At its meeting today, the Federal Cabinet adopted the 2022 G7 Presidency Programme. Guided by the motto “Progress towards an equitable world”, the Federal Government will use the Presidency to strengthen the G7 as a community of values that can work together to make progress with regard to multilateral cooperation, social cohesion and key global challenges.

Germany wants to use its G7 Presidency to achieve a strong position and ambitious targets for better climate change mitigation and environmental protection. The process is to be as inclusive and transparent as possible. This is why – in addition to ministerial meetings – engagement groups from diverse fields of civil society are to be closely involved in the G7 process.

Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, says: “My goal is to send out a clear signal from the G7 for international cooperation and multilateralism. What we need above all is an ambitious climate and energy policy agenda. This means accelerating the global coal phase-out, pressing for decarbonisation across sectors and striving for a global just transition. In terms of trade policy, we seek to use the G7 as a platform to discuss ways of reforming the World Trade Organization and to make international trade and global supply chains more open, equitable and sustainable.”

Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection Steffi Lemke says: “Across all areas of life, we need a fundamental systemic transformation towards environmental sustainability. In the context of Germany’s G7 Presidency, I will therefore in particular be advocating for an ambitious global framework at the Global Biodiversity Conference in Kunming – one that will enable us to reverse the trend in species extinction. We want to pave the way for a G7 Ocean Deal in order to forge ahead with joint initiatives for ocean conservation and against pollution of the seas. Sustainable use of resources, climate change adaptation and environmentally sustainable supply chains will be further priorities of the G7 year.”

Given that an integrated approach is required in tackling the climate crisis, the biodiversity crisis and increasing environmental pollution – three inextricably linked developments –, Ministers Lemke and Habeck have agreed to arrange a joint meeting of environment, climate and energy ministers, which is scheduled to take place in Berlin from 25 to 27 May 2022. The G7 trade ministers will hold a virtual dialogue on 23 March before meeting in Berlin on 14/15 September 2022.

At the invitation of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the G7 summit will take place at Schloss Elmau from 26 to 28 June. Further information can be found on the Federal Government’s website on the German G7 Presidency: www.g7germany.de

On 1 January 2023, Japan will take over the G7 Presidency.