G-7 concludes as activists slam failure to act on climate crisis and vaccine inequality

London, June 14 (RHC)-- The G-7 summit concluded in Cornwall, England, on Sunday.  As thousands of activists and protesters descended on the coastal town, world leaders failed to set firm goals on ending the use of coal and other measures to slow down the climate catastrophe. 

G-7 members did agree on some funding goals to help the pivot away from fossil fuels and recommitted to a pledge of $100 billion a year for poorer countries dealing with the climate crisis. 

On the pandemic front, members called for another investigation into the origins of COVID-19 and committed to a series of actions to help prevent future pandemics.  G-7 leaders agreed to donate a collective 1 billion vaccine doses to less wealthy nations, but the World Health Organization and others have said 11 billion doses are needed to achieve global vaccination goals. 

G-7 leaders also endorsed a U.S.-led plan to impose a minimum global corporate tax rate of 15% and unveiled a major infrastructure plan designed to counter China’s power and its multitrillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative. 

Max Lawson, with London-based Oxfam, said: “I think never before in the history of the G-7 has there been such a big failure in contrast to what needs to be done.  You know, we have a once-in-a-century pandemic, absolutely unprecedented. We have nine years to save the planet. It’s really hard to exaggerate the scale of what needs to be done.”