The 47th G7 Summit held in Carbis Bay, Cornwall, UK (June 11-13, 2021) — the first in-person gathering of world leaders since the pandemic began, focused on vaccines, climate, and containing China.
The Attendees
G7 Leaders:
- Joe Biden (USA) — his first G7 as president
- Boris Johnson (UK) — host
- Emmanuel Macron (France)
- Angela Merkel (Germany) — her last G7
- Mario Draghi (Italy)
- Justin Trudeau (Canada)
- Yoshihide Suga (Japan)
Guests: EU, Australia, South Korea, South Africa, India (virtual)
The Agenda
1. COVID-19 vaccine distribution
- Pledged 1 billion doses to poorer nations
- Critics called it insufficient (need 11 billion globally)
2. Climate commitments
- Reaffirmed Paris Agreement goals
- Pledged to end coal financing
3. China challenge
- First G7 statement on Xinjiang (Uyghur forced labor)
- Countering Belt and Road Initiative with “Build Back Better World” infrastructure plan
4. Corporate tax reform
- Agreed to 15% global minimum tax for corporations
The Optics
“America is back”: Biden’s message — contrast to Trump’s G7 chaos (2018 tariff threats)
The beach BBQ photo-op: Leaders awkwardly socially-distanced on Cornish beach
Queen Elizabeth cameo: Biden met the Queen at Windsor after the summit
The Protests
Extinction Rebellion, Greenpeace, and anti-capitalist groups protested in Cornwall:
- “G7: Greenwash 7” banners
- Calls for vaccine patent waivers
- Criticism of elite hypocrisy (private jets to a climate summit)
The Outcomes
Vaccine pledge: 1 billion doses promised, delivery slow and uneven
Corporate tax deal: Eventually implemented in 2023 (OECD framework)
China strategy: Symbolic but lacked enforcement mechanisms
Climate: Recommitment to Paris goals, but emissions cuts still insufficient
The Aftermath
The summit was seen as a return to multilateralism after Trump’s unilateralism. But the gap between promises and action remained wide.
Angela Merkel’s last G7: After 16 years as German Chancellor, this was her final appearance. The end of an era.
Sources
- G7 Carbis Bay Communiqué (June 13, 2021)
- White House briefings June 2021
- BBC, Guardian Cornwall coverage
- COVAX vaccine distribution data
- OECD global tax framework updates