitments since the start of the pandemic provide for a total of over two billion vaccine doses, with the commitments since we last met in February 2021, including here in Carbis Bay, providing for one billion doses over the next year,” the statement reads. 

“At the same time we will create the appropriate frameworks to strengthen our collective defences against threats to global health by: increasing and coordinating on global manufacturing capacity on all continents; improving early warning systems; and support science in a mission to shorten the cycle for the development of safe and effective vaccines, treatments and tests from 300 to 100 days.” 

“Reinvigorate our economies” was also mentioned, by advancing recovery plans that build on the $12 trillion support they have put in place during the pandemic, while “Secure our future prosperity” by championing freer, fairer trade within a reformed trading system, a more resilient global economy, and a fairer global tax system that reverses the race to the bottom. 

Further into the shared agenda, the protection of our planet was emphasised, to be done by supporting a green revolution that creates jobs, cuts emissions and seeks to limit the rise in global temperatures to 1.5 degrees. 

The statement explains that G7 commits to net zero no later than 2050, halving our collective emissions over the two decades to 2030, increasing and improving climate finance to 2025; and to conserve or protect at least 30 per cent of their land and oceans by 2030. 

The group declared that they "acknowledge our duty to safeguard the planet for future generations".

G7 will also strengthen their partnerships with others around the world, as they develop a new partnership to build back better for the world, through a step change in their approach to investment for infrastructure, including through an initiative for clean and green growth.

According to the statement, the group will also embrace their values as an enduring foundation for success in an ever changing world.

“We will harness the power of democracy, freedom, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights to answer the biggest questions and overcome the greatest challenges. We will do this in a way that values the individual and promotes equality, especially gender equality, including by supporting a target to get 40 million more girls into education and with at least $2¾ billion for the Global Partnership for Education," the statement reads. 

The US Embassy in Samoa and the British High Commission in Samoa has been asked for a comment.