G7 Climate and Environment Ministers’ Meeting
Communiqué
London, United Kingdom
20 – 21 May 2021
Joint Commitments
1. We, the G7 Ministers responsible for Climate and Environment, met virtually on 20 21 May 2021.
2. As we continue to address the ongoing pandemic, we acknowledge with grave concernthat the unprecedented and interdependent crises of climate change and biodiversity
loss pose an existential threat to nature, people, prosperity and security. We recognisethat some of the key drivers of global biodiversity loss and climate change are thesame as those that increase the risk of zoonoses, which can lead to pandemics. We
highlight that urgent and concrete action is needed to move towards global
sustainability, further mitigate and adapt to climate change, as well as halt and reverse
biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. We recognise that climate change
and the health of the natural environment are intrinsically linked and will ensure thatthe actions we take maximise the opportunities to solve these crises in parallel.
3. We will do this by building back better from the pandemic, and we stress ourdetermination to put climate, biodiversity, and the environment at the heart of our
COVID-19 recovery strategies and investments. In doing so, we will transform oureconomies to promote sustainable development, deliver decent green jobs and build
resilience. We will also accelerate the clean energy transition, improve resource
efficiency, including by reducing food loss and waste and promoting a circular
economic approach, transition to sustainable supply chains and mainstream nature,including biodiversity, and climate into economic decision-making. We will help set
the world on a nature positive and climate-resilient pathway to bend the curve of
biodiversity loss by 2030 and to keep a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise within reach bymaking our 2030 ambitions consistent with the aim of achieving net zero emissions assoon as possible and by 2050 at the latest.
4. We recognise these are global challenges which require urgent and ambitious global
action at all levels. We reaffirm our commitment to international cooperation andmultilateralism, and will work collectively to implement fully our national andinternational commitments. In this critical year of action we recognise the need to1increase global ambition and enhance collaboration, underpinned by the mostambitious sub-national, national and international action. We call on all countries tojoin us in action.
5. The COVID-19 crisis has reinforced the importance of science and evidence ingovernment policies and decision-making. Recent assessments by theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Intergovernmental SciencePolicy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the International
Resource Panel (IRP), and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) have documented
that rapid and far-reaching transformations across all sectors of society and theeconomy are necessary to tackle climate change, environmental degradation andbiodiversity loss. Recalling the outcomes of previous G7 meetings on Earthobservation systems, we recognise the important role of research and systematic
observation to provide information on the state of the planet and support and guideaction to address climate change and conserve, protect and restore essential andbiodiverse ecosystems. We will ensure our domestic action and international
commitments are informed by the best available science and will support others
wishing to enhance their evidence-based policy-making processes by sharing our
experiences and best practices.
Tackling the twin crises of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss
6. We recognise the critical role the ocean and seas play for biodiversity and in regulating
the Earth’s climate, absorbing over 90 percent of all excess heat in the Earth’s systemand between 20-30 percent of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions since the1980s, providing a home to up to 80 percent of all life on Earth, and a healthy ocean
is central to the livelihoods of more than three billion people. We therefore commit
to increase efforts at international, regional and national level, to conserve andsustainably use the ocean, thus increasing its resilience.
7. We recognise the critical role of our world’s forests as home to most of the world’s
terrestrial biodiversity, reducing our vulnerability to climate change impacts,
improving our adaptability and resilience, and acting as key carbon sinks with tropicalforests capturing and storing up to 1.8 GtCO2 from the atmosphere every year. We
recognise deforestation and forest degradation as a significant cause of climatechange. We commit to urgent action to conserve, protect and restore natural
ecosystems including forests and habitat connectivity and promote sustainable forest
management. We also commit to implement decarbonisation pathways that do notcause further biodiversity loss or deforestation.
8. We recognise the crucial role of Nature-based Solutions in delivering significant
multiple benefits for climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity, and people andthereby contributing to the achievement of various Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs). Such benefits include, among others, improving air quality, water quality and2

availability, soil health, storm and flood protection, disaster risk reduction, andalleviating and preventing land degradation. Nature-based Solutions can also provide
sustainable livelihoods through protecting and supporting a wide range of ecosystemservices on which the world’s most vulnerable and poorest people disproportionately
rely. We therefore commit to strengthen their deployment and implementation. We
stress that Nature-based Solutions do not replace the necessity for urgent
decarbonisation and reduction of emissions, but are needed alongside these efforts.
In addition to action on the ocean and forests, we commit to take urgent action acrossecosystems, including soils, grasslands, savannah, drylands, wetlands, coral reefs,
rivers, lakes, coastal dunes, peatland, seagrass beds, mangroves and saltmarshes,
whilst ensuring that relevant safeguards are in place.
9. We reiterate that achieving our collective ambitions will require all sources of finance:
public and private, domestic and international, including innovative sources. We
commit to using all relevant sources, tools and approaches, including Official
Development Assistance and other sources of finance, to support and accelerate
global action to tackle climate change and conserve, protect, restore and sustainably
manage nature and the environment. We underscore the importance of a predictable
investment environment and clear public policies and strategies in facilitating thealignment of global and national financial flows with these objectives, and as such,welcome the UK’s incoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) COP26 Presidency’s ambitious efforts as they relate to mobilising
private and public finance. We are each working intensively to increase the quantityof finance for climate mitigation and adaptation actions, including for Nature-based
Solutions, and are committed to increasing its effectiveness, accessibility, and where
possible its predictability, and call on others to join us in these efforts. In conjunction
with these efforts, we are working intensively towards increasing the quantity offinance to nature and Nature-based Solutions. We reaffirm our commitment to thecollective developed country climate finance goal to jointly mobilise US$100 billion
annually by 2020 through to 2025 from a wide variety of sources, and welcome thecommitments already made by some of the G7 to increase climate finance and lookforward to new commitments from others well ahead of COP26 in Glasgow. We will
promote enabling environments to mobilise private finance towards these efforts
while also enhancing action from the international community to support the poorest
and those most vulnerable to climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental
degradation. We are committed to further enhance synergies between finance forclimate and biodiversity and to promote funding that has co-benefits for climate andnature.
10. We call upon Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), bilateral Development FinanceInstitutions (DFIs), multilateral funds, public banks, and export credit agencies toensure that financial flows from these institutions are aligned with the goals of theParis Agreement and support the objectives of international biodiversity conventions
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including the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the post-2020 global
biodiversity framework, by increasing finance for nature and climate, and leveraging
further private capital, in particular for developing countries and emerging markets.
We call on MDBs, bilateral DFIs and other support providers to mobilise finance atscale by delivering on their climate finance objectives and targets, and nature financeobjectives, making them more ambitious, and mainstreaming climate and nature into
their analysis, policy advice, decision-making and financing. We further call on all
MDBs to publish, before the UNFCCC COP26, a plan and date by which their operations
will be aligned with and support the goals of the Paris Agreement, and encouragethem to sign a joint statement committing them to mainstream nature across theiroperations as appropriate. We also urge the MDBs to commit their private sector arms
to pilot and scale up private finance programmes for nature and climate, in particularin under-funded sectors like adaptation and resilience and Nature-based Solutions.
11. In the context of building back better and achieving a global green recovery fromCOVID-19, we acknowledge the particularly significant impacts faced by developing
countries and that increasing debt burdens can constrain fiscal space and the ability
to provide stimulus for a green recovery alongside other development objectives,
including access to clean and sustainable energy for all. We recognise that macro andfiscal policies, a free, fair and rules-based multilateral trading system, international
initiatives and domestic efforts to create an enabling environment to mobilise private
finance, offer a powerful tool to both transforming and revitalising economies. We
thank Professor Lord Stern for his work and note with interest his paper on “G7Leadership for Sustainable, Resilient and Inclusive Growth and Recovery” ascommissioned by the UK G7 Presidency. We welcome the discussions of Finance
Ministers on supporting a global recovery and their role in enabling a smoothtransition to net zero, addressing biodiversity loss, and mobilising the private sector.
Leaving no-one behind
12. We recognise the disproportionate impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, andenvironmental degradation on the most vulnerable communities, people living inpoverty and those already facing intersecting inequalities and discrimination,
including women and girls, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities and othermarginalised groups. We will increase our efforts to address environmental justiceissues in order to make their voices heard and support their full, equal and meaningful
participation in decision-making, recognising their critical role as leaders and agentsof change, and adapting new and existing policies to support social justice, economic
empowerment and achieving gender equality. We further recognise the need toprotect the rights of Indigenous Peoples, as acknowledged in national law andinternational instruments, and respect and value their knowledge and leadership in
tackling climate change and biodiversity loss. We are steadfastly committed toaddressing barriers to accessing finance for climate and nature faced by women,
marginalised people, and underrepresented groups and increasing the gender4

responsiveness and inclusivity of finance. We reaffirm our commitment toimplementing the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and its associated SDGs
and taking action in support of the UNFCCC, CBD and the UN Convention to Combat
Desertification (UNCCD) Gender Action Plans.
13. We will ensure that the transition to a net zero emissions and nature positive economy
happens in a fair and inclusive way. This transition must go hand in hand with policies
and support for a just transition for affected workers, and sectors so that no person,group or geographic region is left behind.
Climate Change
A G7 committed to accelerating progress under the Paris Agreement
14. We reaffirm our strong and steadfast commitment to strengthening implementationof the Paris Agreement and to unleashing its full potential. To this end we will makeambitious and accelerated efforts to reduce emissions to keep a limit of 1.5°C
temperature rise within reach, strengthen adaptation to the impacts of climatechange, scale-up finance and support, protect, restore and sustainably manage
nature, and enhance inclusive and gender-responsive action. We affirm ourcommitment to work with these objectives in mind towards a successful COP26 in
Glasgow and beyond.
A net zero G7 leading a step change in mitigation
15. There is a global imperative to pursue efforts to limit the increase in the global averagetemperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, recognising that the avoided climate
impacts are greater at 1.5°C than 2°C, as stated in the IPCC’s 2018 Special Report on
Global Warming of 1.5°C. This will require meaningful action by all countries, inparticular the major emitting economies, pursuant to continuous improvement inclimate and environmental action to align with a pathway that keeps 1.5°C withinreach. We, G7 members, will lead by example and each commit to achieve net zero
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as soon as possible and by 2050 at the latest.
16. We affirm the importance of taking domestic action to phase downhydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and of pursuing further actions to enhance the benefits of
the Montreal Protocol in ozone layer protection and tackling climate change, and callupon all countries who have not already done so to ratify the Kigali Amendment to
the Montreal Protocol.

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Short-term action – building back better and more resilient through a net zero pathway
17. Accelerating the transformation of the global economy towards a net zero pathway
will depend upon securing a green, sustainable, resilient, inclusive and genderresponsive recovery from COVID-19 in a manner consistent with the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, leaving no one behind. To accelerate progress towards
achieving our Paris Agreement goals, we need to harness the significant opportunities
for sustainable development – including green jobs and sustainable, resilient growth– by making investments in the recovery from COVID-19 that are aligned withpathways towards our respective enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions(NDCs) and 2050 net zero commitments, recognising the risk of stranded assets
associated with high carbon investments.
Medium and long-term action – guided by net zero aligned NDCs and LTSs
18. We highlight with deep concern the findings from the IPCC Special Report 2018, andrecognise the need to reduce the global level of annual GHG emissions to 25-30 Gt ofcarbon dioxide equivalent or lower by 2030 to put the world on track to limit global
warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, in order to reduce the risk ofcatastrophic consequences of climate change. We commit to submitting long-term
strategies (LTSs) that set out concrete pathways to net zero GHG emissions by 2050
as soon as possible, making utmost efforts to do so by COP26. We commit to updatingthem regularly, including to reflect on the latest science, as well as technological andmarket developments. We also note with concern the initial version of the NDC
Synthesis Report prepared by the UNFCCC Secretariat which highlights that many
parties are yet to submit new and updated NDCs. NDCs communicated by 2020
collectively fall far short of the ranges found in pathways identified by the IPCC, which
limit global warming to 1.5°C or well below 2°C. We welcome the significantly
enhanced ambition reflected in 2030 targets announced by all G7 members, which
put us on clear and credible pathways towards our respective 2050 net zero GHG
emission reduction targets. We note the important contribution these commitments
make towards keeping 1.5°C within reach and in providing an unequivocal directionof travel for business, investors and society at large. Those of us who have not alreadydone so commit to submitting our enhanced NDCs to the UNFCCC as soon as possible
ahead of COP26.
19. The G7 members cannot tackle climate change alone. The G7 calls on all countries, inparticular other major emitting economies, to join the growing numbers that havemade 2050 net zero commitments, to present specific and credible strategies forachieving them – including LTSs – and to enhance their NDCs accordingly to keep 1.5°C
within reach, highlighting the importance of parties who have not already done so
submitting their increased ambition NDCs to the UNFCCC as soon as possible ahead of
COP26.
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20. We reaffirm our commitment that our successive NDCs will represent a progression
and reflect the highest possible level of ambition, in alignment with the Paris
Agreement. Both our NDCs and LTSs will remain informed by the global stocktake
outcomes and the best available science – particularly IPCC reports (including theforthcoming 6th Assessment Report), as well as IPBES reports. In preparing andimplementing our NDCs, we reaffirm our commitment to public participation. We
highlight the important and active role of all levels of government as well as
businesses, workers, local communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs),
academia, Indigenous Peoples, youth and other non-state actors in driving ambitious
climate action, including in a gender-responsive manner. We call for an enhanced
Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (MPGCA) to accelerate and broaden
climate ambition and action in this regard, with improved tracking of its initiatives. We
recognise the benefits of enhanced international collaboration in driving action in all
sectors as part of an economy-wide effort.
More people protected from climate impacts
21. We acknowledge with grave concern the impacts of climate change already being
experienced worldwide, particularly by those most vulnerable to them. We commit toenhance, accelerate and scale up adaptation actions, including Nature-based
Solutions, and to support the most vulnerable to adapt to and cope with the impactsof climate change and biodiversity loss, identified by plans at local, national and subnational levels, including ambitious National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). We reaffirm ourcommitment to Article 9.4 of the Paris Agreement, which calls for the provision ofscaled-up financial resources to aim to achieve a balance between adaptation andmitigation, taking into account country-driven strategies. This includes continuing toscale-up finance contributing to adaptation action. We highlight the important role ofbusinesses, workers, investors, cities, women, Indigenous Peoples and civil society inmobilising action to support vulnerable communities. Finally, we call on all states andnon-state actors to cooperate to enhance adaptation and resilience, including throughthe Adaptation Action Coalition, InsuResilience Global Partnership, and National
Adaptation Plans Global Network, and for non-state actors to join the Race to
Resilience Campaign to strengthen the resilience of 4 billion people in vulnerable
communities by 2030, and to participate in the adaptation activities undertaken
within the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action. Recognising theimportance of adaptation in our own national planning, we G7 members commit tosubmitting Adaptation Communications as soon as possible, and if feasible by COP26.
We further affirm our commitment to a diverse and inclusive, gender-responsive,
participatory and fully transparent approach, taking into consideration vulnerable
groups, communities and ecosystems in the delivery of adaptation policies, plans,
strategies and actions. As Climate and Environment Ministers, we acknowledge andfully support the work of the Foreign and Development Ministers’ track to increase7

action on adaptation and protect more people from climate impacts, including thecommitment to continue scaling up finance contributing to adaptation action.
Mobilising and aligning finance to support the green recovery
22. We, the G7, reaffirm our commitment to the collective developed country goal of
jointly mobilising US$100 billion annually through to 2025, from a wide variety ofsources, public and private, bilateral and multilateral and in the context of meaningful
mitigation actions and transparency on implementation. We welcome thecommitments already made by some of the G7 to increase climate finance and lookforward to new commitments from others well ahead of COP26 in Glasgow. We
underline G7 commitments to further strengthen the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as aneffective tool in implementing the Paris Agreement. Further, we highlight the Paris
Agreement’s recognition that mobilising finance requires a global effort. In thiscontext, we encourage all potential contributors of official finance, including emerging
economies, to join existing providers in supporting climate action in developing
countries. We underline the urgent need to scale up efforts to mobilise the private
sector if we are to achieve a global green recovery and net zero emissions by 2050,
recognising the critical role that innovative financing vehicles, bilateral andmultilateral finance institutions, blended finance, policies, risk pools and enabling
environments play in this regard.
23. We affirm the crucial importance of making finance flows consistent with a pathway
towards low GHG emissions and climate-resilient development, as reflected in Article
2.1.c of the Paris Agreement and in line with the SDGs. As part of our efforts towards
this objective, we commit to making official finance flows consistent with the goals of
the Paris Agreement and call on all countries, as well as MDBs, DFIs, multilateral funds,
public banks and export credit agencies to join us in this effort. We emphasise thetransformative role of the policies and actions of all governments, but also public andprivate stakeholders in creating the right enabling environments to support climate
action and in integrating climate change into economic and financial decision-making
processes. We also urge businesses and investors to join the Race to Zero, align theirportfolios with the goals of the Paris Agreement and set science-based net zero targetsof 2050 at the latest.
24. We recognise the potential of carbon markets and carbon pricing to foster costefficient reductions in emission levels, drive innovation and boost the breakthroughof technologies that enable a transformation to net zero. We affirm the fundamental
importance of environmental integrity and sustainable development in the design ofhigh integrity carbon market mechanisms, including those used for voluntary
purposes, which should be based on robust rules and accounting that ensure
avoidance of all forms of double counting. They should require the use of conservativeemissions and emissions reductions estimations and assumptions, as well as
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safeguards to mitigate carbon leakage risks, avoid negative social and biodiversity
impacts, and to address potential reversals. We further note that such mechanisms
can mobilise private finance and help to close the ambition gap for limiting global
warming to 1.5°C.
Unleashing the full potential of the Paris Agreement
25. We are steadfast in our commitment to achieving an ambitious set of outcomes from
COP26 in line with the objectives set out above. We emphasise the importance of
finalising the outstanding mandates relating to the Paris Rulebook – including the
adoption of common tables and formats for the enhanced transparency framework,
decisions on cooperative approaches (Article 6), and common time frames for NDCs –in a manner that promotes transparency and accountability and ensuresenvironmental integrity. We will address mandates and deliver on our commitments
across the three pillars of the Paris Agreement – on mitigation, adaptation, andsupport – and enhance international collaboration to accelerate global
implementation ahead of COP26 and beyond. We will have a continued focus on
supporting those most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and will continue
to support developing country partners as they pursue green, sustainable, resilient,inclusive and gender-responsive recoveries from COVID-19. This includes providing
support with the preparation and implementation of national plans and commitments(including NDCs, LTSs, NAPs and Adaptation Communications) bilaterally, through ourcontributions to multilateral funds and through the NDC Partnership and other suchinitiatives. We welcome the creation by the OECD of the ‘International Programme for
Action on Climate’ as part of the ‘Horizontal Project on Climate and Economic
Resilience in the Transition to a Low Carbon Economy’, and look forward to its possible
contribution to climate action.
Supporting the transition to a net zero economy
26. We recognise that the transition to net zero will depend upon developing the skilledworkforce necessary to deliver it, in a way that leaves no one behind, by building on
the skills and knowledge in transitioning sectors, developing new labour markets fordecent work and quality green jobs, as well as investing in pioneering clean andsustainable industries and technologies. We will address the challenges workers faceby ensuring that they have the appropriate skills and training to build back greener,
alongside a long-term plan for skills needed for a net zero economy, in a genderresponsive way. This will support the creation of green jobs, a diverse workforce, andwill support workers in high carbon sectors to gain skills and knowledge to implement
more sustainable practices and green technologies. We reaffirm our commitment
under the Equal by 30 Campaign to work towards equal pay, leadership andopportunities for women in the clean energy sector by 2030. We agree to deepen
9efforts to advance gender equality and diversity in the energy sector, including under
the Equal by 30 Campaign by adopting a set of strengthened commitments. This will
support our commitment to make diversity and gender equality central to the global
energy sector’s recovery efforts and help build a more inclusive and equitable energy
future. We acknowledge the need for specific support for all workers as part of a clean
energy transition.
27. We recognise that delivering and accelerating the transition to a net zero global
economy will require scaled-up international collaboration. The institutionalarchitecture to enable this should be structured and strengthened appropriately
where needed, utilising synergies with existing initiatives to ensure net zero emissions
are achieved on an economy-wide basis. We will convene to review the pace of thetransition required in each sector to meet the Paris Agreement goals, and theinternational landscape of institutions and sectoral fora to decarbonise major emitting
sectors, with a view to strengthening collaboration in key sectors up to COP26 andbeyond.
28. We recognise the importance of working closely with city, state and regional
governments in driving the transition to a net zero economy, and the vital role ofnational governments to support such actions. We highlight the role of cities inpiloting a future with net zero emissions, through innovative and sustainable energy
solutions. Local governments and sub-national actors, including businesses, workers,
communities and civil society, are central to taking ambitious action on high-emitting
sectors and should implement solutions that curb emissions while ensuring equitable
and inclusive development for citizens and communities. We will implement a rangeof measures to encourage and empower citizens, business, communities and regions
to decarbonise, including supporting the development of local strategies and plans,encouraging investments for the implementation of model projects for low carbon
urban infrastructure, encouraging behavioural change, utilising information systems
to promote the transparency of local actions and achievements, and disseminating
good practices of concrete actions.
Net zero energy
29. We recognise the key contribution of energy efficiency as “the first fuel” to emissions
reduction, energy security, economic growth, sustainable development, alleviatingenergy poverty, and job creation. We therefore note with concern the decline in the
global rate of energy efficiency improvements and commit to strengthen our efforts
to deliver improvements in buildings, industry and transport. We continue toemphasise the need for stronger international exchanges to learn about best practices
in this policy space. We stress the importance of strengthening and coordinatinginternational collaboration in developing policy frameworks for new business models
10and to ensure the necessary investments in energy efficiency measures in all sectors.
We therefore welcome the establishment of the Energy Efficiency Hub, hosted at theInternational Energy Agency, as a key international forum for global collaboration onenergy efficiency. We welcome the Super-Efficient Equipment and ApplianceDeployment (SEAD) initiative. We further endorse its goal of doubling the efficiency offour key energy-using products sold globally by 2030: lighting, cooling, refrigeration,and motor systems, and will contribute to that end using the full policy toolkit at our
disposal.
30. We affirm the fundamental role of renewable energy sources. We welcome the rapid
growth, decreasing cost and increasing value of renewable energy technologies
around the world. We stress the need for their further integration in the systems, andwe recognise that renewables are a major driver of economic growth, jobs, andincreased access to affordable energy. We recognise that the significant progress
made in the development and deployment of renewable energy has been driven by avirtuous circle of technological development, a supportive regulatory and policy
environment including innovative market designs, and industry-led cost reductions.
We affirm our commitment to supporting the development and deployment of
renewable energy globally, particularly for developing countries, as well as
accelerating the development and deployment of renewable heating and cooling,where a step change in progress is urgently required. We recognise the importance ofpromoting clean energy transitions in islands, as well as in remote and ruralcommunities, through innovative renewable energy solutions, fostering selfdetermination and community ownership of resources.
31. We recognise the role of energy storage as an enabling technology to support thetransformation of the global economy towards a net zero pathway. We commit todrive energy storage technology innovation and accelerate its commercialisation anddeployment by supporting the private sector in reducing the cost and increasing theperformance of energy storage technologies, through policies and tools supportive ofenergy storage market adoption, including regulatory frameworks and market
structures.
32. Recognising that coal power generation is the single biggest cause of global
temperature increases, we commit now to rapidly scale-up technologies and policies
that further accelerate the transition away from unabated coal capacity and to an
overwhelmingly decarbonised power system in the 2030s, consistent with our 2030
NDCs and net zero commitments. In doing so, we reaffirm the importance of nationalenergy security and resilience and underscore the importance of providing support for
affected workers, regions and communities. We welcome with appreciation the workof the Energy Transition Council in supporting the new economic opportunities andsustained quality job creation offered by a transition to clean energy in developing
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countries. We commit to exploring further ways that we can accelerate global
progress towards net zero power, including leading by example as the G7, and working
with collaborative initiatives and institutions. We note that several G7 members
participate in the Powering Past Coal Alliance. We will convene by COP26 to lay thegroundwork for further joint action by G7 members.
33. In line with Article 2.1.c of the Paris Agreement, we commit to aligning official
international financing with the global achievement of net zero GHG emissions nolater than 2050 and deep emissions reductions in the 2020s. We commit to promoting
the increased international flow of public and private capital toward Paris Agreementaligned investments and away from high-carbon power generation to support theclean energy transition in developing countries. In this context, we will phase out new
direct government support for carbon intensive international fossil fuel energy, except
in limited circumstances at the discretion of each country, in a manner that is
consistent with an ambitious, clearly defined pathway towards climate neutrality inorder to keep 1.5°C within reach, in line with the long-term objectives of the Paris
Agreement and best available science. Consistent with this overall approach andrecognising that continued global investment in unabated coal power generation isincompatible with keeping 1.5°C within reach, we stress that international
investments in unabated coal must stop now and commit to take concrete steps
towards an absolute end to new direct government support for unabatedinternational thermal coal power generation by the end of 2021, including throughOfficial Development Assistance, export finance, investment, and financial and tradepromotion support. We commit to reviewing our official trade, export anddevelopment finance policies towards these objectives. We further call on other major
economies to adopt these commitments. We welcome the support provided andmobilised by DFIs and multilateral funds, including the GCF, to support the energy
transition. In particular, we note the recent Climate Investment Funds board decision
to launch new sector specific funds, including those to accelerate coal transitions, andsupport renewable energy deployment in emerging economies.
34. We reaffirm the need to take into account the imperative of a just transition of theworkforce and the creation of decent work and quality jobs in accordance withnationally defined development priorities, as reflected in the Paris Agreement.
Recalling the SDGs, we commit ourselves to a people-centred transition, that will work
to create decent employment in the low carbon economy while making energy moreaccessible, affordable, and cleaner for all communities. We support reskilling workers
across industries and communities and developing the industries of the future, as theclean energy transition continues to gather momentum. We welcome the substantial
economic opportunities inherent in a people-centred transition, including alleviatingenergy poverty for people and communities, removing barriers to employment,
12especially for marginalised populations, which will in turn lead to substantial andequitable economic growth and prosperity for all.
35. We recognise that inefficient fossil fuel subsidies encourage wasteful consumption,
reduce energy security, impede investment in clean energy sources, and undermine
efforts to deal with the threat of climate change. We reaffirm our commitment to theelimination of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 and encourage all countries toadopt this commitment. We encourage greater international action to meet thiscommitment and we support calls for greater transparency.
36. We recognise the importance of ambitious and urgent action to reduce emissions andleakage of methane (fossil and biogenic) from the energy sector, as well as waste andagricultural sectors, and of other potent warming substances, such as black carbon, inorder to slow global warming. This will require improved measurement and reporting
to better locate and quantify these emissions.
37. We recognise the importance of maintaining energy security as we transform ourenergy systems and the need for energy markets that are open, flexible, transparent,
competitive, stable, sustainable, reliable and resilient. We reaffirm the need forinvestment to ensure energy supply and demand remain balanced throughout energy
transitions, recognising the need for energy demand to be met by sources that alignwith our Paris Agreement and net zero objectives. We commit to developing strategies
and actions that enhance our focus on the security of innovative, clean, safe, andsustainable energy technologies. This includes resilience in the face of cyber security
threats, the system integration of variable renewable energy, energy storage, flexible
power plants, hydrogen, as well as demand side management, smart grids, and related
infrastructure including the accommodation of sustainable biofuels and hydrogen. We
recognise the important role of electricity interconnection in market integration,
flexibility and promoting decarbonisation, alongside supporting security of supply andsystem security. We recognise that natural gas may still be needed during the clean
energy transition on a time-limited basis and we will work to abate related emissions
towards overwhelmingly decarbonised power systems in the 2030s. We also note theimportance of ensuring secure, safe and sustainable clean energy supply chains,
including with regards to critical minerals and critical renewables components.
38. We affirm that access to secure affordable, reliable, sustainable, clean and modern
energy is a key enabler of the SDGs. We welcome progress made to increase energy
access and eradicate energy poverty worldwide, while noting that the world remains
off-track to meet our SDG for access to energy. We note the essential role of genderequality in achieving sustainable energy access and welcome synergies with the workof the G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council. We stress the importance of achieving
universal, equitable and sustainable access in driving forward a global and inclusive
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clean energy transition that addresses the disproportionate impact of energy poverty
on vulnerable and marginalised populations, both in developing countries and in moremature economies. We welcome the UN commitment to address progress on SDG7
within the High-Level Energy Dialogue.
39. Those countries that opt to use it reaffirmed the role of nuclear energy in their energy
mix. Those countries recognise its potential to provide affordable low carbon energy
and contribute to the security of energy supply as a baseload energy source.
Net zero mobility
40. We stress the urgent need to promote sustainable mobility and reduce GHG emissions
from the transport sector to help achieve net zero emissions by 2050. We recognisethat this will require dramatically increasing the pace of the global decarbonisation of
the road transport sector throughout the 2020s and beyond, consistent with the goalsof the Paris Agreement and our respective 2030 NDCs and net zero commitments. In
this regard, and as part of this effort, we welcome and support the Zero Emission
Vehicle Transition Council and will work with other global partners to accelerate thedeployment of zero emission vehicles for passengers and freight, including exploring
ways to support developing countries in making the transition. We further recognise
the commitments of some states to the target of sales of passenger cars being zero
emission by 2040 or earlier. Furthermore, we also need to promote decarbonising theentire life cycle of vehicles. We commit to support transitioning our industrial bases
and providing ambitious investment to research, further develop, and scale up thetechnologies needed to support a rapidly growing global market for sustainablemobility. We will intensify our efforts in enhancing the offer of more sustainabletransport modes in urban and rural areas, including public transport, shared mobility,
cycling and walking, and supporting inter-modal transport with investment in rail andwaterborne infrastructure.
41. We further recognise the urgent need for effective efforts to reduce emissions fromthe international aviation and maritime sectors to put both sectors on a pathway ofemissions reduction consistent with the mitigation goals of the Paris Agreement. We
commit to supporting the development and adoption of ambitious mid- and long-term
measures at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and to building a global
consensus on strengthening the levels of ambition in the initial IMO strategy on
reduction of GHG emissions from ships in the context of its forthcoming revision, withthe aim of contributing to the Paris Agreement temperature goal. We will also support
the development and adoption of an ambitious long-term global goal at theInternational Civil Aviation Organization in line with our vision for decarbonising theaviation sector.

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Net zero innovation
42. We recognise clean energy innovation as a driver of sustainable and inclusive growth
to create jobs, an enabler of a resilient economic recovery. We also recognise the needto accelerate innovation this decade to meet our net zero goal by 2050 or sooner. This
includes scaling up demonstrations and the early deployment of zero and negative
carbon technologies while ensuring negative impacts on the environment and humanwellbeing are avoided. This must be enabled by mechanisms and clear signals,
including an increased focus on ESG (environmental, social and governance)
performance, that incentivise private sector investment to fast-track innovations to
the market. To accelerate the pace of industry decarbonisation, we commit to launch
the G7 Industrial Decarbonisation Agenda to complement and support the activities
of existing key initiatives and amplify ambition, while plugging critical gaps in thelandscape wherever they exist.
43. For the G7, we commit to increasing clean energy innovation investments to a level inline with our net zero ambition. We support the launch of a second phase of Mission
Innovation as a global platform to strengthen international cooperation that willcontinually promote increased clean energy innovation ambition and concrete actions
for clean energy technical innovation. We support the commencement of Clean
Energy Ministerial's third phase as a global platform to share experience, raise
ambition, and implement cooperative action for clean energy deployment, including
innovative policy, regulatory and market measures. We encourage closer alignment
between Mission Innovation and the Clean Energy Ministerial to better coordinate
efforts from innovation all the way through to the deployment of clean andsustainable energy technologies including through energy efficiency and fromrenewable energy sources. We will design appropriate pull mechanisms to accelerate
the innovation and scaling up of clean energy and net zero technologies across G7
members and to support the green transition in developing countries. We also
acknowledge that the successful deployment of clean energy technologies requires
further investment in a skilled, technologically advanced and diverse workforce.
44. Innovation that supports net zero industries can help existing sectors through thetransition, as well as creating additional value with the birth of new industries. We will
work together in the lead up to COP26, building on existing initiatives to coordinate
action on standards and public procurement in order to create globally competitivemarkets for green industrial products. In parallel, we will also work to reduce
emissions from key industrial processes through enhanced energy efficiency, thedevelopment of circular economy and resource efficiency principles, electrification,
comprehensive industrial heat utilisation and reduced waste in industry, fuelswitching and carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS). We recognise theimportance of early action to decarbonise hard-to-abate industrial sectors such as ironand steel, cement, chemicals, and petrochemicals, to ensure that emissions across the15

entire economy reach net zero by 2050. For these hard to abate sectors to achievethis, we commit to targeting greater levels of innovation funding to lower the costs ofindustrial decarbonisation technologies, including the use of hydrogen, electrification,
sustainable biomass, CCUS and synthetic fuels (including ammonia and fuels madefrom hydrogen). Acknowledging that achieving net zero industry will require
enhanced global efforts, we will support low and middle-income countries throughfinancial and technical cooperation, as well as in multilateral fora. We will work
together to accelerate the decarbonisation of industry, and welcome thedevelopment of the new Industrial Decarbonisation Innovation Mission and thelaunch of the Clean Energy Ministerial’s Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative,
while supporting ongoing activities in the Leadership Group for Industry Transition.
45. We recognise the importance of renewable and low carbon hydrogen on the pathway
to net zero. We will step up efforts to advance commercial scale hydrogen from low
carbon and renewable sources across our economies, including support for fuel cell
deployment globally. This will help realise the development of a future internationalhydrogen market that creates new jobs for current and future workers in the energy
sector.
46. While the focus must remain on protecting and expanding our natural carbon sinks,
we recognise that negative emissions technologies, such as Direct Air Capture, canalso play a role in reaching net zero GHG emissions. Negative emissions will be
required to offset residual emissions in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise
completely. Technical solutions such as CCUS, and carbon recycling whereappropriate, will also be important for some countries in meeting our goal of a net
zero economy.
Environment
Resetting our relationship with nature
47. A healthy natural environment is critical to human health, wellbeing and prosperity
globally and underpins sustainable development. Despite existing global agreements
for the protection, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of biodiversity,
global negative trends in biodiversity and ecosystem functions are projected tocontinue or worsen. We therefore confirm our strong determination to halt andreverse biodiversity loss by 2030, building on the G7 Metz Charter on Biodiversity andthe Leaders’ Pledge for Nature as appropriate.
48. We recall with deep concern the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity
and Ecosystem Services and the 2021 UNEP Making Peace with Nature report. We
commit to take urgent action to address the five direct drivers of biodiversity loss, all16

a result of human activity: changes in land and sea use, direct exploitation oforganisms, climate change, pollution and invasive alien species. We will also address
overexploitation and illegal exploitation of resources as well as the indirect drivers
identified, including those caused by unsustainable methods and patterns ofconsumption and production. We stress that concerted and collaborative action isneeded by all partners and stakeholders including governments, businesses, farmers,
academia and scientists, NGOs, citizens, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities,
and underline the importance of including these groups in co-design, decision-making
and implementation.
49. We commit to raise ambition and accelerate and intensify action, including at CBD
COP 15, UNFCCC COP 26, Ramsar COP 14, UNCCD COP 15, UN Environment Assembly(UNEA) 5, UN Food Systems Summit and the UN Ocean Conference, and in support of
the UN Decades on Ecosystem Restoration and Ocean Science for Sustainable
Development. We will also build on existing synergies, break down silos and support
linkages at the domestic and institutional level across relevant Multilateral
Environmental Agreements, as appropriate, including Regional Seas Conventions.
50. Highlighting the urgent need for transformative action, we will champion theagreement and successful implementation of an ambitious and effective post 2020
global biodiversity framework to be adopted by parties at CBD COP15 to protect,conserve and restore ecosystems, halt and reverse biodiversity loss, ensure theconservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, increase resilience to climate change
and sustain healthy ecosystems on which our lives, well-being and economies depend.
We commit to champion ambitious and effective global biodiversity targets, including
conserving or protecting at least 30 percent of global land and at least 30 percent of
the global ocean by 2030 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and address
climate change, including through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically
representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effectivearea-based conservation measures (OECMs) by 2030 (30by30), recognising thatIndigenous Peoples, and local communities, are full partners in the implementation ofthis target. We will strive to ensure the effective and equitable management ofprotected areas and OECMs, and strive to improve their ecological connectivity, witha focus on areas that deliver the greatest benefits for global biodiversity, ecosystemservices and climate protection. We underline the importance of a strong
accountability framework that strengthens implementation and increases
transparency of our actions to meet these targets, and will actively support thedevelopment of robust implementation, monitoring and review frameworks. We will
enhance or put in place robust, science-based domestic implementation plans,
strategies and policies to conserve, protect and restore terrestrial,
freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems and play our part in successfully delivering
these global goals and targets. We will work with the competent international andregional organisations, including Regional Seas programmes, Regional Seas
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Conventions and Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs). We willcontribute to 30by30 by conserving or protecting at least 30 percent of our own land,
including terrestrial and inland waters, and coastal and marine areas by 2030
according to national circumstances and approaches.
Mainstreaming nature
51. According to the WEF “New Nature Economy Report 2020”, over half the world’s GDP
in 2019, almost US$44 trillion, was generated from industries that depend on nature.
Waldron et al in their report “Protecting 30% of the planet for nature: costs, benefits
and economic implications” suggest that achieving 30 percent protection in twobiomes alone could result in gross economic benefits of US$170 billion to US$530
billion per annum by 2050. The report also states that the global financial cost ofadequately protecting 30 percent of all the earth’s land and ocean has been estimatedto be between US$103 billion and US$177.5 billion per annum. It is clear therefore
that the economic benefits of protecting and conserving the land and ocean far
outweigh the financial costs of doing so.
52. We welcome the contribution of the Dasgupta Review on the Economics ofBiodiversity, which builds on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB)
process among other initiatives. Its conclusion that a fundamental change is neededin how we think about and approach economics if we are to reverse biodiversity loss
and protect and enhance our prosperity will inform our work. We will work
collaboratively to build on the Dasgupta Review insights and those of other suchreports, 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. We commit to take the urgent and transformative action
required to ensure that a deep understanding of ecosystem processes, theirinterlinkages, and how they are affected by economic activity, is incorporated as partof economic and financial decision-making. To ensure appropriate management ofenvironmental risks and reduce related transaction costs, we will also work withbusinesses and other stakeholders in developing standardised natural capital
accounting practices. We welcome the work being done by the UN Statistical
Commission to continue updating the SEEA ecosystem accounting system.
53. We commit to mainstream nature into all sectors and policies. We recognise theurgency and call for the integration of both climate and nature-related risks into
organisational risk management architecture, and of investing in natural capital, which
will enable finance to play a greater role by pivoting towards nature positive projects
and investments. We recognise the importance of work on nature-related financial
disclosure and note with interest the establishment of the Taskforce on Naturerelated Financial Disclosures and its aims.

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54. We note the analysis from the OECD, which provides policy recommendations basedon the findings of the Dasgupta Review, among other reports. The G7 commits toreview these recommendations in order to identify actions to mainstream nature into
financial and economic decision-making. In particular we note the OECD’s analysis andrecognise the harmful effect of some subsidies on the environment and people’s
livelihoods. We therefore commit to lead by example by reviewing relevant policies
with recognised harmful impacts on nature and will take action, as appropriate, todeliver nature positive outcomes.
Preventing and combatting zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) using a One
Health approach
55. The COVID-19 pandemic reminds us that human, plant, animal and environmental
health are interdependent and we therefore stress the importance of a strengthened
One Health approach. We welcome the contribution of the IPBES Workshop Reporton Biodiversity and Pandemics to the debate and recognise with concern that
increased contact between humans, wildlife and livestock, as a result of humanactivities including habitat loss, human encroachment into natural areas, land usechange such as agricultural expansion, unsustainable food production systems,
deforestation, climate change, the legal and illegal wildlife trade, unsustainableinternational trade and unsustainable consumption is increasing the risk of zoonotic
disease emergence and spread. The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced theimportance of close international collaboration in preventing and combatting existingand emerging zoonotic threats. We call for further cross sector research and scientificanalysis and evidence on the interactions between humans, wildlife, domesticatedanimals and the environment, the pathogens which exist in these populations, therisks arising from these interactions and the control and prevention of zoonoses. We
call on all governments to ensure transparency and swift sharing of data andinformation on zoonoses.
56. As the G7, we will continue to strengthen global collaboration and work towards
improving the resilience of our surveillance systems through sharing relevant
information in a timely manner, implementing best practice, building capability andimproving technology domestically and internationally, particularly with developing
countries and countries with economies in transition.
57. We endorse the work of the One Health Working Group and will join, on a voluntarybasis, the International Zoonoses Community of Experts (IZCE) established under the
UK Presidency. The IZCE will bring together national points of contact with expertiseand interest in zoonoses, their drivers, prevention and monitoring. Through sharing
best practice and methodologies, knowledge will be increased across the community
and will contribute to improve risk assessment, risk management and early warning
capabilities at a global level. We recognise the need to ensure complementarity with19

such initiatives as the Tripartite Plus and the One Health High Level Expert Panel toavoid duplication. The IZCE will liaise with other relevant G7 working groups, forexample the G7 Chief Veterinary Officers Group.
58. We recognise that better understanding and enhanced visibility, accessibility andinteroperability of data is a crucial first step in delivering improved global surveillance
and response to One Health threats and issues. We encourage climate, environmentand health stakeholders to consider how best they can work together to support the
Tripartite Plus in this crucial work.
59. We recognise that the release of antimicrobials into the environment can select for
antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and have an impact on human, animal andenvironmental health. We also note that heavy metals and biocides potentially havean impact on AMR and human, animal and environmental health. We underline theimportance of a One Health approach in tackling AMR and call on all governments topromptly implement measures for the sound management and reduction of
inappropriate use of antimicrobials. In this context, we note the potential role that soil
microorganisms may play in the fight against AMR. We call on UNEP, in collaboration
with the Tripartite organisations, to strengthen the evidence base on thecontamination, mechanisms, causes and impacts of AMR emerging and spreading in
the environment as mandated at UNEA 3. We commit to work in close collaboration
with governments and relevant parties such as, medicines regulators whereindependent of government agriculture, academia, industry, the Tripartite on AMR
and UNEP to develop and implement long-term, sustainable solutions to this issue.
We note with concern that there are currently no international standards on safe
concentrations of antimicrobials released into the environment from, inter alia,
pharmaceutical manufacturing, healthcare facility effluent, agriculture andaquaculture. We also acknowledge the work of the AMR Industry Alliance in thisregard. We commit to accumulate knowledge on AMR in the environment. We will
work with our ministerial colleagues with responsibility for health, food, farming andmedicines regulators where independent of government, as appropriate to develop
and agree such standards.
Transition to sustainable and legal use of natural resources
Resource efficiency
60. Recalling the findings of the Global Resources Outlook 2019 of the International
Resource Panel, we recognise that the continued degradation and loss of natural
resources threatens our ability to meet our shared commitments to sustainable
development, conservation and restoration, food security and combatting climatechange. We underline the importance of increasing the resource efficiency andreducing the global environmental footprint of products and moving to more globallysustainable methods and patterns of consumption and production. We reaffirm our20commitment to progress actions to increase resource efficiency and transition to amore circular economy, in line with the Bologna Roadmap, to reduce the pressure andadverse impacts on our natural environment, reduce resource use, maximise the valueof materials through a life-cycle approach, curb biodiversity loss, and support climate
mitigation and adaptation action and in doing so are determined to reduce pollution
from all sources. We ask the G7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency to continue technicalwork on all aspects of the Bologna Roadmap and invite the next G7 Presidency to takestock of its implementation.
Deforestation
61. We recognise that deforestation, forest degradation and ecosystem conversion areglobal threats to our climate, biodiversity, food security and livelihoods and are driven
by the expansion of agriculture, mining, logging and infrastructure projects.
Agricultural expansion is the driver of around 80 percent of global deforestation. A
significant proportion of this expansion is linked to the production of agriculturalcommodities, including particularly those traded internationally. We will increase our
support for sustainable supply chains that decouple agricultural production fromdeforestation and forest degradation, including production stemming from illegal land
conversion, and other negative impacts on nature, in accordance with our national
legislation, and commit to conserve, sustainably manage, restore and protect forestsand other ecosystems. We will do this while promoting development and trade,including through participating in the dialogue between consumer and producer
countries under the Forest, Agriculture and Commodity Trade (FACT) dialogue hosted
by the UK as UNFCCC COP26 President, and through work by the International Tropical
Timber Organisation. We will work with partners, including the private sector andproducer countries, NGOs, as well as Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, toincentivise consumption of commodities that are not associated with deforestationand forest degradation. We will therefore enhance supply chain transparency andtraceability, and if appropriate, develop regulatory frameworks or policies, which may
include the introduction of due diligence requirements, to bring about trade that isenvironmentally, socially, and economically sustainable, and resilient, in order toachieve a successful green recovery. We look forward to discussions by G7 Trade
Ministers on facilitating sustainable supply chains.
62. We reaffirm our commitment to the New York Declaration on Forests to end naturalforest loss and, building on the Bonn Challenge, restore 350 million hectares of forestby 2030. We commit to support measures to strengthen forest governance,transparency, and the rule of law, while also empowering Indigenous Peoples aspartners in decision-making as well as local communities. We also support measuresthat promote sustainable finance and tackle the drivers of forest loss and degradation,
including efforts to enhance sustainable production and increasing the incentives forpreventing deforestation, protecting intact forests and restoring degraded forests and21

lands. We recognise the need for enhanced monitoring of deforestation globally,
regionally and nationally.
Illicit threats to nature
63. We recognise that the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), trafficking in timber and timber
products, hazardous and other wastes, and precious metals, gemstones and otherminerals, illegal logging and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing have adevastating impact on our natural environment and livelihoods, with an estimated fullglobal economic value of over US$1 trillion to US$2 trillion per year. These activities
drive biodiversity loss, corruption, money laundering, insecurity and other forms oforganised criminal activities as well as undermining our efforts to tackle climatechange and its impacts. We commit to continue our efforts to strengthen international
and transboundary cooperation to tackle these crimes and harmful activities.
64. We acknowledge that wildlife trafficking is a serious crime, often carried out by
transnational organised criminal networks linked to other forms of organised crimes
and commit to take urgent and collective action to address this criminal activity in a
way that reflects and acknowledges the serious nature of this crime. We remainrobustly committed to delivering on our commitments within the 2018 London
Declaration and will work to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement authorities
and judiciaries in investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating wildlife-related offenceswhere needed. We note proposals to discuss options inter alia to strengthen theinternational criminal legal framework to effectively combat such offences including
prevention, while maintaining our focus on making the best possible use of existing
international mechanisms, strengthening legislation, international cooperation,
capacity building, criminal justice responses, and law enforcement efforts tostrengthen our response. We commit to increase our efforts to reduce the demandfor IWT products by developing targeted and evidence-based interventions in order
to inform consumer behaviour and close markets where these illegal products aretrafficked and sold. We will review our administrative, preventative and criminal
justice responses to wildlife and forest crime using the International Consortium on
Combatting Wildlife Crime’s (ICCWC) Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit. We
welcome the discussions by Finance Ministers on strengthening beneficial ownershiptransparency to better tackle the illicit financial flows stemming from IWT and otherillicit threats to nature and welcome the work of the Financial Action Task Force andits recommended actions in this area.
65. We recognise that IUU fishing remains one of the most serious threats to a healthy
ocean, depleting fish stocks, distorting competition, destroying marine habitats andjeopardising international efforts to promote better ocean governance and effectively
and sustainably manage fisheries. We recognise the importance of concerted
international action to deter IUU fishing, including through support for developing
22

countries. Urgent efforts are needed to prohibit harmful fisheries subsidies that
contribute to overfishing, overcapacity and IUU fishing. We commit to concluding theongoing WTO negotiations as swiftly as possible in order to ensure that a meaningfulagreement is reached that delivers effective disciplines.
66. Building on the outcomes of the Canadian G7 Presidency, we commit to ending IUUfishing by ensuring strong measures are effectively implemented and enforced, suchas the Catch Documentation Schemes (CDS) to increase traceability, including thoseused by RFMOs and other relevant bodies for certain species; a commitment todevelop and enforce more robust Port State measures including by effectively
implementing the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Port State Measures
Agreement (PSMA) and other relevant initiatives, as well as increasing Monitoring,Control and Surveillance (MCS) activities to help tackle IUU fishing. We highlight theimportance of bilateral agreements that include mechanisms that effectively address
IUU fishing, in particular through effective regulation and enhanced monitoring offisheries activities, transhipments, landings, and trade in fish and fish products. We
also commit to the enhanced sharing of information, intelligence, and best practiceand expertise in tackling IUU fishing, acknowledging that international cooperation is
the most effective way to tackle this issue.
67. Recognising that illicit threats to nature deprive some of the world’s poorest
communities of sustainable forms of living income, we commit to mobilise public andprivate support for sustainable livelihoods as an alternative to these activities. We
recognise the importance of Indigenous Peoples, and local communities, in protecting
forests and natural habitats and supporting sustainable land use. We further recognise
the importance of securing the legal recognition of the right of Indigenous Peoples tothe lands, territories and resources which they owned, occupied, or otherwise used or
acquired as acknowledged in national law and international instruments. We also
recognise the importance of securing applicable resource and legitimate tenure rightsof persons belonging to local (or other) communities, women, and persons inmarginalised groups as acknowledged in national law and international instruments.
We underline the importance of engagement with these groups to co-develop
solutions to these issues, including land tenure rights.
Ocean Action
68. We recognise that the health of our seas and ocean is critical to the economic, socialand environmental well-being of people and the planet, and has a vital role insupporting biodiversity, providing ecosystem services including regulating our climate.
Yet the ocean and seas are under significant threat from human actions. Overfishing,
IUU fishing, overexploitation of marine habitats and resources, the introduction ofinvasive alien species, pollution, including marine litter, other anthropogenicpressures on ocean habitats, microplastics, underwater noise are major drivers of23

marine biodiversity loss. At the same time, climate change is leading to sea level rise,
extreme weather events, ocean warming and influences stratification, reduced
oxygen levels and shifts in marine resources, which also impact marine biodiversity.
Increased carbon dioxide absorption is also leading to increased ocean acidification.
We acknowledge with concern the recent high-level findings from the IPCC Report on
Climate Change on the Ocean and Cryosphere. Building on the outcomes of theCanadian and other G7 Presidencies, including the Charlevoix Blueprint for Healthy
Oceans, Seas and Resilient Coastal Communities, we commit to support the UN
Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) and work towards
its goals, which include the global ocean being clean, healthy and resilient, productive,
safe, predicted, accessible and inspiring and engaging. We recognise the value ofrobust and continuous scientific observation and cooperation to ensure a sustainableocean for all and to support the science-based implementation of commitments underthe 2030 Agenda, SDGs, the CBD, the Paris Agreement and within UNEA resolutions.
We will continue our efforts to strengthen the conservation, protection andrestoration of coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, salt marshes, polar regions andother ecosystems and we recognise the value of blue carbon ecosystems, which canprovide climate resilience benefits while also sequestering carbon. We recognise theimportance of sustainable resilience for coastal communities and marine ecosystems
and will strengthen our support for the Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance(ORRAA).
69. We commit to upholding the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) whichsets out the legal framework within which all activities in the ocean and seas must be
carried out, including for the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and seas.
We will work to expeditiously conclude, if possible by the end of 2021, the negotiationof a new and ambitious international legally binding instrument under UNCLOS on theconservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond
national jurisdiction which will include a clear obligation to conserve and sustainably
use marine biodiversity and include a mechanism to establish Area-BasedManagement Tools (AMBTs), including Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and will aid
the implementation of intended new marine targets, recognising our commitment tosupport global 30by30 for the ocean.
70. As an example of the kind of action that needs to be taken to protect and conserve
the ocean, we fully support the commitment by the Commission for the Conservationof Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to develop a representative system of
MPAs in the Convention Area. This should be based on the best available scientificevidence, the proposals to establish MPAs in East Antarctica, in the Weddell Sea andin the Antarctic Peninsula, and taking full consideration of the CCAMLR Convention.
71. Recognising that marine litter continues to pollute the ocean worldwide, has adverse
impacts on marine life through ingestion and entanglement, as well as damaging
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habitats and people’s livelihoods, and with possible impacts on food safety and humanhealth, we are determined to accelerate action to tackle sources of marine
litter, building on national, regional and global efforts, noting the example of the G7
Action Plan to Combat Marine Litter, the Osaka Blue Ocean Vision, and the G20
Implementation Framework for Actions on Marine Plastic Litter and the Ocean Plastics
Charter as appropriate. We acknowledge that there are a number of key contributors
to marine litter, including inadequate management of land-based sources, andabandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear, also known as Ghost Gear,
which has a significant direct impact on marine life. Effective policies, practices andmanagement measures to address these issues need to be taken nationally, regionallyand internationally by all countries, in partnership with relevant stakeholders,
including industry and NGOs. Concerning fishing gear loss and its retrieval, we commit
to working through relevant international and regional frameworks to address Ghost
Gear including by the FAO, IMO, RFMOs and the Regional Seas Conventions and will
work with or support other initiatives such as the Global Ghost Gear Initiative (GGGI).
We will collaborate through concrete actions such as gear marking and retrieval andwill support and expand existing efforts to address ghost gear as appropriate,including through the implementation of the UN FAO voluntary guidelines on themarking of fishing gear. We note with interest the contribution to thedebate of the OECD report Towards G7 Action to Combat Ghost Fishing Gear, and will
carefully consider its recommendations.
72. Recognising the scale, urgency and transboundary nature of the global action needed
to tackle marine plastic litter and microplastics, including by considering a life-cycle
approach, we welcome the work of the ad hoc open-ended expert group (AHEG)
established by UNEA resolution 3/7 and extended by UNEA resolution 4/6 towards
UNEA 5.2, and will fully engage in discussions or negotiations on the options identified,with the aim of taking a step forward on that occasion on suggested options which
include strengthening existing instruments, a potential new global instrument, andmulti-stakeholder engagement. We look forward to the forthcoming OECD study on
existing MDB resources that address marine litter, prepared in cooperation with theG7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency.
73. We welcome the discussions of the Expanded Future of the Seas and Oceans Working
Group and endorse the G7 Ocean Decade Navigation Plan establishing a framework
for ambitious and collaborative action under the UN Ocean Decade. This framework
will advance the ocean science needed to underpin ocean action, with direct reference
to the UN Ocean Decade, its societal outcomes and other international agreements.
We commit to work closely with international and regional partners andorganisations, including the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of
UNESCO, to support the UN Ocean Decade and its societal outcomes. We welcome
the ongoing work of the G7 Future of the Seas and Oceans Initiative and will continue
to support its programme of activities, including to share best practice, and advance25

scoping activities such as to develop a digital twin ocean, work towards net zero
oceanographic capability, and evaluate global ocean indicator frameworks.
Food Loss and Waste
74. We recognise that one third of food produced for human consumption is lost or
wasted globally, and that food grown but never eaten consumes an estimated 250 km3
of fresh water per year and requires an estimated 1.4 billion hectares land area.
Furthermore, food loss and waste produces an estimated 8 percent of global GHGs.
We note with concern the recent estimate within UNEP’s Food Waste Index Report
2021 that 931 million tonnes of food waste was generated globally in 2019 at the levelof retail, food service and households, which represents 17percent of food available
for consumption. We acknowledge the importance of reducing food loss and waste in
improving food security, particularly in the most vulnerable communities, mitigatingclimate change and land degradation and protecting biodiversity. We welcome theupcoming UN Food Systems Summit which will highlight the need to put sustainable
food systems at the centre of efforts to meet the 2030 Agenda and its SDGs. We
reaffirm our commitment to achieve SDG 12.3 and commit to utilise a “Target,
Measure, Act” approach and establish national targets to reach that goal.
75. We further commit to measure food loss and waste in accordance with thetransparent methodologies outlined in the Food Loss and Waste Accounting andReporting Standard and consistent with the requirements of international reporting
under SDG 12.3. We will establish national baselines and goals against which progress
can be measured. We will implement actions to support food supply chains andhouseholds to reduce food loss and waste and promote the adoption of sustainable
food consumption and production through circular economy and resource efficiency
approaches. Our actions will include encouraging collaboration and cooperation
between public, private and civil society actors, the adoption of innovative businessmodels and technologies, redistribution of surplus food, the promotion of youth andwider public education and behaviour change programmes across all sectors on foodloss and waste prevention. Food no longer intended for human consumption should
be prevented from becoming waste through use as animal feed or reprocessing into
new products, whilst ensuring that all safety and related requirements are met.
Recalling our commitments under the Bologna Roadmap, and recognising thatapproximately 60 percent of global food waste occurs in households, we welcome thediscussions of the G7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency on key components that support
action to reduce food waste at the household level, and the Presidency Summary ofthe discussion. We further welcome the G7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency document
highlighting examples of best practice across the G7 to address this issue.

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Conclusion
76. We express our appreciation to the Formal G7 Engagement Groups and other partners
for their important contributions to the UK’s G7 Presidency. We look forward tocontinuing our collaborative efforts on these and other issues under the German G7
Presidency in 2022.

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