Why The G7 Summit Is Important, And Why Scott Morrison Can’t Fuck It Up
Here's hoping he doesn’t embarrass us as much as he did at the Leaders’ Summit for Climate.
Climate change is expected to be a big topic of conversation at this year’s G7 summit. But after a humiliating appearance at the Leaders’ Summit for Climate, how will Scott Morrison hold his own?
Prime Minister Scott Morrison is set to represent Australia at this year’s G7 summit, which is scheduled to run from June 11 to 13.
The plan is for Morrison to touch down in the UK later next week, where he will be joined by other world leaders to discuss various global issues, like COVID-19 responses and vaccine rollouts, climate change, and the aggressive behaviour from China and Russia — who aren’t a part of the G7 crew.
What Is The G7 Summit Again?
If you need a quick refresher, the G7 group is made up of the world’s seven ‘most developed democracies’.
The annual summit is pretty much an exclusive meeting for wealthy countries to iron out global issues, set some goals, and form agreements.
It originally consisted of the US, Japan, the UK, France, Germany, Canada, and Italy. But over recent years, leaders from India, South Korea, and Australia have also been invited.
This year’s summit will likely be a big one because 2020’s was cancelled due to the pandemic.
What Is ScoMo Going To Bring To The Table?
Well, before he even gets to the UK, the PM is scheduled to make a stopover in Singapore to discuss regional security and a potential travel bubble with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
But at the summit itself, there’s quite a lot at stake for Australia this year.
The Australian government has been under huge diplomatic pressure to set formal emission reduction goals concerning the climate crisis, which came to a rather embarrassing head at the Leaders’ Summit for Climate earlier this year.
Australia was the only country among all other G7 members that didn’t set a target to cut emissions by 40% below 2005 levels by 2030.
Speaking at the climate summit in April, Morrison said that the Australian government wants to reach net zero “as soon as we possibly can”, but that “for Australia, it is not a question of ‘if’ or even ‘by when’ for net zero, but importantly ‘how’”.
That remains a question the government still hasn’t seemed to have figured out — just like we’re going to join the more than 100 countries that have already committed to net zero emissions goals by 2050.
At the upcoming G7 summit, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will supposedly be putting way more pressure on developed countries to ramp up their commitments to slashing carbon emissions.
Johnson is also expected to continue discussions of a free trade deal between Australia and the UK.
The summit will also be the ScoMo’s first time meeting US President Joe Biden in person, and the pair have reportedly organised a separate meeting to the big G7 summit one.
Morrison will likely also visit France to chat with President Macron about the country’s concerning $90 billion future submarines program.