G7 Urged to Walk the Talk on Climate Change, Covid-19

"As we look around the globe at the impact of the pandemic, one thing is clear: we are all in the same storm, even if we aren't all in the same boat", write Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, as pressure continues to pile up on G7 leaders ahead of their meeting.

"While the high-income economies of the world have had the money to protect workers and invest in their recovery, less affluent economies are struggling to cope with the economic impact of the pandemic while the debts they have accrued through the crisis threaten their financial futures".

Pressure is growing for leaders of the G7 club of rich nations  - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the U.S. - to provide more funding to deal with climate change and surplus Covid-19 vaccines for developing countries, as an act of global solidarity when they meet on June 11-13, 2021 in the UK.

A new report by Amnesty International says that "the world's richest governments are condemning billions of people to starvation, drought and displacement through their continued support of the fossil fuel industry".

The Elders, a group founded by South Africa's late president Nelson Mandela in 2007, made up of global independent leaders working for peace and human rights, have also added their voice, urging G7 leaders to "pledge new climate funding or risk further weakening the multilateral system, on which future progress and prosperity depends".

Climate change is impacting communities and economies around the world, with among others, devastating floods, drought destroying crops, and an increase in pest infestation that is leading to famine in many parts of Africa.

The Elders also urged the G7 leaders to take urgent action on Covid-19 vaccine distribution in Africa. This echoes calls made by African leaders, urging wealthier nations to assist those who need to acquire vaccines for their people. 

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