G7 Japan Global Briefing Report Review

JAPANESE PRESIDENCY

GLOBAL BRIEFING REPORT REVIEW

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G7

Dear Valued Readers,

As we unveil our 27th issue, the G7 Japan 2023 Global Briefing Report Review, I am filled with a sense of pride and responsibility. Over the years, we have endeavored to present you with comprehensive, insightful, and timely analyses of the world’s most significant international forums, and this edition is no exception.

Japan, with its rich tapestry of history and innovative spirit, plays a pivotal role in the G7. In this issue, we delve deep into the discussions, debates, and decisions that are shaping the world under Japan’s G7 presidency. From intricate economic dynamics to pressing global challenges, we offer an unparalleled view into the heart of these high-level meetings. We understand the importance of accurate, unbiased, and impactful reporting,

especially when covering events of such magnitude. Our dedicated team of writers, analysts, and field reporters have worked tirelessly to ensure every piece of information presented is both enlightening and actionable.

This is more than just a report. It is a testament to the interconnectedness of our world, the challenges we face, and the collaborative spirit with which we can overcome them. We hope it serves as a valuable resource, providing clarity amidst the complex world of international relations and policy-making.

Thank you for your continued trust and readership. As always, we remain committed to informing, educating, and inspiring you. Here’s to many more editions of global understanding and collaboration.

Chris Atkins PUBLISHER, CEO & FOUNDER

G7

In 2023, Japan assumed the G7 Presidency. Throughout the year, more than 10 Ministerial Meetings will take place in Japan, from Sapporo in the north to Miyazaki in the south, attended by many government officials, the media, and others from around the world.

From May 19 to 21, the G7 Summit will be held in Hiroshima, my hometown. Hiroshima is a beautiful city surrounded by the lush green Chugoku Mountains, facing the calm Seto Inland Sea. I truly look forward to welcoming the G7 Leaders to Hiroshima. At the same time, as the world’s attention turns to Japan this year, it will be a great opportunity to show the world the charms of our country, from beautiful landscapes, traditional culture and local foods to cutting-edge technology.

Having experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and being faced with Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which shook the very foundation of the international order, the international community is now at a historic turning point. The G7 firmly rejects any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force or the threat or use of nuclear weapons and upholds the international order based on the rule of law.

I will lead the discussion as Chair and demonstrate the G7’s strong determination to the world with historical significance. There are mounting challenges facing the international community, such as the global economy including energy and food security, regional affairs including Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific, nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, economic security, and global issues including climate change, global health, and development. As Chair, I will facilitate candid discussions among the G7 Leaders to articulate ideas and plans for the future.

The year of the G7 Presidency will also serve as a valuable opportunity for the next generation and beyond, the youth and children, to turn their attention to global issues and take action. We will provide various opportunities to deepen exchanges, learn together, and experience the Summit for those who will be at the helm of tomorrow’s Japan and world.

With the cooperation of everyone in Japan, including the host cities and prefectures, I wish to foster the momentum of the G7 Presidency year. Let us work together toward the success of the Summit and Ministerial Meetings as well as toward a bright future for Japan and the world.

Fumio Kishida PRIME MINISTER

G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué

1. Introduction

We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), met in Hiroshima for our annual Summit on May 19-21, 2023, more united than ever in our determination to meet the global challenges of this moment and set the course for a better future. Our work is rooted in respect for the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and international partnership.

We are taking concrete steps to:

• support Ukraine for as long as it takes in the face of Russia’s illegal war of aggression; •strengthen disarmament and non-proliferation efforts, towards the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all;

• coordinate our approach to economic resilience and economic security that is based on diversifying and deepening partnerships and de-risking, not de-coupling;

• drive the transition to clean energy economies of the future through cooperation within and beyond the G7;

• launch the Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security with partner countries to address needs today and into the future; and

• deliver our goal of mobilizing up to $600 billion in financing for quality infrastructure through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII) as outlined in the reference documents of this Communique.

We are determined to work together and with others to:

• support a free and open Indo-Pacific and oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion;

• foster a strong and resilient global economic recovery, maintain financial stability, and promote jobs and sustainable growth;

• accelerate achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), recognizing that reducing poverty and tackling the climate and nature crisis go hand in hand;

• promote the evolution of the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs);

• strengthen our partnerships with African countries and support greater African representation in multilateral fora;

• preserve the planet by accelerating the decarbonization of our energy sector and the deployment of renewables, end plastic pollution and protect the oceans; →

• deepen cooperation through Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs), the Climate Club and new Country Packages for Forest, Nature and Climate;

• invest in global health through vaccine manufacturing capacity worldwide, the Pandemic Fund, the future international agreement for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response, and efforts to achieve universal health coverage (UHC);

• cooperate on international migration and strengthen our common effort to fight the trafficking and smuggling of human beings; and

• advance international discussions on inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) governance and interoperability to achieve our common vision and goal of trustworthy AI, in line with our shared democratic values.

2. We will champion international principles and shared values by:

• upholding and reinforcing the free and open international order based on the rule of law, respecting the UN Charter to the benefit of countries, large and small;

• strongly opposing any unilateral attempts to change the peacefully established status of territories by force or coercion anywhere in the world and reaffirming

that the acquisition of territory by force is prohibited;

• promoting universal human rights, gender equality and human dignity;

• reiterating the importance of multilateralism including the role of UN and international cooperation in promoting peace, stability and prosperity; and

• strengthening the rules-based multilateral trading system and keeping pace with the evolution of digital technologies.

3. We will work with our international partners to achieve a world that is human-centered, inclusive and resilient, leaving no one behind. In that spirit, we welcomed the participation of the Leaders of Australia, Brazil, Comoros, Cook Islands, India, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, and Vietnam.

4. Ukraine

We once again condemn in the strongest possible terms the war of aggression by Russia against Ukraine, which constitutes a serious violation of international law, including the UN Charter. Russia’s brutal war of aggression represents a threat to the whole world in breach of fundamental

norms, rules and principles of the international community. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes to bring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace. We issued the G7 Leaders’ Statement on Ukraine, and with the clear intention and concrete actions set forth in it, we commit to intensifying our diplomatic, financial, humanitarian and military support for Ukraine, to increasing the costs to Russia and those supporting its war efforts, and to continuing to counter the negative impacts of the war on the rest of the world, particularly on the most vulnerable people.

5. Disarmament and Non-proliferation

Together with the G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament, we express our commitment to achieving a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all, through taking a realistic, pragmatic, and responsible approach. We reaffirm the importance of disarmament and non-proliferation efforts to create a more stable and safer world. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime and the foundation for the pursuit of nuclear disarmament and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. We remain committed to the universalization, effective implementation, and strengthening of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, as well as the Chemical Weapons Convention. We welcome the steps taken to strengthen effective and responsible export controls on materials, technology, and research that could be used for military purposes in a way that keeps pace with rapid technological developments and recognize the central role of multilateral export control regimes in this regard.

6. Indo-Pacific

We reiterate the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific, which is inclusive, prosperous, secure, based on the rule of law, and that protects shared principles including sovereignty, territorial integrity, peaceful resolution of disputes, and fundamental freedoms and human rights. Given the importance of the region, G7 members and our partners have taken respective IndoPacific initiatives to help strengthen our engagement. We underscore our commitment to strengthen coordination with regional partners, including the

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member states. We reaffirm our unwavering support for ASEAN centrality and unity and our commitment to promoting cooperation in line with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. We also reaffirm our partnership with Pacific Island countries and reiterate the importance of supporting their priorities and needs in accordance with the Pacific Islands Forum’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. We welcome and further encourage efforts made by the private sector, universities and think tanks, which contribute to realizing a free and open Indo-Pacific.

7. Global Economy, Finance and Sustainable Development

The global economy has shown resilience against multiple shocks including the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, and associated inflationary pressures. Nevertheless, we need to remain vigilant and stay agile and flexible in our macroeconomic policy amid heightened uncertainty about the global economic outlook. In striving for strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth, we are committed to a stability- and growth-oriented macroeconomic policy mix that supports medium-term fiscal sustainability and price stability. Inflation remains elevated and central banks remain strongly committed to achieving price stability, in line with their respective mandates. Meanwhile, fiscal policy should continue to provide, as appropriate, temporary and targeted support to vulnerable groups suffering from the increase in cost of living and catalyze investment needed for the green and digital transformations while the overall fiscal stance should ensure medium-term sustainability. We also reaffirm our existing G7 exchange rate commitments. We reemphasize the importance of supply-side reforms, especially those that increase labor supply and enhance productivity. We also stress the crucial role of women and under-represented groups for the long-term success of our economies through promoting inclusion, diversity and innovation. We look forward to a successful review of the G20/ Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles of Corporate Governance to strengthen

Together with the G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament, we express our commitment to achieving a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all, through taking a realistic, pragmatic, and responsible approach.

sustainability and resilience of the private sector. Recognizing that our economic and social structures have undergone dynamic and fundamental transformation, we underscore the multidimensional aspects of welfare and that these aspects should be brought into policymaking in a practical and effective manner. Such efforts will help preserve confidence in democracy and a market-based economy, which are the core values of the G7.

8. We will continue to closely monitor financial sector developments and stand ready to take appropriate actions to maintain financial stability and the resilience of the global financial system. We reaffirm that our financial system is resilient, supported by the financial regulatory reforms implemented after the 2008 global financial crisis. We strongly support the work of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and standard-setting bodies on enhancing the resilience of non-bank financial intermediation. We will continue policy deliberation on digital money to harness the benefits of innovation such as payment efficiency as well as financial inclusion while addressing potential risks to the stability, resilience and integrity of the monetary and financial system. Effective monitoring, regulation and oversight are critical to addressing financial stability and integrity risks posed by crypto-asset activities and markets and to avoid regulatory arbitrage, while supporting responsible innovation.

9. We re-emphasize our strong political commitment towards the swift global implementation of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework Two-Pillar Solution to

address the tax challenges arising from globalization and the digitalization of the economy and to establish a more stable and fairer international tax system. We recognize significant progress in the negotiation of the Pillar 1 Multilateral Convention (MLC) and reaffirm our commitment to the swift completion of the negotiation so that the MLC can be ready for signature within the agreed timeline. We welcome the progresses in domestic legislation toward the implementation of Pillar 2. We will further provide developing countries with support for strengthening their tax capacity to build sustainable tax revenue sources, highlighting the importance of assistance for the implementation of the Two-Pillar Solution.

10. We recognize that achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030, reducing poverty, responding to global challenges including the climate crisis, and addressing debt vulnerabilities in low and middle-income countries are urgent, interrelated and mutually reinforcing. We are determined to do our part to mobilize the private and public resources needed to meet these challenges and support a just transition. Recognizing the importance of providing and protecting global public goods, we will support efforts to embed building resilience, sustainability and inclusiveness as integral elements in MDBs’ efforts to reduce poverty and promote shared prosperity. We will strive to enhance the development finance toolkit to mobilize additional financing from international financial institutions, bilateral partners, and the private sector to more effectively reduce poverty by better addressing vulnerabilities including climate change. We will work together and with partners to deliver this ambition and make concrete progress on this agenda at key moments over the coming year starting with the Summit organized in Paris on June 22-23 to revitalize global development financing, and continuing the momentum through the G20 Summit in New Delhi, the SDG Summit in New York, the 2023 World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Annual Meetings in Marrakech, the G20 Compact with Africa Conference in Berlin, and the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC-COP 28) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). →

11. We are determined to take on a leading role in reversing the setback of progress towards the SDGs. Recognizing that 2023 is the halfway point to achieve the SDGs, we highlight the importance of the SDG Summit in September and will ambitiously contribute to a successful outcome. We reaffirm our commitment to revitalizing international cooperation and strengthen multilateralism. We will accelerate the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA), and will do so in a comprehensive and gendertransformative manner including through locally-led development. We will also promote the concept of human security in the new era aiming to realize a society that leaves no one behind. We stress the critical role of development cooperation and international partnerships in addressing global challenges and the need to engage with international partners in solidarity. We also call for further domestic resource mobilization and efficient use of existing resources as well as mobilizing private financial assets to address financing gaps for sustainable development. We underscore the need for continued efforts to scale up official development assistance (ODA) and expand its catalytic use including through innovative financing mechanisms, recognizing the importance of respective commitments, such as the 0.7% ODA/GNI target that some countries adopted.

12. We remain concerned that serious challenges to debt sustainability are undermining the progress towards the SDGs and low-and middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and wider global challenges. We reiterate the urgency of addressing debt vulnerabilities in these countries and fully support the G20’s effort to improve the implementation of the Common Framework for Debt Treatments beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) in a predictable, timely, orderly and coordinated manner, providing clarity to participants. We welcome the recent approval by the IMF board of a program for Ghana. Beyond the Common Framework, debt vulnerabilities in middle income countries (MICs) should be addressed by multilateral coordination.

In this respect, we welcome the launch of the creditors’ meeting for Sri Lanka under the three co-chairs, France, India, and Japan, and look forward to a swift resolution as a successful model for future multilateral efforts to address MICs’ debt issues. We also stress the importance of private creditors providing debt treatments on terms at least as favorable to ensure fair burden sharing in line with the comparability of treatment principle. We welcome the development of Climate Resilient Debt Clauses (CRDC) to enhance the safety net for borrowers facing the impacts of climate change. We welcome work by our finance ministers on this topic and encourage more creditors to offer CRDC for loan agreements. In order to enhance debt data accuracy and transparency, we invite all official bilateral creditors to join the data sharing exercise for debt data reconciliation, including through further advancing the G20’s initiative in the area of debt data accuracy.

13. We encourage MDBs and Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) to accelerate their efforts to increase their capacity to leverage private finance, including through implementing MDB reforms. In this regard, we strongly support and encourage to expedite the ongoing work on the evolution of the MDBs to review and transform their business models to better address transboundary challenges such as climate change, pandemics, fragility and conflict, which are integral to achieving poverty reduction and shared prosperity. This evolution should come with the most efficient use of their existing capital. To this end, we will contribute to developing an ambitious G20 Roadmap on implementing the recommendations of the G20 MDB Capital Adequacy Framework Review and call on MDBs to make further progress in a comprehensive manner while safeguarding MDBs’ long-term financial sustainability, robust credit ratings and preferred creditor

status. Building on key reforms to the WBG’s mission and operational model along with financial reforms that can add up to $50 billion of financing capacity over the coming decade, we look forward to further progress at the WBG toward the 2023 WBG and IMF Annual Meetings and beyond so that ambitious reforms can be made on a continual basis. We encourage other MDBs to join this initiative for a coordinated approach of MDBs as a system. We also call on MDBs to make the best use of policy and knowledge support, and explore strengthened approaches to promote mobilizing domestic resources and private capital as well as private sector engagement. We have further advanced our joint efforts to support countries most in need through the voluntary channeling of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) or equivalent contributions. We welcome that additional pledges by Japan and France, amongst others, together with our previous contributions and commitments, put the global ambition of $100 billion within reach and call for the delivery of existing pledges and for further pledges from all willing and able countries to fulfill the ambition. We support the IMF achieving its agreed 2021 fundraising targets by the 2023 WBG and IMF Annual Meetings and identifying all available options to put the Poverty Reduction and Growth Trust (PRGT) which supports Low Income Countries (LICs), on a sustainable footing with a view to meeting the growing needs of LICs in the coming years. We will further explore viable options for enabling the voluntary channeling of SDRs through MDBs, while respecting national legal frameworks and the need to preserve the reserve assets character and status of SDRs.

14. We stress the importance of narrowing the infrastructure investment gap in low and middle income partner countries, including by delivering financing for quality infrastructure, supporting efforts to advance policy reforms needed to attract investment, operationalizing country-led partnerships, and promoting upstream support including project preparation support. We reaffirm our shared commitment to the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) and to working together and aiming to mobilize up to $600 billion by 2027. We will continue strengthening

global partnerships for public and private investments in sustainable, inclusive, resilient and quality infrastructure with partner countries. We will mobilize the private sector for accelerated action to this end. Our offer is fair and transparent and aims at accelerating global sustainable development with the focus on delivering impact at local level. We welcome the Factsheet on PGII that demonstrates how the G7 and partners have made concrete progress in fostering investments that will create lasting positive impacts and promote sustainable development. We reiterate our support to the G20 Compact with Africa as a key framework to enhance the business environment in Africa and call on reformoriented partners to join and strengthen this initiative.

15. We shared our determination to promote transparent and fair development finance and work together to address the gap in implementing existing principles such as debt transparency and sustainability, fair appraisal, selection, and lending practices for quality infrastructure investment. In this regard, we call on all actors to adhere to international rules, standards and principles, including the G20 Principles for Quality Infrastructure Investment, the G20 Operational Guidelines for Sustainable Financing, the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. These rules, standards and principles also include measures to safeguard the integrity of infrastructure investments.

16. We note the importance of addressing development, humanitarian, peace and security issues together. We are determined to address the unprecedented number of humanitarian crises, focusing on women and girls and those in vulnerable situations. In this regard, we commit to providing over $21 billion in total to address the worsening humanitarian crises this year, including in response to urgent food crises. Bearing in mind that many countries are vulnerable to disasters,including Small Island Developing States, we will accelerate international disaster risk reduction cooperation in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the output of its midterm review conducted by the UN

Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). We emphasize the importance of a disaster preparedness approach and investment in human capital, goods and infrastructure that contribute not only to “risk transfer” but also to “risk reduction,” resulting in the strengthening of anticipatory actions. We remain committed to holding ourselves accountable, in an open and transparent way, for the promises we have made. In this regard, we endorse the 2023 Hiroshima Progress Report, following up on the G7’s development-related commitments on food security and nutrition as well as refugees and migration.

17. We emphasize the transformative power of cities worldwide as drivers for every aspect of sustainable development. We will continue our cooperation on sustainable urban development and task our relevant Ministers to consider the development of principles on carbon neutral, resilient and →

→ inclusive cities and on the digitalization in cities, and to accelerate the use of data and technologies for cities. This work will support exchanges with our global partners, whose cities face some of the most significant challenges relating to climate change.

18. Climate Change

Our planet is facing unprecedented challenges from the triple global crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution as well as from the ongoing global energy crisis. We are steadfast in our commitment to the Paris agreement, keeping a limit of 1.5°C global temperature rise within reach through scaled up action in this critical decade, halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030, and ensuring energy security, whilst leveraging synergies and recognizing the interdependent nature of these challenges. While Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine impacts energy markets and supply chains globally, our goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 at the latest remains unchanged. We emphasize our strong concern, amplified by the latest finding of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and its Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), at the accelerating and intensifying impacts of climate change, and highlight the increased urgency to reduce global GHG emissions by around 43 percent by 2030 and 60 percent by 2035, relative to → the 2019 level, in light of its latest findings. We reiterate our commitment made in Elmau last year to rapidly implement domestic mitigation measures aimed at achieving our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets and to increase our ambition including, for example, by adopting or strengthening sectoral targets, by developing non-CO2 sub targets, and by adopting stringent implementation measures. Mindful of our leadership role, and noting that emissions have already peaked in all G7 countries, we recognize the critical role of all major economies in limiting increases in global temperature over this critical decade and in subsequent decades. In this context, we underscore that every major economy should have significantly enhanced the ambition of its NDC since the Paris Agreement; already peaked its GHG emissions or indicated that it will do so no later than 2025; and in particular, included economy-wide absolute

We are steadfast in our commitment to the Paris agreement, keeping a limit of 1.5°C global temperature rise within reach through scaled up action in this critical decade, halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030, and ensuring energy security, whilst leveraging synergies and recognizing the interdependent nature of these challenges.

reduction targets and that cover all GHGs in its NDC. Accordingly, we call on all Parties - especially major economies - whose 2030 NDC targets or long-term low GHG emission development Strategies (LTSs) are not yet aligned with a 1.5°C pathway and net zero by 2050 at the latest, to revisit and strengthen the 2030 NDC targets and publish or update their LTSs as soon as possible and well before UNFCCC-COP28, and to commit to net zero by 2050 at the latest. Furthermore, we call on all Parties to commit at UNFCCC-COP28 to peak global GHG emissions immediately and by no later than 2025. We reaffirm our commitment to the Global Methane Pledge and we will step up efforts to collectively reduce global anthropogenic methane emissions by at least 30 percent below 2020 levels by 2030. We commit to actively contributing to securing the most ambitious outcomes of the first global stocktake (GST) at UNFCCCCOP28, which should result in enhanced, immediate and ambitious actions across mitigation, adaptation, means of implementation and support. We call on all Parties to submit their next round of NDCs and LTSs well ahead of UNFCCC-COP30 that are informed by the outcomes of the GST, reflecting economy-wide absolute reduction targets including all GHGs, sectors and categories. These should reflect significantly enhanced ambition aligned with a 1.5°C pathway and should also include their revisited and strengthened 2030 targets.

19. Noting the importance of increasing the pace and scale of action on climate change, biodiversity loss and clean energy transitions, we will globally advance and promote a green transformation, working together to realize transformation of our economies to reach net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 at the latest. We will engage with developing and emerging countries to accelerate emission reduction, including by supporting their transitions to climate resilient, circular, and nature positive economies and net-zero GHG emissions through various and practical pathways taking into account national circumstances. To that end, we reaffirm our strong commitment to supporting developing countries’ just energy transitions, which will be supported by coordinated actions, including through the PGII. We welcome progress achieved on JETPs with South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam, and also continue our discussions with India and Senegal. We take note of initiatives that are intended to support clean energy transition in countries around the world, such as Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative, the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA), 2050 Pathways Platform, Net Zero World (NZW), and the Global Carbon Pricing Challenge and underscore the importance of actions taken through such initiatives being aligned with a 1.5°C pathway. We will take further action on supply-side measures and recognize the need for further decarbonization efforts on the demand-side such as promoting changes in infrastructure and material use and end-use technology adoption as well as promoting sustainable consumer choice. We also recognize the vital role of sub-national governments in collaboration with other stakeholders and partners to advance climate and energy actions based on local needs and environmental conditions. We reaffirm the important role of high integrity carbon markets and carbon pricing to foster cost-efficient reductions in emission levels, drive innovation and enable a transformation to net zero, through the optimal use of a range of policy levers to price carbon. We support appropriate policy mixes including carbon pricing, non-pricing mechanisms, and incentives that effectively reduce emissions, and note that these could vary reflecting country-specific circumstances. We strongly support the

OECD Inclusive Forum on Carbon Mitigation Approaches (IFCMA). We look forward to advancing the open, cooperative, and inclusive Climate Club, in collaboration with international partners, to advance industrial decarbonization. We encourage private entities to commit to GHG net-zero emissions throughout the value chain via credible net zero pledges and transparent implementation strategies. We also encourage and promote private entities’ work to foster innovation contributing to the emission reduction of other entities through decarbonization solutions. We welcome the progress of the Industrial Decarbonization Agenda (IDA) that decided to start working on implementation of the new Global Data Collection Framework for steel production and product emissions. We reaffirm our commitment to a highly decarbonized road sector by 2030, and recognize the importance of reducing GHG emissions from the global fleet and the range of pathways to approach this goal in line with trajectories required for keeping a limit of 1.5°C within reach. We are committed to the goal of achieving net-zero emissions in the road sector by 2050. In this context, we highlight the various actions that each of us is taking to decarbonize our vehicle fleet,

including such domestic policies that are designed to achieve 100 percent or the overwhelming penetration of sales of light duty vehicles (LDVs) as zero emission vehicles (ZEV) by 2035 and beyond; to achieve 100 percent electrified vehicles in new passenger car sales by 2035; to promote associated infrastructure and sustainable carbon-neutral fuels including sustainable bio- and synthetic fuels. We note the opportunities that these policies offer to contribute to a highly decarbonized road sector, including progressing towards a share of over 50 percent of zero emission LDVs sold globally by 2030. Considering the findings of the International Energy Agency (IEA)‘s Energy Technology Perspective 2023, we also note the opportunity to collectively reduce by at least 50 percent CO2 emissions from G7 vehicle stock by 2035 or earlier relative to the level in 2000 as a halfway point to achieving net zero and to track the progress on a yearly basis. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthen global efforts to achieve GHG lifecycle zero emissions from international shipping by 2050 at the latest. We commit to support this target and introducing intermediate targets for 2030 and 2040 for the revised International Maritime Organization (IMO)

GHG reduction strategy, in line with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels through a credible basket of measures. We commit to accelerate global efforts to achieve the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s goal of net-zero emissions in international aviation by 2050, including making an effort for promoting and introducing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), introducing new technologies and improving operations, also building on ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

20. In the face of the increasing threats posed by climate change, supporting climate-vulnerable groups is essential for ensuring human security and achieving resilient and sustainable development. We will continue to scale up and enhance support to strengthen the resilience of climate-vulnerable groups through enhancing climate change adaptation and climate disaster risk reduction, response and recovery and early-warning systems including through the Global Shield against Climate Risks and other initiatives related to early warning systems and the adoption of climate-resilient debt clauses. →

→ We reaffirm our commitments to the developed country Parties’ goal of jointly mobilizing $100 billion annually in climate finance by 2020 through to 2025 in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation. We will work together with other developed country Parties in order to fully meet the goal in 2023. We welcome discussions on an ambitious and fit-for-purpose new collective quantified goal (NCQG) which contributes as a global effort, from a wide variety of sources, public and private, to reaching the goals of the Paris Agreement, including making finance flows consistent with a pathway toward low GHG emissions and climate resilient development. Recognizing the critical role of the G7 and that developed country parties should take the lead in mobilizing climate finance, we underscore the need for all countries and stakeholders, who have the capabilities and are not yet among the current providers of international climate finance, to contribute to global efforts in this regard.

21. We are committed to accelerating our own efforts to making financial flows consistent with a pathway toward low GHG emissions and climate resilient development, in line with Article 2.1c of the Paris Agreement. We stress the importance of mobilizing finance especially including private finance focusing on further implementation and development of clean technologies and activities. We underline our commitment to consistent, comparable and reliable disclosure of information on sustainability including climate. We support the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) finalizing the standards for general reporting on sustainability and for climate-related disclosures and working toward achieving globally interoperable sustainability disclosure frameworks. We also look forward to the ISSB’s future work on disclosure on biodiversity and human capital, in line with its work plan consultation. We remain committed to supporting the implementation and monitoring of the G20 Sustainable

Finance Roadmap. We highlight the need for corporates to implement their net-zero transitions in line with the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement based on credible corporate climate transition plans. We also highlight that transition finance, in line with keeping a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise within reach, avoiding carbon lock-ins and based on effective emissions reduction, has a significant role in advancing the decarbonization of the economy as a whole. We look forward to an ambitious and successful second replenishment for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and reaffirm the need for robust G7 pledges. We urge other countries to do the same and underscore the need to broaden the GCF’s contributor base by encouraging all potential contributors. We continue to accelerate efforts to respond to the Glasgow Climate Pact that urges developed countries to at least double their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation to developing countries from the 2019 level by 2025, in the context of achieving a balance between mitigation and adaptation in the provision of scaled-up financial resources. We also urge MDBs to commit to ambitious adaptation finance targets, announcing revised and enhanced 2025 projections, and call on non-G7 countries to enhance provision and mobilization including private finance for adaptation. We stress the key role of International Financial Institutions (IFIs) in mobilizing finance and call on them to mainstream climate and environment issues in their policies, investments, operations and governance. We also urge MDBs to increase finance for global public goods including climate finance and support ambitious regulatory reforms in developing countries via policy-based finance in order to foster the transition to net zero and enable private sector investment. Furthermore, in order to promote the development of carbon markets while ensuring their environmental integrity, we endorse the “Principles of High Integrity Carbon Markets” to facilitate their implementation in carbon credit markets. We emphasize our extreme concern at the scale of impacts that are already resulting in economic and non-economic loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change and being felt globally, particularly by the most vulnerable. Alarmed by the adverse effects of climate change globally, we will scale up action and support

to avert, minimize and address loss and damage, especially for the most vulnerable countries. This will include implementing the UNFCCC-COP27/The 4th session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA4) decision to establish new funding arrangements, including a fund, for developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, in the context of article 8 of the Paris Agreement, and providing support identified in the “G7 Inventory on Climate Disaster Risk Reduction, Response and Recovery”.

22. Environment

We commit to realizing the transformation of the economic and social system towards net-zero, circular, climate-resilient, pollutionfree and nature-positive economies and to halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030, in an integrated manner, while ensuring sustainable and inclusive economic growth and development and enhancing the resilience of our economies. Highlighting that enhancing resource efficiency and circularity along value chains reduces primary resource use and contributes to achieving our climate and other environmental goals, we encourage stakeholders and in particular businesses to strengthen their action. Thus, we endorse the Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Principles (CEREP). We will increase domestic and international environmentally-sound, sustainable and efficient recovery and recycling of critical minerals and raw materials and other applicable materials while increasing circularity along the supply chains. We reaffirm that management and governance of water-related ecosystems are essential for all life on earth. We are actively engaging in relevant international fora including following up on the UN Water Conference successfully held this year.

23. Building on the G7 Ocean Deal, we commit to act towards realizing clean, healthy and productive oceans. We reaffirm our commitment to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and will take further actions to address this phenomenon in all its dimensions, including supporting developing countries and strengthening policy coordination among our relevant

agencies and task them to take stock of their progress on this issue by the end of this year. In particular, we encourage non-parties to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) to join for further global acceptance and effective implementation of the PSMA. We welcome the conclusion of the negotiations for an international legally binding instrument under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ) and call for its rapid entry into force and implementation. We will continue to actively engage in the development of a regulatory framework on deep seabed mineral exploitation under the International Seabed Authority (ISA) that ensures effective protection for the marine environment from harmful effects which may arise from such activities, as required under the UNCLOS. We are committed to end plastic pollution, with the ambition to reduce additional plastic pollution to zero by 2040. With this in mind, we are determined to continue and step up our actions based on the comprehensive life cycle approach. We support the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) process, look forward o the next round of negotiation in Paris with a view to completing its work with an international legally binding instrument covering the whole life cycle of plastics by the end of 2024 and call for ambitious outcomes. We will make as much progress as possible on these issues and on the broader agenda of ocean protection by the UN Ocean Conference in 2025.

24. We welcome the adoption of the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, which is fundamental to human well-being, a healthy planet and economic prosperity, and commit to its swift and full implementation and to achievement of each of its goals and targets. In this regard, G7 members that are parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) commit to revise, update and submit our National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) aligned with the GBF and its goals and targets, or to communicate national targets reflecting as applicable all the goals and targets of the

We call on businesses to progressively reduce negative and increase positive impacts on biodiversity. We look forward to the publication of the Taskforce on Naturerelated Financial Disclosures’ (TNFD’s) market framework and urge market participants, governments and regulators to support its development.

GBF in 2023 or sufficiently in advance of CBD-COP16. We will identify incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity by 2025, and redirect or eliminate them while scaling up positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity by 2030 at the latest, taking initial steps without delay. We call on all signatories to swiftly implement their commitments under the GBF and stand ready to provide support to developing countries. We reiterate our commitment to substantially increase our national and international funding for nature by 2025. We will ensure that our international development assistance aligns with the GBF. We call on the MDBs to increase support for biodiversity including through leveraging financial resources from all sources and deploying a full suite of instruments. To implement the GBF, we commit to substantially and progressively increasing the level of financial resources from all sources, and to align all relevant fiscal and financial flows with the GBF and call on others to do the same. We commit to supporting the establishment of the GBF Fund within the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and its successful launch at the GEF Assembly in Vancouver in August 2023, noting the importance of financial contributions from all sources to capitalize the new fund. We reaffirm our commitment to enhance synergies between finance for climate and biodiversity, including increased funding for Nature-based Solutions. →

→ We also commit to supporting and advancing a transition to nature positive economies, including through sharing knowledge and creating information networks among the G7 such as the G7 Alliance on Nature Positive Economy. We call on businesses to progressively reduce negative and increase positive impacts on biodiversity. We look forward to the publication of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures’ (TNFD’s) market framework and urge market participants, governments and regulators to support its development. We stress our commitment to achieving the target of effectively conserving and managing at least 30 percent of terrestrial and inland water areas, and at least 30 percent of marine and coastal areas by 2030 (30 by 30), nationally and globally, according to national circumstances and approaches through promoting the designation and management of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). We commit to conserving and protecting global marine biological diversity

and sustainably using its resources based on the best available scientific evidence. In this context, we reconfirm our commitment under the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) to adopt, as a matter of urgency, proposals to designate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Eastern Antarctica, the Weddell Sea and the Western Antarctic Peninsula, based on the best available scientific evidence. In this regard, we will support other countries by sharing best practices for protected areas and OECMs to achieve the GBF target of 30 by 30. We will enhance international cooperation on measures against invasive alien species. We reiterate our commitment to halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030, and are committed to conserving forests and other terrestrial ecosystems and accelerating their restoration, supporting sustainable value and supply chains as well as promoting sustainable forest management and use of wood. We will work together, with high ambition to deliver integrated solutions to

support the protection, conservation and restoration of high-carbon, high-biodiversity ecosystems, including by coordinating our offers through Country Packages on Forests, Nature and Climate, especially in countries which host vital reserves of carbon and biodiversity, with an initial focus on forests. We commit to continuing our efforts to reduce risk of deforestation and forest and land degradation linked to the production of relevant commodities and enhance cooperation with various stakeholders on this issue. We will, if appropriate, develop further regulatory frameworks or policies to support this.

25. Energy

We commit to holistically addressing energy security, the climate crisis, and geopolitical risks. In order to address the current energy crisis caused by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and achieve our common goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest, we highlight the real and urgent need and opportunity to accelerate clean energy transitions also as a means of increasing

energy security at the same time. While acknowledging various pathways according to each country’s energy situation, industrial and social structures and geographical conditions, we highlight that these should lead to our common goal of net zero by 2050 at the latest in order to keep a limit of 1.5 °C within reach. In this regard, we invite the IEA to make recommendations by the end of this year on options how to diversify the supplies of energy and critical minerals as well as clean energy manufacturing. Through this, together with our partners, we seek to holistically address energy security, climate crisis, and geopolitical risk including the expansion of global use of renewable energy in order to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 at the latest and keep a limit of 1.5 °C temperature rise within reach. Through our experience in coping with past and current energy crises, we highlight the importance of enhanced energy efficiency and savings as the “first fuel,” and of developing demand side energy policies. We also need to significantly accelerate the deployment of renewable energies and the development and deployment of next-generation technologies. The G7 contributes to expanding renewable energy globally and bringing down costs by strengthening capacity including through a collective increase in offshore wind capacity of 150GW by 2030 based on each country’s existing targets and a collective increase of solar PV to more than 1TW by 2030 estimated by the IEA and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) through means such as each country’s existing targets or policy measures. We recognize that low-carbon and renewable hydrogen and its derivatives such as ammonia should be developed and used, if this can be aligned with a 1.5 °C pathway, where they are impactful as effective emission reduction tools to advance decarbonization across sectors and industries, notably in hard-to-abate sectors in industry and transportation, while avoiding N2O as a GHG and NOx as air pollutant. We also note that some countries are exploring the use of low-carbon and renewable hydrogen and its derivatives in the power sector to work towards zeroemission thermal power generation if this can be aligned with a 1.5°C pathway and our collective goal for a fully or

predominantly decarbonized power sector by 2035. We will enhance our efforts to develop the rule-based, transparent global market and supply chains for low carbon and renewable hydrogen based on reliable international standards and certification schemes adhering to environmental and social standards. We affirm the importance of developing international standards and certification including for a GHG calculation methodology for hydrogen production and mutual recognition mechanism for carbon intensity-based tradability, transparency, trustworthiness and sustainability. We reaffirm our commitment to achieving a fully or predominantly decarbonized power sector by 2035, and prioritizing concrete and timely steps towards the goal of accelerating the phase-out of domestic unabated coal power generation in a manner consistent with keeping a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise within reach and urge others to join us. We will work towards ending the construction of new unabated coal fired power generation as identified in the IEA’s Coal in Net Zero Transitions report in 2022 as one of the primary actions to be taken in line with the IEA net zero by 2050 scenario. We call on and will work with other countries to end new unabated coal-fired power generation projects globally as soon as possible to accelerate the clean energy transition in a just manner. We highlight that we ended new direct government support for unabated international thermal coal power generation in 2021. We call on other countries, especially major economies to join

us in fulfilling their commitments to do the same. We acknowledge that Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS)/ carbon recycling technologies can be an important part of a broad portfolio of decarbonization solutions to reduce emissions from industrial sources that cannot be avoided otherwise and that the deployment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) processes with robust social and environmental safeguard, have an essential role to play in counterbalancing residual emissions from sectors that are unlikely to achieve full decarbonization.

We call on businesses to progressively reduce negative and increase positive impacts on biodiversity. We look forward to the publication of the Taskforce on Naturerelated Financial Disclosures’ (TNFD’s) market framework and urge market participants, governments and regulators to support its development.

26. We underline our commitment, in the context of a global effort, to accelerate the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels so as to achieve net zero in energy systems by 2050 at the latest in line with the trajectories required to limit global average temperatures to 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels, and call on others to join us in taking the same action. We reaffirm our commitment to the elimination of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by 2025 or sooner, and reaffirm our previous calls for all countries to do so. In view of the emerging need for net-zero and circular industrial supply chains in the transformation towards a 1.5°C pathway, we recognize the opportunities associated with decarbonized, sustainably and responsibly produced non-combustion feedstocks, and are committed to supporting our workers and communities in this transformation. We also highlight that we ended new direct public support for the international unabated fossil-fuel energy sector in 2022, except in limited circumstances clearly defined by each country consistent with a 1.5 °C warming limit and the goals of the Paris Agreement, recognizing the importance of national security and geostrategic interests. It is necessary to accelerate the phase out of our dependency on Russian energy, including through energy savings and gas demand reduction, in a manner consistent with our Paris commitments, and address the global impact of Russia’s war on energy supplies, gas prices and inflation, and people’s lives, recognizing the primary need to accelerate the clean energy transition. In this context, we stress the important role that increased deliveries of LNG can play, and acknowledge that investment in the sector can be appropriate in response to the →

→ current crisis and to address potential gas market shortfalls provoked by the crisis. In the exceptional circumstance of accelerating the phase out of our dependency on Russian energy, publicly supported investment in the gas sector can be appropriate as a temporary response, subject to clearly defined national circumstances, if implemented in a manner consistent with our climate objectives without creating lock-in effects, for example by ensuring that projects are integrated into national strategies for the development of low-carbon and renewable hydrogen. We will further utilize neutral and impartial statistical data made available by international organizations such as the IEA and strengthen their data-collection and analysis functions, with a view to stabilizing energy markets. We emphasize the importance of strengthening forums for communication and cooperation between producing and consuming countries with a view to stabilizing energy markets and mobilizing necessary investment consistent with climate goals. Those G7 countries that opt to use nuclear energy recognize its potential to provide affordable low-carbon energy that can reduce dependence on fossil fuels, to address the climate crisis and to ensure global energy security as a source of baseload energy and grid flexibility. They commit to maximizing the use of existing reactors safely, securely, and efficiently, including by advancing their safe long-term operation, in addressing the current energy crisis. They also commit, domestically as well as in partner countries, to supporting the development and construction of nuclear reactors, such as small modular and other advanced reactors with advanced safety systems, building robust and resilient nuclear supply chains including nuclear fuel, and maintaining and strengthening nuclear technology and human resources. They will work with like-minded partners to reduce dependence on Russia. The G7 underlines that the highest standards of nuclear safety and security are important to all countries and their respective publics. We welcome the steady progress of decommissioning work at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO)’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, and Japan’s transparent efforts with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) based on scientific evidence. We support the IAEA’s independent review

to ensure that the discharge of Advanced Liquid Processing System (ALPS) treated water will be conducted consistent with IAEA safety standards and international law and that it will not cause any harm to humans and the environment, which is essential for the decommissioning of the site and the reconstruction of Fukushima.

27. Clean Energy Economy

Emphasizing that the global climate and energy crisis highlights the urgent need to accelerate the clean energy transition towards achieving net-zero emissions no later than 2050 and to transform our energy systems, we underline the necessity of economic diversification and transformation, including in supply chains. In order to further promote clean energy transitions on a global scale, we are determined to increase our efforts and, in particular, will pursue secure, resilient, affordable, and sustainable clean energy supply chains, including those for critical minerals and clean energy technologies. In implementing energy transitions, we also reaffirm the importance of working collectively to avoid market distortions and ensuring a global level playing field. We will continue to work with international partners to realize a clean energy economy through concrete actions as laid out in the Clean Energy Economy Action Plan.

28. Economic Resilience and Economic Security

Ensuring economic resilience and economic security globally remains our best protection against the weaponization of economic vulnerabilities. Recalling our commitment from the 2022 G7 Elmau Summit, we will advance economic policies that enhance global economic resilience and economic security to protect against systemic vulnerabilities. To this end, we will engage in dialogue and follow a cooperative approach within the G7 as well as with partners beyond the G7 and globally, including in collaboration with developing countries. In so doing, we will promote international rules and norms in order to facilitate trade and promote economic resilience, based on the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core. Our efforts will include taking action to make our supply chains and those of our partners around the world more resilient,

sustainable and reliable, as well as appropriate measures to promote prosperity for all. We will also promote trust and security in critical infrastructure. We will enhance ongoing collaboration to address non-market policies and practices that exacerbate strategic dependencies and systemic vulnerabilities, harm our workers and businesses, and can undermine international rules and norms. Building on our resolve in Elmau to increase vigilanceand enhance our cooperation to address risks that undermine global security and stability, we will enhance collaboration by launching the Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion to increase our collective assessment, preparedness, deterrence and response to economic coercion, and further promote cooperation with partners beyond the G7. We will deepen our strategic dialogue against malicious practices to protect global supply chains from illegitimate influence, espionage, illicit knowledge leakage, and sabotage in the digital sphere. We affirm our shared responsibility and determination to coordinate on preventing the cutting-edge technologies we develop from being used to further military capabilities that threaten international peace and security. In this context, we hereby adopt the G7 Leaders’ Statement on Economic Resilience and Economic Security.

29. We reaffirm the growing importance of critical minerals in various fields, especially for the global clean energy transition, and the need to manage economic and security risks caused by vulnerable supply chains. We support open, fair, transparent, secure, diverse, sustainable, traceable, rules- and market-based trade in critical minerals, oppose market-distorting practices and monopolistic policies on critical minerals, and reaffirm the need to build resilient, robust, responsible, and transparent critical mineral supply chains. We are committed to strengthening our preparedness and resilience against emergencies such as market disruptions, and considering ways to jointly address any such disruptions, including through the support of the IEA’s “Voluntary Critical Mineral Security Program.” We welcome joint progress in efforts to diversify supply chains, including the refining and processing of critical minerals, such as the Minerals Security

Partnership (MSP). We will support local value creation in critical minerals supply chains in line with the WTO rules. We will promote domestic and international recycling of critical minerals in collaboration with developing countries. We affirm that strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards will ensure benefits to local communities, including people living in the vicinity of areas with mineral reserves and refining and processing plants, protect workers’ rights, and promote transparency, while giving due consideration to upstream and midstream environments. In order to further promote the clean energy transition we reiterate the need to establish sustainable an resilient supply chains for critical mineral resources and products manufactured using such resources. We welcome the “Five-Point Plan for Critical Mineral Security” adopted by G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers and instruct them to implement the plan.

30. Trade

We stand united in our commitment to free and fair trade as foundational principles and objectives of the rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core,

which proves more important than ever in the current geopolitical environment. We confirm that honoring these foundational principles is essential to creating resilient global supply chains that are transparent, diversified, secure, sustainable, trustworthy, and reliable, and that are fair for all and responsive to the needs of global citizens. We affirm our attachment to transparency, coordination and to the respect of WTO rules in our respective policies. This global trading system must be inclusive and ensure that the prosperity it can bring is felt by all, including those that have been traditionally underrepresented. To this end, we will continue to work with non-G7 partners, in particular developing country partners, which are integral partners in supply chains and in the global trading system. Based on the outcome of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) and looking ahead to achieving a successful MC13, we underscore the importance of working towards WTO reform, including by conducting discussions with the view to having a fully and wellfunctioning dispute settlement system accessible to all Members by 2024 and by reinforcing deliberation to respond to global trade policy challenges. In addition, we call

on all WTO members to work together to secure the prompt entry into force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, to engage constructively on recommendations for additional provisions that would achieve a comprehensive agreement on fisheries subsidies, and the plurilateral initiatives including the joint statement initiatives (JSIs), and to make permanent the Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions. We are committed to accelerating the WTO JSI E-Commerce negotiations and working to conclude an ambitious outcome by the end of 2023. The outcome should be high standard and commercially meaningful. Free and fair trade flows, consistent with our commitment to our multilateral trading system, play an important role in the green and just transition. We will continue our collaboration at the WTO including to facilitate and promote trade in environmental goods and services, and technologies. We reaffirm our shared concerns with non-market policies and practices, including their problematic evolution, that distort global competition, trade and investment. We will further step up our efforts to secure a level playing field through the more effective use of existing tools, as well as development of appropriate new tools and stronger international rules and norms. We will seek to ensure that our responses to unfair trading practices will not create unnecessary barriers to our partners’ industries and are consistent with our WTO commitments. We reaffirm that export controls are a fundamental policy tool to address the challenges posed by the diversion of technology critical to military applications as well as for other activities that threaten global, regional, and national security. We affirm the importance of cooperation on export controls on critical and emerging technologies such as microelectronics and cyber surveillance systems to address the misuse of such technologies by malicious actors and inappropriate transfers of such technologies through research activities. We task our Trade Ministers to deepen these discussions towards the G7 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in October, and to explore, both within and beyond the G7, coordinated or joint actions where appropriate against traderelated challenges, including economic coercion. →

31. Food Security

We remain deeply concerned with the ongoing and worsening global food security and nutrition situation, with the world facing highest risk of famine in a generation. Multiple factors including the COVID-19 pandemic, soaring energy prices, the climate crisis and shocks, biodiversity loss, land degradation, water security and armed conflicts have contributed to the global disruption and disorder in food systems and supply chains and the deterioration in global food security in recent years. In particular, Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine has drastically aggravated the global food security crisis. We are committed to continuing our efforts to address pressing issues to improve global food security including through initiatives already launched by the G7 and relevant international organizations, building on the positive outcomes achieved. Stressing that we have exceeded our joint commitment of $14 billion to the global food security announced at the 2022 G7 Elmau Summit, we will continue to provide assistance in the food and nutrition related sectors to vulnerable countries and regions affected by the current food security crisis, in particular in Africa and the Middle East. Given the scale of the needs across the Horn of Africa, we have collectively met our commitment from Elmau and have effectively delivered assistance to tackle one of the worst droughts in the region’s history. We also call on other international donors to step up their contributions in this regard. We further call on Russia to lift its measures that hinder the exports of Russian grain and fertilizers. Given Ukraine’s essential role as a major exporter of food to the world, we are seriously concerned about the current and future impact of Russia’s deliberate disruption of Ukraine’s agricultural sector on food security in the most vulnerable countries. Building on our commitment made at Elmau, we continue to provide support for the restoration of Ukraine’s agriculture sector, including support to its efforts in identifying and evidencing illegal seizure of Ukrainian grains by Russia, through the creation of a grain database which can be used to verify the origin of grain shipments. We reaffirm the importance of the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes and President Zelenskyy’s Grain from Ukraine Initiative. We reiterate the critical

importance of continued and scaled-up implementation of the UN and Türkiyebrokered Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) in order to further facilitate grain exports from Ukraine and enable stable supply to those in need. We call on Russia to stop threatening global food supplies and to allow the BSGI to operate at its maximum potential and for as long as necessary. We reiterate the importance of ensuring rules-based, open, fair, transparent, predictable, and non-discriminatory trade and avoiding unjustified restrictive trade measures to keep the food and agricultural markets open and call on our G20 partners to do the same. We welcome the Ministerial Decision on World Food Programme (WFP) Food Purchases Exemption from Export Prohibitions or Restrictions adopted at the MC12 and call for its full implementation. We call for more concrete actions to address export restrictions imposed by agricultural producer countries on global food security, recognizing that such measures have a disproportionate effect on countries at greater risk of famine and acute food insecurity. We emphasize the necessity of market transparency and accurate information backed by neutral and impartial data and analysis to prevent arbitrary measures and reduce market volatility in addressing ongoing and future food crises, and commit to strengthening the G20 Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) as well as various efforts by international organizations in this regard.

We underscore the importance of strengthening the capacity of low and lower-middle income countries to collect, analyze and use high quality agricultural, market and food security data and maintain the quality of data. We also recognize the value of dialogue between food exporting countries and importing countries to develop a shared understanding on crisis responses.

Stressing that we have exceeded our joint commitment of $14 billion to the global food security announced at the 2022 G7 Elmau Summit, we will continue to provide assistance in the food and nutrition related sectors to vulnerable countries and regions affected by the current food security crisis, in particular in Africa and the Middle East.

32. We share the view that it is essential to focus on each human and enable stable access to affordable, safe, sufficient and nutritious food for each and every individual. In our pursuit to ensure that all people can progressively realize their right to adequate food, we affirm the need to protect and assist members of the most vulnerable populations, including women and children, in all aspects of food security from shortterm food crisis responses through medium to long-term efforts to make food systems sustainable. Nutrition is also fundamental from the viewpoint of a human centered approach, and we highlight the importance of improving access to healthy diets, including through school meal programs. We recognize the urgent need of establishing inclusive, resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems including through enhancing, diversifying and ensuring sustainability of local, regional and global food supply chains as well as through solving structural bottlenecks. This includes increasing local production capacities by making use of existing domestic agricultural resources and by facilitating trade, sustainable productivity growth with climate adaptation and mitigation and biodiversity conservation, and sustainable food consumption. We promote a wide range of innovations and technology which is suitable for local, environmental and farming conditions and benefits all stakeholders including smallholder farmers. We also underscore the role of the private sector, including small and medium enterprises and startups, in research and development (R&D) as well as responsible investment. We recognize the need to maintain the availability, affordability and accessibility of fertilizers, to diversify the production to reduce the impact of supply chain disruptions, and to promote more efficient and responsible use of fertilizers and soil health, including through the use of appropriate and safe fertilizers, for stable and sustainable agricultural production. We

acknowledge the importance of supporting fertilizer value chains including local fertilizer production in line with WTO rules and through supporting the use of local sources of energy in consistency with a 1.5°C warming limit and the goals of the Paris Agreement. We strengthen broader partnerships on those efforts including through the UN Food Systems Stocktaking Moments. We commit to taking concrete steps with partner countries as outlined in the annexed “Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security”, and call for broader cooperation in the international community.

33. Health

We renew our strong commitment to developing and strengthening the global health architecture (GHA) with the World Health Organization (WHO) at its core for future public health emergencies to break the cycle of panic and neglect, recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic has made an unprecedented impact on the international community. To this end, we commit to

further enhancing political momentum toward more coordinated and sustained leader-level governance for health emergency prevention, preparedness and response (PPR) that ensures legitimacy, representation, equity, and effectiveness, noting the ongoing discussions including on a new instrument on pandemic PPR (WHO CA+), targeted amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR), and the UN General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting (HLM) on pandemic PPR in September 2023 and the need to avoid duplication and ensure coherence between these processes, stressing the leading role of WHO. We also applaud the landmark decision at the 75th WHA to work towards increasing the share of assessed contributions to 50 percent of WHO’s 2022-2023 base budget, and which takes into account the importance of monitoring of budgetary proposals as well as progress on reforms, with a view to sustainably finance the organisation to fulfil its leading and coordinating role in global health.

We also reaffirm our commitment to strengthening collaboration between Finance and Health Ministries for pandemic PPR including through the ongoing and essential work of the G20 Joint Finance and Health Task Force (JFHTF). We welcome the launch of the Pandemic Fund (PF), look forward to the successful execution of its first call for proposals, and encourage active participation and increasing contributions to the PF from a broader donor base. We also commit to working together, including by sharing work plans and tracking, encouraging efforts and progress in priority countries to achieve the G7’s target of supporting at least 100 Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) in implementing the core capacities required in the IHR, for another 5 years until 2027 as committed in 2022. We also highlight the need for strengthening financing for pandemic response. To this end, we commit to thoroughly assess how existing financing sources can be used in pandemic response and to explore a surge financing framework that allows us to complement existing →

→ mechanisms through better coordination and deploy necessary funds quickly and efficiently in response to outbreaks without accumulating idle cash. In this respect, we welcome the G7 Shared Understanding on Finance-Health Coordination and PPR Financing endorsed by the G7 Finance and Health Ministers at their joint session. Reaffirming that strengthening international norms and regulations is essential to enhance pandemic PPR, guided by equity, we reiterate our commitment to contributing to and sustaining momentum on the negotiations of WHO CA+ with a view to adopting it by May 2024 and on the negotiations of targeted amendments to strengthen the IHR, together with all stakeholders. Furthermore, we reiterate the importance of timely, transparent and systematic sharing of pathogens, data and information in a safe and secure manner, ensuring the respect of relevant data protection rules, for multisectoral and integrated surveillance of emerging and ongoing health threats both in ordinary times and in emergencies, in line with the G7 Pact for Pandemic Readiness. We also recognize the importance of strengthening and maintaining sufficient and high-quality human resources for health worldwide at all times, such as the public health and emergency workforce including consideration of Global Health Emergency Corps. We will support the further enhancement of a global network of experts and trainings, including through initiatives such as the WHO Academy, promote decent work with equal payment for work of equal value and protect health workers during emergencies and conflicts among others. We recognize the integral role civil society plays, including by reaching those in vulnerable situations, and recommit to working together for a healthier future for all.

34. We commit to reverse the first global decline in life expectancy in more than seven decades emphasizing the importance of achieving UHC by 2030 and accelerating progress toward SDG 3. We recommit to working alongside global partners to assist countries to achieve UHC by supporting primary health care (PHC) and developing and restoring essential health services, to achieve better than pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2025, as part of our effort to

strengthen health systems in ordinary times. We commit to supporting countries to strengthen PHC delivery, including through health workforce strengthening We also commit to support bringing survival rates back to better than pre-pandemic levels, including by reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality, and consistent with the full range of SDG targets and indicators related to UHC on which we will also support progress. We recognize the importance of financial risk protection to prevent people from slipping into poverty due to health care costs. To this end, we endorse the “G7 Global Plan for UHC Action Agenda” and note the importance of a global hub function, in support of relevant international organizations, including for financing, knowledge management, and human resources on UHC. We reaffirm the essential role of UHC in addressing various health challenges significantly set back by the pandemic, including in humanitarian contexts, such as tackling communicable diseases including HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, hepatitis, malaria, polio, measles, cholera, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) including mental health conditions, realizing comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all, and promoting routine immunization, healthy ageing, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). We are committed to spearheading research in this regard, including with a focus on understanding post COVID-19 conditions. We noted the historic outcome of the Global Fund’s 7th replenishment and welcome the financial support from the G7 and further countries towards ending the epidemics of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. We call for continued support to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) to stay on track for polio eradication by 2026. We will build on the success of the Tokyo Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in 2021 for the Paris N4G in 2024 to improve nutrition. We also commit to further promoting comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for all individuals, including maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, especially in vulnerable circumstances. Recognizing the increasing need for overarching, system-level coordination and alignment of global health partnerships

including the Global Health Initiatives and their interface, we will take collective actions to avoid fragmentation and duplication, ensure accountability, maximize impacts, and reinforce country leadership with a view to enhancing governance in global health and to supporting the achievement of UHC. In this regard, we look forward to the outcome of the Future of Global Health Initiatives. We reiterate our determination to further contribute to achieving UHC, including through making the most of and ensuring synergies among the upcoming UNGA HLMs on UHC, tuberculosis, and pandemic PPR. In order to contribute to global health towards the post COVID-19 era, with a view to supporting the achievement of UHC as well as strengthening PPR, we highlight our financial contributions totaling more than $48 billion from the public and private sectors. We also call for further domestic resource mobilization as well as efficient use of existing resources. We emphasize the important role of the private sector towards sustainable financing in global health, including through impact investments and endorse the Triple I (Impact Investments Initiative) for Global Health.

35. We reaffirm that innovative initiatives including those related to digital health are keys to strengthening GHA and achieving UHC. We will reiterate the urgent need to foster innovation and to strengthen research and development of safe, effective, quality-assured and affordable medical countermeasures (MCMs) as underlined by the 100 Days Mission. We commit to enhancing equitable access to MCM, including by addressing issues relating to manufacturing and delivery. In this regards, we will continue to contribute to ongoing processes, including in the G20, on an end-to-end MCM ecosystem, aligned with the ongoing discussions on the WHO CA+ and which should actively contribute to the diversification of MCM production and address the priority of the most vulnerable partner’s needs and expectations, including in terms of global governance, in cooperation with relevant partners including the WHO, the WB, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Global Fund, Gavi the Vaccine Alliance, Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund, Coalition for Epidemic

Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) and Unitaid and Medicines Patent Pool, regional organizations and the private sector. To this end, we announce the G7 Hiroshima Vision for Equitable Access to MCMs and launch the MCM Delivery Partnership for equitable access (MCDP) to contribute to more equitable access to and delivery of MCMs based on the principles of equity, inclusivity, efficiency, affordability, quality, accountability, agility and speed. We commit to work across providers of development finance, for the purpose of identifying concrete options this summer for providing for the liquidity for global health organizations to procure and deliver MCMs earlier in a crisis. This supports the mapping exercise for surge financing to be conducted by the WHO and World Bank and presented at the G20 Finance and Health Task Force and the UNGA HLM, contributing to ongoing negotiations on the WHO CA+. We also reiterate our commitment to addressing global health threats including those exacerbated by climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution through integrated measures and by applying a holistic One Health approach. Recognizing the rapid escalation of AMR globally, we continue to commit to exploring and implementing push and pull incentives to accelerate R&D of antimicrobials as well as promoting antimicrobial access and stewardship for their prudent and appropriate use toward the UNGA HLM on AMR in 2024. We remain committed to promoting policies and resources to care for people living with dementia and welcome the development of potentially disease modifying therapies for the various types of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.

36. Labor

We emphasize the importance of investment in human capital to ensure a just transition, in response to structural changes such as digital and green transformations as well as demographic changes including societies that are ageing, in part due to declining birth rates. In order to facilitate these transformations, we commit to supporting individuals through reskilling and upskilling measures, along with a combination of appropriate social protection and active labor market policies. As reskilling and upskilling to support workers to adapt to →

→ these changes are investments in human capital and should not be seen as a cost, we must continue to provide adequate investment necessary to address workforce transition needs including vocational training and life-long learning. We commit to efforts towards achieving a virtuous cycle of workers’ well-being and social and economic vitality, which will lead to sustainable growth and real wage growth in line with productivity, contributing in turn to further investment in human capital. We emphasize that freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining play an important role in promoting decent work and wage growth. We are resolved to build an inclusive labor market that ensures decent and good quality jobs for all and leaves no one behind, especially, women and under-represented groups, including persons with disabilities, older persons and youth, while engaging constructively with social partners and other stakeholders. We also work towards quality job creation, universal access to social protection, and further improving gender equality in the labor market. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected women and girls, and has highlighted the unequal distribution of care work as a key cause of gender inequalities, while showing the essential role paid and unpaid care work plays in the functioning of our societies and economies. We commit to addressing underlying discriminatory social and gender norms, such as unequal sharing of paid and unpaid care-work and housework, promoting and protecting social security including parental leave, providing support for childcare and other field of care work and care economy, including by facilitating access to infrastructures and long-term care. In particular, we reaffirm the need to support and promote parenthood protection to ensure parents can combine work and family and personal life and actively contribute to all spheres of our society. We also highlight the need to recognize, reduce and redistribute unpaid care, reward care workers fairly, while generating sufficient care jobs to meet the demand for care, and give care workers representation in social dialogue and collective bargaining. We recognize the importance of enhancing work engagement and worker retention through various measures such as promoting health and well-being at work, ensuring

occupational safety and health, and supporting the inclusive and equitable career development of workers. We commit to promoting decent work in line with SDG 8, including through technical cooperation, as well as ensuring respect for international labor standards and human rights in global value chains, in particular the fundamental conventions adopted by the International Labor Organisation (ILO). We reiterate our commitment to the effective abolition of all forms of forced and compulsory labor and child labor. We reaffirm our commitment to taking measures to strengthen our cooperation and collective efforts towards eradicating all forms of forced labor from global supply chains. We commit to continuing to promote decent work and protect rights-holders in global supply chains through a smart mix of mandatory and voluntary measures, including through legislation, regulations, incentives and guidance for enterprises and to engage constructively in discussions at the UN and the ILO in close consultation with all relevant stakeholders to explore ideas and options for a consensus-based legally binding instrument at the international level that adds value to the existing legal and policy approaches and is implementable. We endorse the Action Plan for Promoting Career Development and Greater Resilience to Structural Changes developed by Labor and Employment Ministers.

37. Education

We commit to making progress for ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education, including vocational education, and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all to build resilient, just and prospering societies. Recent crises have led to decreased access to education and increased learning loss amongst children and youth, especially girls, and those in the most marginalized and vulnerable situations. As education is a catalyst to achieving all of the SDGs, we reaffirm the importance of upholding education and building more resilient education systems, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. We reiterate our firm determination to uphold the G7’s previous commitments to protecting educational opportunities for all learners, and to promoting gender equality as well as the empowerment of all women and girls in all their diversity, in and through education including by prioritizing global ODA in this regard. We welcome the UNSG’s Transforming Education Summit (TES) in September 2022, and call for continued support to the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Education Cannot Wait (ECW) and UN agencies including the UNESCO and UNICEF as key partners in helping countries to build stronger education systems for the most marginalized children. We also reiterate the importance of foundational learning and the need for the

G7 to increase investment in people in a more equitable and efficient way to provide quality learning opportunities that prepare all learners, especially children with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive and improve their own well-being, noting that education is a human right. We continue to break down gender-related barriers and underlying discriminatory social norms from pre-primary through higher education for more resilient, inclusive and gendertransformative education. We continue to encourage international exchanges between youth and international talent mobility and circulation among academics, students, and researchers, as well as cooperation between higher education and research institutions. We acknowledge the importance of investment in support of human resources that can contribute to resolving social issues while simultaneously achieving economic growth through education. We will strive for an educational environment and lifelong learning opportunities where every child can fulfil their own potential, including through the improvement of instruction. This could include promoting small class size, an improved Information and Communication Technology (ICT) environment and the effective use of digital technology to support teaching and learning, while not exacerbating the digital equality gaps.

38. Digital

We recognize that, while rapid technological change has been strengthening societies and economies, the international governance of new digital technologies has not necessarily kept pace. As the pace of technological evolution accelerates, we affirm the importance to address common governance challenges and to identify potential gaps and fragmentation in global technology governance. In areas such as AI, immersive technologies such as the metaverses and quantum information science and technology and other emerging technologies, the governance of the digital economy should continue to be updated in line with our shared democratic values. These include fairness, accountability, transparency, safety, protection from online harassment, hate and abuse and respect for privacy and human rights, fundamental freedoms and the protection of personal data. We will work with technology companies and other relevant stakeholders to drive the responsible

Recent crises have led to decreased access to education and increased learning loss amongst children and youth, especially girls, and those in the most marginalized and vulnerable situations. As education is a catalyst to achieving all of the SDGs, we reaffirm the importance of upholding education and building more resilient education systems, especially 27following the COVID-19 pandemic.

innovation and implementation of technologies, ensuring that safety and security is prioritized, and that platforms are tackling the threats of child sexual exploitation and abuse on their platforms, and upholding the children’s rights to safety and privacy online. We continue to discuss ways to advance technology for democracy and to cooperate on new and emerging technologies and their social implementation, and look forward to an inclusive, multi-stakeholder dialogue on digital issues, including on Internet Governance, through relevant fora, including the OECD Global Forum on Technology. We commit to further advancing multi-stakeholder approaches to the development of standards for AI, respectful of legally binding frameworks, and recognize the importance of procedures that advance transparency, openness, fair processes, impartiality, privacy and inclusiveness to promote responsible AI. We stress the importance of international discussions on AI governance and interoperability between AI governance frameworks, while we recognize that approaches and policy instruments to achieve the common vision and goal of trustworthy AI may vary across G7 members. We support the development of tools for trustworthy AI through multistakeholder international organizations, and encourage the development and

adoption of international technical standards in standards development organizations through multi-stakeholder processes. We recognize the need to immediately take stock of the opportunities and challenges of generative AI, which is increasingly prominent across countries and sectors, and encourage international organizations such as the OECD to consider analysis on the impact of policy developments and Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) to conduct practical projects. In this respect, we task relevant ministers to establish the Hiroshima AI process, through a G7 working group, in an inclusive manner and in cooperation with the OECD and GPAI, for discussions on generative AI by the end of this year. These discussions could include topics such as governance, safeguard of intellectual property rights including copy rights, promotion of transparency, response to foreign information manipulation, including disinformation, and responsible utilization of these technologies. We welcome the Action Plan for promoting global interoperability between tools for trustworthy AI from the Digital and Tech Ministers’ Meeting. We recognize the potential of immersive technologies, and virtual worlds, such as metaverses to provide innovative opportunities, in all industrial and societal sectors, as well as to promote sustainability. For this purpose, governance, public safety, and human rights challenges should be addressed at the global level. We task our relevant Ministers to consider collective approaches in this area, including in terms of interoperability, portability and standards, with the support of the OECD. We express our interest in possible joint cooperation in research and development on computing technologies. We also task our relevant Ministers to consider ways to further promote digital trade.

39. We reaffirm that cross-border data flows, information, ideas and knowledge generate higher productivity, greater innovation, and improved sustainable development, while raising challenges related to privacy, data protection, intellectual property protection, and security including that of data and cloud infrastructure. We reiterate the importance of facilitating Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) to enable trustworthy cross-border data flows and invigorate the digital economy as a whole, while preserving →

→ governments’ ability to address legitimate public interest. We stress our intention to operationalize this concept and our support for cooperation within the G7 and beyond to work towards identifying commonalities, complementarities and elements of convergence between existing regulatory approaches and instruments enabling data to flow with trust, in order to foster future interoperability such as through supporting multi-stakeholder engagement, leveraging the role of technologies, and clarifying domestic and municipal policies and due processes. In this regard, we endorse the Annex on G7 Vision for Operationalising DFFT and its Priorities from the Digital and Tech Ministers’ Meeting, and the establishment of the Institutional Arrangement for Partnership. We task our relevant Ministers to continue working to deliver substantive outcomes and subsequently report back to us. We welcome the OECD Declaration on Government Access to Personal Data Held by Private Sector Entities as an instrument to increase trust in cross-border data flows among countries committed to democratic values and the rule of law. We emphasize our opposition to internet fragmentation and the use of digital technologies to infringe on human rights. In this context, we should counter unjustified obstacles to the free flow of data, lacking transparency, and arbitrarily operated, which should be distinguished from our measures implemented to achieve the legitimate public policy interests of each country. We seek to increase trust across our digital ecosystem and to counter the influence of authoritarian approaches. We recognize the importance of secure and resilient digital infrastructure as the foundation of society and the economy. We are committed to deepen our cooperation within the G7 and with like-minded partners to support and enhance network resilience by measures such as extending secure routes of submarine cables. We welcome supplier diversification efforts in ICTS supply chains and continue to discuss market trends towards open, interoperable approaches, alongside secure, resilient and established architecture in a technology neutral way. Under the Japanese G7 Presidency and against the background of early deployments of Open Radio Access Network (RAN), we have exchanged views on open architectures and security-related

We reaffirm that cross-border data flows, information, ideas and knowledge generate higher productivity, greater innovation, and improved sustainable development, while raising challenges related to privacy, data protection, intellectual property protection, and security including that of data and cloud infrastructure.

aspects and opportunities. We recognize the need to bridge the digital divides, including the gender digital divide, and the importance of initiatives to use data and technology for cities, such as smart city initiatives, to promote digital inclusion and address challenges in urban development. We will facilitate inclusive development and enable greater employability and movement of digital experts, and restate our commitment to supporting other countries to increase digital access under principles of equity, universality and affordability while ensuring that security, interoperability, the protection of personal data and respect for human rights including gender equality are built into global connectivity.

40. Science and Technology

40. We support the development of advanced technologies, research infrastructures and highly-skilled human resource networks that will drive innovation to solve global challenges and enable the next stage of economic growth. To this end, we promote international talent mobility and circulation. The G7 will promote open science by equitably disseminating scientific knowledge, publicly funded research outputs including research data and scholarly publications following the Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) principles. This will enable researchers and people to benefit from and contribute to creating knowledge, innovation and solutions to global challenges. We further commit to working together to

promote responsible global science and technology cooperation and use of emerging technologies such as advanced computing and biotechnology with partners sharing common values and principles in research and innovation. This includes a better understanding of the seas and the ocean in the context of climate change and utilizing very large research infrastructures. We are committed to fostering and promoting a common understanding of values and principles in research and innovation through dedicated multilateral dialogues, including in the area of research security and research integrity, and international joint research based on the philosophy of open science. We welcome the forthcoming launch of the G7 Virtual Academy and release of the Best Practices Paper on Research Security and Integrity. These efforts will contribute to addressing the various challenges that arise at the intersection of security, economy, and scientific research.

41. We reiterate our commitment to promoting the safe and sustainable use of outer space, given our ever-greater reliance on space systems. Restating the importance of addressing the issues of space debris, we strongly support the implementation of international guidelines adopted at the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space as urgent and necessary. We welcome national efforts to develop further solutions for space debris mitigation and remediation as well as further research and development of orbital debris mitigation and remediation technologies. Furthermore, we commit not to conducting destructive direct-ascent anti -satellite missile testing and encourage others to follow suit in order to ensure the security, stability and sustainability of outer space.

42. Gender

Achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls is fundamental for a resilient, fair, and prosperous society. We endeavor to work with all segments of society to ensure full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in all their diversity as well as LGBTQIA+ persons in politics, economics, education and all other spheres of society, and to consistently mainstream gender equality in all policy areas. In this respect, we commit to redoubling our efforts

to overcome longstanding structural barriers and to addressing harmful gender norms, stereotypes, roles, and practices through such means as education and achieve a society where diversity, human rights and dignity are respected, promoted and protected and all people can enjoy vibrant lives free from violence and discrimination independent of gender identity or expression or sexual orientation. We welcome the work of the Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC) and look forward to strengthening it further. We look forward to the first revision of the G7 Dashboard on Gender Gaps and the publication of the first implementation report this year, which aims to monitor past G7 commitments to make progress on gender equality.

43. We express our strong concern about the rollback of women’s and girls’ rights in particular in time of crisis and we strongly condemn all violations and abuses of human

rights and fundamental freedoms for women and girls and LGBTQIA+ people around the world. We further recognize the essential and transformative role of comprehensive SRHR in gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment, and in supporting diversity, including of sexual orientations and gender identities. We reaffirm our full commitment to achieving comprehensive SRHR for all , including by addressing access to safe and legal abortion and post abortion care. We are committed to championing, advancing and defending gender equality and the rights of women and girls in all their diversity, at home and abroad, and will work together to thwart attempts to undermine and reverse hardwon progress in this area. In this regard, we commit to advancing, implementing and strengthening the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda including its application to disaster risk reduction (DRR), through partnership with the WPS-Focal

Points Network and support for National Action Plan development, and to promote intersectional approaches. We highlight the leading role of women in preventing violent conflict, delivering relief and recovery efforts, and forging lasting peace, and pledge to champion the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in peace and political processes. We commit to strengthening our efforts to eliminate conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence, and the importance of providing comprehensive support and meaningful participation for victims and survivors, using a survivor-centered approach. We further commit to eliminating all forms of sexual and gender-based harassment and abuse both offline and online as well as aid-related sexual exploitation and abuse. We are committed to ensuring the right to education for all, and emphasize the importance of promoting equitable access to safe, gendertransformative quality education as well as to taking measures to close the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sectors and education, and close the gender digital gap. We see this as key to promote women’s entrepreneurship, which is an essential building block to address the climate, nature and development challenges. We also commit to promoting reskilling and upskilling, fostering decent work conditions, strengthening financial inclusion of women in all their diversity, and eliminating the gender pay gap. We further reiterate our commitments to promoting women’s full empowerment as well as their full and equal participation in decision-making processes at all levels, including in leadership positions. We recognize that quality care plays an essential role in the functioning of our societies and economies, but is a key cause of gender inequalities due to its gender unequal distribution.

44. To advance our commitments, we emphasize the need to overcome the fragmentation and marginalization of gender equality issues by enhancing our efforts to integrate and deepening gender mainstreaming for a substantial transformation of our societies. In this regard, we call for a continuous, holistic and comprehensive approach to promote gender equality by creating a “nexus” that bridges the political and security, → →

→ economic and social spheres and advocate for maximizing the efficiency and the impact of multi-sectorial policies and f our actions across diverse dimensions of policy implementation. We stress the importance of such a nexus approach in our foreign and sustainable development policy and in our ODA and endeavor to support the nexus. We reaffirm our commitment to make every effort to collectively increase the share of our bilateral allocable ODA advancing gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment over the coming years. In this regard, we welcome “the Fact Sheet: Promoting Gender Mainstreaming through the nexus approach” made by our experts and look forward to further progress in this area.

45. Human Rights, Refugees, Migration, Democracy

We reaffirm our commitment to upholding human rights and dignity of all, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, so that everyone can participate fully and equally in society. We commit to firmly speaking out against human rights violations and abuses, and at the same time, listening to and assisting the countries and civil society organizations that seek to defend and promote human rights through dialogue and cooperation. Recognizing the need to deepen discussions within and beyond the G7 on business and human rights, we intend to strengthen cooperation and collective efforts, including by accelerating exchange of information, towards ensuring respect for human rights and international labor standards in business activities and global supply chains, and further enhancing resilience, predictability and certainty for businesses, and call upon others to join us in these efforts. We reaffirm our commitment to protecting refugees, supporting forcibly displaced persons and supporting host countries and communities, ensuring the full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms of refugees and displaced persons, and defending and promoting the rights of marginalized people or persons facing vulnerable conditions exacerbated by conflict, crisis, and displacement, including freedom from sexual and gender-based violence. We call upon the international community to follow suit. We commit to fighting against impunity and holding perpetrators to account for the most serious

We reaffirm our commitment to upholding human rights and dignity of all, as set out in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, so that everyone can participate fully and equally in society. We commit to firmly speaking out against human rights violations and abuses, and at the same time, listening to and assisting the countries and civil society organizations that seek to defend and promote human rights through dialogue and cooperation.

networks which facilitate illegal migration and the dangerous journey of migrants and asylum seekers, profiting off some of the most vulnerable. We call for firmness in dealing with this ruthless criminality that puts lives in danger and poses risks to the internal security of G7 partners. In this regard, we will intensify efforts to break the business model of organized criminal networks, including through cooperation to disrupt the supply chains that enable the criminal and exploitative operations of those engaged in the trafficking and smuggling of human beings. To this end, we will task relevant Ministers to deepen partnerships to enhance our understanding of the root causes and work together with partners around the world to address this complex challenge.

crimes of international concern, including conflict-related sexual violence, together with improving documentation. In this regard, we recall the need to strengthen international architecture to prevent conflict-related sexual violence in the future. We acknowledge the importance of the discussions of the International Law Commission’s draft articles on the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity. We continue to work with the international community towards the second Global Refugee Forum in December 2023. We reaffirm our commitment to support the inclusion of refugees, in the spirit of international cooperation and in line with the Global Compact on Refugees, national policies, legislation, and circumstances, ensuring full respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms.

46. We reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the safe, orderly, and regular migration around the world. We recognize the important economic and social benefits that migrants can bring to our countries. We commit to ensure full respect for their human rights and fundamental freedoms regardless of their migration status. We remain committed to preventing irregular and often highly dangerous migration whether by land or sea. We commit to joint efforts to tackle the organized criminal

47. We reaffirm our shared belief that democracy is the most enduring means to advance peace, prosperity, equality and sustainable development. We reaffirm our commitment to protecting the information environment by supporting media freedom and online freedom, including protection from online harassment and abuse, internet shutdowns and disruptions, as well as addressing foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, which is designed to undermine trust in democratic institutions, and sow discord in the international community. We strongly condemn the widespread use of information manipulation and interference by Russia in order to gain support for its war of aggression against Ukraine and to obscure the facts of its aggression. Through the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM), we will work to strengthen our collective efforts to counter threats to democracy, including such manipulation, with full respect for international human rights law, in particular freedom of expression. We will work towards ensuring that fact-based, quality and trustworthy information is promoted, and call on digital platforms to support this approach. We will increase cooperation on these issues with government and non-governmental partners from all regions who share the determination to promote access to such information, including through supporting relevant international initiatives, such as the Partnership for Information and Democracy, and efforts by the UN and OECD. →

48. Countering Terrorism, Violent Extremism and Transnational Organized Crime / Upholding the Rule of Law / Anti-Corruption

We reiterate our strong commitment to working together with all relevant actors to counter all forms of terrorism and violent extremism, both online and offline, as well as transnational organized crime, including drug trafficking, human trafficking, child sexual abuse and exploitation, corruption, fraud, intellectual property theft, ransomware threats, cybercrime and environmental crimes, as well as money laundering and terrorist financing in a unified, coordinated, inclusive, transparent and human-rights-based, gender-responsive manner. In countering the exploitation of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes and countering the misuses of technologies for criminal purposes, we will continue our utmost efforts to enhance global cooperation and digital response capacity. In this regard, building on our collaboration and on efforts through existing frameworks such as the Christchurch Call, and recalling previous commitments, including maintaining tightly controlled lawful access, we call on the private sector to step up their efforts to address the problem

of dissemination of terrorist and violent extremist content online and to prioritize safety by design, and stop, in particular, child sexual exploitation and abuse on their platforms. We support the efforts of our partner countries to sign and ratify the relevant international agreements such as the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime and the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), and those of the Council of Europe such as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, in the wide spectrum of cooperation by criminal justice and other relevant authorities that form the basis for efficient cross-border cooperation. We also recognize the significant public health and security threat of illicit synthetic drugs and will strengthen our cooperation to address it, engaging with other willing countries and the private sector.

49. We will also strengthen bilateral, regional and multilateral coordination and cooperation in the field of law and justice, such as providing technical assistance to countries to develop and implement laws, and capacity building related to the justice sector. We will continue to step up our fight against corruption, promoting good governance and strengthening accountable,

transparent, equitable and communityoriented law enforcement to make progress on many of our shared priorities, which will lead to safer and more secure societies and thus contribute to the promotion of the rule of law and respect for human rights. We further recognize that corruption and related illicit finance and proceeds of crime drain public resources, can often fuel organized crime, enable kleptocratic systems to accumulate wealth and power at the expense of citizens, and undermine democratic governance. We will pursue a stronger and more unified approach in rigorously enforcing international anti-corruption obligations and standards, and enhancing law enforcement cooperation, including through relevant regional and international organizations, and holding corrupt actors accountable. Recalling the importance of beneficial ownership transparency for the integrity and transparency of democratic systems, we reaffirm the importance of supporting African partners in establishing and strengthening registers of beneficial ownership.

50. Regional Affairs

We stand together on core foreign policy and security challenges to build a more secure and prosperous future. We also reaffirm our determination to work with a wide range of partners to address pressing global challenges and to ensure that the international system is able to respond effectively to these issues.

51. We stand together as G7 partners on the following elements, which underpin our respective relations with China:

• We stand prepared to build constructive and stable relations with China, recognizing the importance of engaging candidly with and expressing our concerns directly to China. We act in our national interest. It is necessary to cooperate with China, given its role in the international community and the size of its economy, on global challenges as well as areas of common interest.

• We call on China to engage with us, including in international fora, on areas such as the climate and biodiversity crisis and the conservation of natural resources in the framework of the Paris and Kunming-Montreal Agreements, addressing vulnerable countries’ debt

sustainability and financing needs, global health and macroeconomic stability.

• Our policy approaches are not designed to harm China nor do we seek to thwart China’s economic progress and development. A growing China that plays by international rules would be of global interest. We are not decoupling or turning inwards. At the same time, we recognize that economic resilience requires de-risking and diversifying. We will take steps, individually and collectively, to invest in our own economic vibrancy. We will reduce excessive dependencies in our critical supply chains.

• With a view to enabling sustainable economic relations with China, and strengthening the international trading system, we will push for a level playing field for our workers and companies. We will seek to address the challenges posed by China’s non-market policies and practices, which distort the global economy. We will counter malign practices, such as illegitimate technology transfer or data disclosure. We will foster resilience to economic coercion. We also recognize the necessity of protecting certain advanced technologies that could be used to threaten our national security without unduly limiting trade and investment.

• We remain seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. We strongly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.

• We reaffirm the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as indispensable to security and prosperity in the international community. There is no change in the basic positions of the G7 members on Taiwan, including stated one China policies. We call for a peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.

• We call on China to act in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular relations, and not to conduct interference activities aimed at undermining the security and safety of our communities, the integrity of our democratic institutions and our economic prosperity.

• We call on China to press Russia to stop its military aggression, and immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine. We encourage

We reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016, is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings, and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.

abandonment of its nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs, and any other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and ballistic missile programs in accordance with relevant UNSCRs. We are concerned about North Korea’s choice to prioritize its unlawful WMD and ballistic missile programs over the welfare of the people in North Korea. We call on North Korea to accept repeated offers of dialogue, including from Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea. We urge North Korea to respect human rights, facilitate access for international humanitarian organizations, and resolve the abductions issue immediately.

China to support a comprehensive, just and lasting peace based on territorial integrity and the principles and purposes of the UN Charter, including through its direct dialogue with Ukraine.

52. There is no legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea, and we oppose China’s militarization activities in the region. We emphasize the universal and unified character of the UNCLOS and reaffirm UNCLOS’s important role in setting out the legal framework that governs all activities in the oceans and the seas. We reiterate that the award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal on July 12, 2016, is a significant milestone, which is legally binding upon the parties to those proceedings, and a useful basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.

53. We strongly condemn North Korea’s unprecedented number of unlawful ballistic missile launches, each of which violated multiple UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs). We demand that North Korea refrain from any other destabilizing or escalatory actions, including any further nuclear tests or launches that use ballistic missile technology, which undermine regional stability and pose a grave threat to international peace and security. Such reckless actions must be met with a swift, united, and robust international response. This must include further significant measures to be taken by the UN Security Council. We reiterate our unwavering commitment to the goal of North Korea’s complete, verifiable, and irreversible

54. We remain deeply concerned about the deteriorating security, humanitarian, human rights, and political situation in Myanmar, and we express our solidarity with its people. We continue to support ASEAN’s efforts including its continued engagements with all stakeholders in Myanmar to implement the Five-Point Consensus, including through Indonesia as the ASEAN Chair and ASEAN special envoy to Myanmar. We continue to call on the Myanmar military to immediately cease all violence, release all political prisoners and those arbitrarily detained, create an environment for an inclusive and peaceful dialogue, and return the country to a genuinely democratic path. We reiterate our call on all states to prevent the flow of arms into Myanmar. We also call for full, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access to all people, especially the most vulnerable.

55. We note with grave concern increased threats to stability and the dire humanitarian and economic situation in Afghanistan. We call on the Taliban to uphold its counterterrorism commitments and to ensure the territory of Afghanistan cannot be used to threaten or attack any country, to plan or finance terrorist acts, or to shelter and train terrorists. We express our strongest opposition to the Taliban’s systematic violations on human rights and fundamental freedoms, and call for the immediate reversal of unacceptable decisions, especially those against women and girls. All Afghans must enjoy full, equal, and meaningful participation in all spheres of public life, and have access to humanitarian assistance and basic services. →

→ We call upon the Taliban to respect UNSCR 2681/2023 and the UN Charter, including Article 8, and to ensure unrestricted operations of the UN in Afghanistan. To remedy the persistent lack of political inclusivity and representation, we urge the Taliban to take significant steps to engage in credible, inclusive and Afghanled national dialogue, in which all Afghans can be involved. We recognize the need for conveying unified messages to the Taliban in coordination with other international partners.

56. We reiterate our clear determination that Iran must never develop a nuclear weapon. We remain deeply concerned about Iran’s unabated escalation of its nuclear program, which has no credible civilian justification and brings it dangerously close to actual weapon-related activities. A diplomatic solution remains the best way to resolve this issue. In that context, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action continues to provide a useful reference. We call on Iran to take prompt and concrete actions to fulfill its legal obligations and political commitments, including nuclear non-proliferation and safeguards obligations. We reiterate our profound concern over Iran’s systemic human rights violations and abuses, including its repression of popular feminist protest as well as the targeting of individuals, including women, girls, minority groups, and journalists, in and outside of Iran. We call on Iran’s leadership to end all unjust and arbitrary detentions.

57. We express our grave concern regarding Iran’s continued destabilizing activities, including the transfer of missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related technologies to state and non-state actors and proxy groups, in breach of UNSCRs including 2231 and 2216. Iran must stop supporting Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In particular, we call upon Iran to cease transferring armed UAVs, which have been used to attack Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and kill Ukrainian civilians. We welcome initiatives to improve bilateral relations and de-escalate tensions in the region, including Iran and Saudi Arabia’s recent agreement to restore ties. We emphasize the importance of ensuring maritime security in the Middle East’s waterways and call on Iran not to

interfere with the lawful exercise of navigational rights and freedoms by all vessels.

58. We call on Israelis and Palestinians to take steps to build trust toward the realization of a two-state solution. To this end, all parties must refrain from unilateral actions, including settlement activities and incitement to violence. We reiterate our support for the historic status quo in Jerusalem. We welcome the recent meetings between Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, and the United States and hope their commitments will be fulfilled in good faith. We will continue our support for Palestinian economic self-reliance and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

59. We remain firmly committed to an inclusive, UN-facilitated political process consistent with UNSCR 2254 in Syria. We reaffirm that the international community should only consider normalization and reconstruction assistance once there is authentic and enduring progress towards a political solution. We express our continued support for the work of the Organization

for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and are committed to accountability for those responsible for the use of chemical weapons and violations of international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as applicable. We call for full and unhindered humanitarian access to all Syrians in need, particularly through UN cross-border aid for which there is no alternative in scope or scale. We remain committed to the enduring defeat of ISIS, including durable solutions for ISIS detainees and displaced persons remaining in Northeast Syria.

60. We further express our support to preserve stability and prosperity in other parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Regarding Yemen, we call on all parties to secure a durable ceasefire and work towards a comprehensive, durable, and inclusive Yemeni-led political process under UN auspices. We encourage the Tunisian government to meet the democratic aspiration of its people, to address its economic situation and to reach an agreement with the IMF. We also support efforts to achieve stability and unity in

Libya under the auspice of the UN in coordination with the African Union and the Arab League. We urge all Libyan stakeholders to work constructively on the political process in order to hold free, fair, and inclusive presidential and parliamentary elections by the end of 2023.

61. We reaffirm our engagement with Central Asian countries to address various regional challenges, including the consequences of Russia’s war of aggression, the destabilizing effect of the situation in Afghanistan, food and energy security, terrorism, and climate change. We are determined to foster trade and energy links, sustainable connectivity and transportation, including the “Middle Corridor” and associated projects to enhance regional prosperity and resilience.

62. We are deepening our partnerships with African countries and regional organizations, including the African Union. We have each expressed support to African calls for stronger representation in international fora, notably the G20. We reiterate our strong commitment to supporting governments in the region to address, in a manner consistent with international law, the underlying conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism, violent extremism, and instability across Africa. We are seriously concerned about the growing presence of the Russia-affiliated Wagner Group forces on the continent and their destabilizing impact and human rights abuses. Keeping in mind the situations in West Africa and the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes regions, we will work together to support African-led efforts on peace, stability and prosperity on the continent. In this regard, we welcome the positive developments stemming from the cessation of hostilities agreement between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, and call on both parties to remain committed to full implementation. We also call for international support for the Somali President’s reform priorities and the fight against al-Shabaab. We reaffirm our commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of Congo. We welcome the cessation of hostilities agreed in March and call for its full implementation.

We are deepening our partnerships with African countries and regional organizations, including the African Union. We have each expressed support to African calls for stronger representation in international fora, notably the G20.

We condemn the advance of the UNsanctioned March 23 Movement armed group (M23) and join African leaders in calling for M23 to withdraw unconditionally from all territories it controls. We are also seriously concerned about the spread of terrorist threats and activities towards coastal countries in West Africa, and are available to lend our support in addressing those threats.

63. We strongly condemn the ongoing fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces. This threatens the security and safety of civilians, undermines efforts to restore Sudan’s democratic transition, and could affect the stability of the region. We urge the parties toend hostilities immediately without pre-conditions and return civilian-led democratic government. We call on all actors to renounce violence and take active steps to reduce tensions, and ensure the safety of all civilians, including humanitarian personnel. The parties to the conflict must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, ensure the safety of all civilians, including humanitarian personnel, and not impede or restrict the delivery of life-saving aid. We commend the bravery and fortitude of humanitarian agencies working in Sudan. We acknowledge the generosity of Sudan’s neighbors who, despite facing significant humanitarian challenges of their own, host a growing number of Sudanese refugees. We commit to supporting response operations in Sudan and across East and North Africa and the Sahel region for refugees and returnees.

64. We highlight the importance of enhancing cooperation with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to uphold shared interests as well as values. We are committed to working with regional partners to address economic challenges, climate change, biodiversity loss, natural disasters, and other global issues. We reiterate our commitment to strengthen coordination with Latin American and Caribbean partners and other actors to promote the rule of law, respect for human rights, and meet the elevated humanitarian and security needs in the region, especially in Venezuela, Haiti, and Nicaragua. With respect to the ongoing crisis in Haiti, we underscore the importance of working towards Haitian-led solution for a return to stability and need to hold accountable those who cultivate violence, corruption and instability.

65. We welcome the Agreement on the path to normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia and its Implementation Annex, reached under the EU facilitated dialogue in Brussels on February 27 and in Ohrid on March 18 respectively. In order to unlock its full potential for the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia and for advancing good-neighbourly relations in the Western Balkans, we call on both parties to implement expediently and in good faith their respective obligations.

66. Conclusion

We appreciate the exchanges with and the inputs from the G7 Engagement Groups. We are furthermore grateful for the valuable contributions from the Heads of the IEA, the IMF, the OECD, the UN, the WB, the WHO and the WTO who joined us in Hiroshima. ■

Reference documents:

• G7 Leaders’ Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament

• G7 Leaders’ Statement on Ukraine

• G7 Clean Energy Economy Action Plan

• G7 Leaders’ Statement on Economic Resilience and Economic Security

• Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security

• Factsheet on the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment

SEA MENACE: A North Atlantic Environmental and Economic Crisis

By Jenny Latchman-Atkins

When we think of paradise we often transport ourselves to a tropical island. A book in one hand and a cocktail in the other, while kicking back on a white sandy beach, inhaling the warm salty air and listening to the rhythmic musings of the beautiful blue ocean.

Islands in the Caribbean Sea, the Quintana Roo coastline in Mexico and popular beaches along the Florida coast historically have earned the title of paradise”.

Along with breathtaking beaches, this region boasts some of the most biologically rich marine environments in the North Atlantic Ocean, which includes extensive coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses and thousands of species of fish and marine mammals. Each year, millions of visitors descend with the dream of enjoying a pristine environment, ripe for rest, relaxation and recreational sports such as sailing, fishing, snorkeling and diving.

However, since 2011 these precious coastal regions have come under threat from a 20 ton sea menace!

WORLD’S MOST HARMFUL ALGAE BLOOM!

First noted by Christopher Columbus in 1492, the Sargasso Sea is the largest region of the North Atlantic Ocean, with an area of about 3.5 million km2. Sargassum, a brown pelagic macroalgae, or seaweed, has historically thrived in healthy quantities in the Sargasso Sea. It has provided critical support for a myriad of commercially viable, endangered and endemic marine species such as whales, sea turtles, frogfish, shrimp, tuna, swordfish and marlin. With a vibrant ecosystem, and an array of flora and fauna, the Sargasso Sea has been referred to as the “Golden Rainforest”. Because of its important biodiversity, the Sargasso Sea is protected by the Hamilton Declaration and overseen by the Sargasso Sea Commission.

To the bewilderment of everyone, in 2011 satellite imagery from NASA showed an explosion of sargassum growth in a new southern geographical location, creating what is widely referred to as, the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt, or the GASB. Floating more than 5,000 miles from the west coast of Africa through the Caribbean Sea and into the Gulf of Mexico, the GASB is the largest and reportedly the most harmful algal bloom on the planet! Experts predict that during its most fertile months, the GASB contains an average of 20 million tons of toxic matter and it has caused a range of environmental, economic, and social problems, with implications for coastal communities, tourism, and marine ecology.

ITS DRIVING FORCE

While the exact culminating factors that spurred the initial development of the GASB remain a subject for discussion, contributing factors that aid in the continued proliferation of sargassum have been identified as:

• Nutrient Influx:

• Agricultural runoff from the Congo, Amazon, Orinoco and Mississippi rivers.

• Dust from the Saharan Desert.

• Upwelling of nutrient dense water from the deep sea.

• Changes in natural ocean currents and wind patterns have pushed sargassum into areas where it was previously uncommon.

• Climate change provides an abundance of sunshine and warmer ocean temperatures are thought to facilitate the rapid growth of sargassum.

A MENACE BY ANY OTHER NAME Ecology

The GASBs magnitude causes migratory interference for native and non-native fish populations. Fisherfolk may find their regular catch is no longer plentiful or

available, while new varieties of fish and marine species may migrate into the area. Dr. Shelly- Ann Cox, Fisheries Officer, Barbados, notes that while there has been a decrease in flying fish and mature dolphin fish in Barbados, they’ve seen an increase in juvenile dolphin fish and small lobsters, which are normally uncommon.

Floating sargassum mats block essential sunlight, which is necessary for the healthy growth and development of coral reefs, seagrass and sea moss beds, and mangrove forests. These reefs, beds and forests not only help to shore up coastlines; they provide habitats for a myriad of marine species and aid in capturing carbon from the atmosphere.

Arriving seemingly overnight and smothering beaches at an accelerated rate, sargassum’s arrival requires a rapid response as decomposition begins within approximately 48 hours of making landfall. As it decays, sargassum changes the pH level of the water at the shoreline. Dr. Brian LaPointe, Research Professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, has been studying the changes and states that the resulting nitrogen/phosphorus imbalance causes additional stress to coral reefs and can lead to coral bleaching. “Dead zones” where decomposing sargassum sucks oxygen from the water are also common, leaving native plants and marine life struggling to survive. Sadly, it doesn’t stop there. Six of the seven sea turtle species are on the endangered species list and all are found in this region of the North Atlantic Ocean. Nesting sea turtles may have to travel miles to find a clean beach to lay their eggs, and incubating eggs are at risk of being crushed during beach clean-up. The sex of incubating sea turtles also may be altered, as sargassum strandings can change the temperature surrounding the eggs, a determining factor in the sex of the embryo.

Once hatched, the journey out to sea and safety is thwarted. Hatchlings are at increased risk from sun exposure, disorientation and predators, as they inchmeal across mounds of washed up argassum trying to make it to the ocean and safety.

Environment and Public Health As the GASB makes its 5,000+ mile journey, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and toxins and heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium from the ocean. This is a favorable side effect, but sadly, collected sargassum is then often dumped on land in deep landfills. Further research has to be done, but this common practice raises the question of whether the potential now exists for these toxins and heavy metals to seep into the local groundwater.

Dr. Brian LaPointe, Research Professor at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, works with several islands across the Caribbean. He shockingly states, “they have literally

taken the beach to the dump”. This is not an exaggeration, heavy machinery, such as bulldozers, used over several years to remove sargassum, have caused extensive beach erosion. The loss of shorelines have lasting impacts to tourism, recreational activities

With a vibrant ecosystem, and an array of flora and fauna, the Sargasso Sea has been referred to as the “Golden Rainforest”. Because of its important biodiversity, the Sargasso Sea is protected by the Hamilton Declaration and overseen by the Sargasso Sea Commission.

and, of course, causes the natural loss of coastal habitats and can lead to flooding. Arriving seemingly overnight and smothering beaches at an accelerated rate, grown men can almost get lost in it. Removal needs to take place rapidly as decomposition begins within approximately 48 hours of sargassum making landfall. As it rots, it releases hydrogen sulfide, which has the unmistakable stench of rotting eggs, ammonia and methane, which cause impacts to human health and adds to greenhouse gas emissions. Tourists and local residents have reported an increase in headaches, nausea, rash, upper respiratory irritation, sneezing and an inability to concentrate. Dr. Dabor Resiere, Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Martinique, has been the lead author of several papers citing the potential for even more serious medical conditions such as cardiovascular, ocular and neurocognitive symptoms with prolonged exposure to hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. →

→ Local residents have also complained of mental health stresses, as they are plagued with insomnia and are no longer able to enjoy their natural resources. A family day at the beach is hampered by the fly-infested mass on the beach, brown sludge at the shoreline and the unmistakable stomach turning stench. The corrosion of electrical appliances such as fridges, microwaves, AC units and jewelry have also been reported and are attributed to the off gassing of the decaying sargassum.

In 2015, the government of the Quintana Roo state of Mexico, hired 5,000 day laborers, working in four-hour shifts, to remove seaweed from more than 100 miles of beach. In tourist-haven Cancun, workers raked approximately a half-million cubic feet of seaweed which amounted to more than 1,000 truckloads.

Economy

“The greatest single threat to the Caribbean economy I can imagine”, Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellor, University of the West Indies said on the issue of the sargassum influx.

According to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s 2019 report, the Caribbean is ranked as the most tourismdependent region in the world, with eight out of the ten most tourism-dependent countries located there. In 2022, $37.5 billion was reportedly generated from tourism alone. Tourism is the lifeblood of the Caribbean and with these statistics, it is not difficult to conclude that if tens of millions of visitors can no longer enjoy their vacations, over time the potential exists for a massive loss in tourism revenue with far-reaching, and potentially catastrophic results.

On a local, and much more personal level, fisherfolk will continue to experience a strain on their financial stability with:

• Fewer overall days at sea.

• Changes in available catch.

• Difficulty getting their boats through the sargassum mats.

• Increasing cost of repair to their boats and fishing gear because of sargassum damage.

SOLUTIONS IN A SEA OF CONFUSION

Research is being conducted by the educational and scientific community, and a few private-sector companies are racing to develop solutions for valorization and

mitigation. Solutions being discussed include:

• Collect sargassum while it’s at sea. A costly endeavor, but one that mitigates beach erosion and several other issues associated with decomposing sargassum after it makes landfall. There are several companies that have developed specific boats, or re-engineered fishing boats, for open-sea sargassum collection.

• Remove sargassum from beaches by hand with rakes and carts, which reduces beach erosion and protects coastal ecosystems. This also provides employment opportunities for local residents.

• Remove harmful nutrients, then sink sargassum deep into the ocean. This sequesters carbon in the deep sea for hundreds, if not thousands of years. However, this also leaves questions about how this practice might impact the deep sea over the long run.

• Develop safe and sustainable onshore methods for storage and disposal.

• Valorize sargassum by repurposing it for industrial or cottage industry use, i.e. biofuel, plastics, fertilizer, paper and construction materials, such as bricks.

• Fund further research into the true root cause of the phenomenon to better understand the threat.

• Engage and hold accountable, specific countries and entities, whose practices aid in the development of the GASB.

• Anchor mesh barriers offshore to prevent sargassum from reaching the beaches, thus allowing safe collection out at sea.

• Implement wide use of SaWS - Sargassum Warning System, a system using data from NASA and developed by one of sargassum’s leading researchers, Dr. Chuanmin Hu, Professor, University of South Florida, to better prepare for major influxes.

GLOBAL CALL TO ACTION

Without doubt this is a geo-political issue involving nations on the African and South American continents, the United States, Mexico and independent Caribbean nations, as well as the Caribbean territories of countries of the European Union.

Experts agree that the The Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt isn’t going anywhere for the foreseeable future. Therefore, innovation and financial aid to support sustainable clean up, disposal and repurposing efforts are vital to help preserve the region’s future and to avert further crisis. Of the seventeen SDGs established by the United Nations, the impact of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt relates to at least seven, and thankfully the UN is working through the UNEP and UNDP across the region on the issue, but more needs to be done. It is critical that all stakeholders are engaged, these include:

• International governments, including those involved with the G7, G20 and COP

• Regional governments

• Tourism industry

• Scientific and educational communities

• Environmental agencies

• Private sector

• Local residents

Ultimately, we are one interconnected and interdependent global community, and therefore a menace to one, is a menace to all.

SUPPORT THE “SEA MENACE” FILM

The author, Jenny Latchman-Atkins, is of Caribbean descent. She is passionate about exploring the effects of the Great Atlantic Sargassum Belt and has written a featurelength documentary “Sea Menace”, to explore the four pillars of impact: Ecology, Environment, Public Health and the Economy. To meet Jenny and hear more about the topic, watch the Sea Menace Sizzle Reel. ■

To support the making of this film, please contact her directly at jennyla@goodgoblinproductions.com

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PEACE AND HARMONY LEADS TO ECONOMIC GROWTH

AUTHOR: KHUAL LIAN KAM

My name is Khual Lian Kam.

The Hiroshima G7 Summit stands as a testament to the power of global cooperation. The remarkable leaders from participating nations left an indelible mark on me.

Hailing from Myanmar, I embarked on a transformative journey when I arrived in Japan as an exchange student in 2007. My time abroad allowed me to forge deep friendships with individuals from diverse backgrounds, including local Japanese who embraced me as part of their family.

Subsequently, I ventured into the world of entrepreneurship by establishing a company in Japan. The path was strewn with myriad challenges, yet I am profoundly grateful for the unwavering support and assistance extended by my circle.

In my formative years, my family imparted a profound lesson: confront life’s trials head-on rather than shying away. These words remain etched in my heart, guiding my aspirations.

Regrettably, my homeland, Myanmar, continues to grapple with the aftermath of a coup d’état. Although I now reside in Japan, the turmoil back home weighs heavily on my conscience. Yet, just as countless individuals aided me in the past, I am resolute in my belief that I can contribute to alleviating the present hardships and aiding in Myanmar’s reconstruction.

Motivated by this unwavering belief, I have engaged with government leaders from Asia, Europe, and the Americas to seek advice, cooperation, and support. Together, we have explored various facets of Myanmar’s challenges:

• Identifying the pressing issues facing Myanmar.

• Formulating sustainable solutions to address these challenges.

• Envisioning a future for Myanmar characterized by progress and prosperity.

Myanmar, with its multi-ethnic population of approximately 60 million and rich natural resources, harbors immense potential. Yet, to nurture this potential into fruition, we require international collaboration and support. Furthermore, a robust system and infrastructure are essential to ensure the nation’s enduring prosperity. My vision is to rebuild Myanmar as a “sustainable” nation, focusing on key areas such as:

• Environmental stewardship.

• Societal progress.

• Effective governance.

In my view, nation-building is akin to nurturing a family. Disagreements may arise, but it is our seriousness and commitment that fuel these debates. War, however, is a stark adversary, hindering development and sowing discord. I advocate for a more respectful exchange of ideas, a dedication to finding common ground, and a pursuit of peaceful solutions.

Throughout history, humanity has evolved while indebted to our planet, Earth. The evolving times demand an environmentally friendly approach. In our pursuit of building a new Myanmar, we intend to incorporate innovative energy-saving technologies.

Our foremost objective is to halt the civil war, revitalize the national economy, and offer our people a tranquil existence. Though we acknowledge our limitations, we earnestly seek the guidance and support of the international community. Let us initiate discussions for peace at the earliest opportunity.

I hold a deep affection for Myanmar, and I aspire to represent my nation’s aspirations. Progress may require time, but I envision a Myanmar that garners trust on the global stage and becomes a haven of peace and security.

In this international endeavor, I am driven not only by my personal convictions but also by a profound sense of responsibility towards Myanmar and its resilient people. ■

G7 Leaders’ Statement on Economic Resilience and Economic Security

May 20, 2023

Fostering mutually beneficial partnerships and supporting resilient and sustainable value chains remains our priority to reduce risk both for our economies, as well as globally, and ensure sustainable development for all. Recent events have highlighted vulnerabilities in economies around the world to natural disasters, pandemics, geopolitical tensions and coercion. Recalling our commitment from the 2022 G7 Elmau Summit, we are taking additional steps today to enhance our ongoing strategic coordination on economic resilience and economic security by reducing vulnerabilities and countering malign practices that exploit and reinforce them. This complements the corresponding steps we are taking to enhance supply chain resilience as laid out in the G7 Clean Energy Economy Action Plan. We underline the importance of cooperating both within the G7 as well as with all our partners to enhance global economic resilience, including by supporting a more significant role for low and middle-income countries in supply chains in a way that also promotes their diversification and local value creation and benefits local workers and communities everywhere. We will address non-market policies and practices designed to reinforce dependencies, and will counter economic coercion. We will continue to ensure that the clearly defined, narrow set of sensitive

technologies that are crucial for national security or could threaten international peace and security are appropriately controlled, without unduly impacting broader trade in technology. We affirm that our cooperation to strengthen economic resilience and economic security will be rooted in maintaining and improving a well-functioning international rules-based system, in particular the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. To these ends, we will work and coordinate through the G7 framework to make year-on-year progress in a holistic manner.

Enhancing global economic resilience

Building resilient supply chains

The COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has laid bare vulnerabilities in supply chains in countries around the world. Supply chain disruptions have had devastating impact for developing, emerging, and advanced economies alike. We recognize that transparency, diversification, security, sustainability, and trustworthiness and reliability are essential principles on which to build and strengthen resilient supply-chain networks among trusted partner countries both within and outside the G7. We encourage all nations to support these principles on resilient and reliable supply chains. We reaffirm our

strong will to support the wider international community, particularly developing countries, in building their resilience, including through implementing the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment. Our partnerships honor international law, are free and fair, and foster mutually beneficial economic and trade relationships. Drawing lessons from recent incidents of weaponizing energy and other economic dependencies, we stand firmly against such behavior. We will enhance resilient supply chains through partnerships around the world, especially for critical goods such as critical minerals, semiconductors and batteries. We will step up our efforts to strengthen channels of communication to address supply disruptions and share insights and best practices, including from respective scenario-based stress testing.

Building resilient critical infrastructure

We emphasize the importance of cooperating on enhancing security and resiliency in critical infrastructure particularly in the digital domain. We welcome projects that strengthen the resilience of the ICT ecosystem including mobile, satellite and core networks, submarine cables, components and cloud infrastructure. We support an innovative and competitive digital ecosystem of

We will continue to ensure that the clearly defined, narrow set of sensitive technologies that are crucial for national security or could threaten international peace and security are appropriately controlled, without unduly impacting broader trade in technology.

trustworthy vendors, welcome supplier diversification efforts, and continue to discuss market trends towards open, interoperable approaches, alongside secure, resilient and established architectures in a technology neutral way. Under the Japanese G7 Presidency and against the background of early deployments of Open RAN, we will continue to exchange views on open architectures and security-related aspects and opportunities. We support open, global, market-driven, and inclusive multi-stakeholder approaches for the development of technical standards for telecommunications equipment and services to enable openness and interoperability in a technology neutral way. We discussed that such infrastructure requires a rigorous evaluation of equipment, consistent with existing measures such as those outlined in the Prague Proposals, and the EU’s 5G toolbox. We reaffirm the need to assess political, economic, and other risks of a non-technical nature posed by vendors and suppliers. We will continue our work to build resilient critical infrastructure by sharing information and best practices gained through our respective efforts.

Responding to harmful practices that undermine international rules and norms

Responding to non-market policies and practices to secure global economic resilience

We express renewed concerns about comprehensive strategies to use a range of non-market policies and practices such as pervasive, opaque, and harmful industrial subsidies, market distortive practices of state owned enterprises, and all forms of forced technology transfers, as well as other practices to create strategic dependencies and systemic vulnerabilities. Addressing non-market policies and practices can therefore be an integral aspect in enhancing economic resilience and thereby economic security. In light of increased use of non- market policies and practices to reinforce vulnerabilities, we reaffirm the need to make effective use of existing means while developing new tools as appropriate. We will continue to actively develop stronger international rules and norms to tackle nonmarket policies and practices that distort the level playing field, and strengthen efforts at the WTO to better address these issues. →

→ Addressing economic coercion

The world has encountered a disturbing rise in incidents of economic coercion that seek to exploit economic vulnerabilities and dependencies and undermine the foreign and domestic policies and positions of G7 members as well as partners around the world. We will work together to ensure that attempts to weaponize economic dependencies by forcing G7 members and our partners including small economies to comply and conform will fail and face consequences. We express serious concern over economic coercion and call on all countries to refrain from its use, which not only undermines the functioning of and trust in the multilateral trading system, but also infringes upon the international order centered on respect for sovereignty and the rule of law, and ultimately undermines global security and stability. At our respective domestic levels, we will use our existing tools, review their effectiveness and develop new ones as needed to deter and counter the use of coercive economic measures. Recognizing the importance of existing joint efforts including at the WTO, we will enhance collaboration by launching the Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion to increase our collective assessment, preparedness, deterrence and response to economic coercion, and further promote cooperation with partners beyond the G7. Within this Coordination Platform, we will use early warning and rapid information sharing, regularly consult each other, collaboratively assess situations, explore coordinated responses, deter and, where appropriate, counter economic coercion, in accordance with our respective legal systems. We will also coordinate, as appropriate, to support targeted states, economies and entities as a demonstration of solidarity and resolve to uphold the rule of law.

Countering harmful practices in the digital sphere

We express concern about regulations that unjustifiably require companies to localize data or those that allow governments to access data without appropriate safeguards and protections. As a result of geopolitical and geo-economic upheavals, global business value and supply chains, especially those of our critical infrastructure, are exposed to risks. We will therefore deepen our strategic

We will further strengthen multilateral efforts to cooperate in the field of export controls to ensure gaps in our dual use technology protection ecosystem cannot be exploited.

dialogue to seek to counter malicious practices in the digital sphere to protect global value and supply chains from illegitimate influence, espionage, illicit knowledge leakage, and sabotage.

Cooperating on international standards setting

We recognize the importance of technical standards in the global economy and reaffirm our commitment to collectively support the development of open, voluntary and consensus-based standards that will shape the next generation of technology. These should be based on inclusive multistakeholder approaches in line with our common democratic values and principles. Reflecting on shared values and principles, we will identify and address issues related to international standards setting, where they arise, through information sharing and engagement in the established standards setting processes. We will deepen our cooperation through information sharing

including with wider public and private stakeholders in international standards setting activities, and support effective standards setting. To this end, we reaffirm our continued collaboration including through the Framework for G7 Collaboration on Digital Technical Standards.

Addressing shared concerns regarding threats to international peace and security

Protecting international peace and security by preventing leakage of critical and emerging technologies

As we deepen research and development among G7 partners on critical and emerging technologies, we affirm our shared responsibility and determination to coordinate on preventing the cutting-edge technologies we develop from being used to further military capabilities that threaten international peace and security. To that end, we will share, as appropriate, information and experiences to further develop common understanding of such risks and the policy tools needed to address them, and take further actions where necessary, including those related to export and investment, corresponding to the circumstances of each country. We will further strengthen multilateral efforts to cooperate in the field of export controls to ensure gaps in our dual use technology protection ecosystem cannot be exploited. We have a common interest in preventing the narrow set of technological advances that are assessed to be core to enhancing the military and intelligence capabilities of actors who may use these capabilities to undermine international peace and security, from being fueled by our companies’ capital, expertise, and knowledge. We recognize that appropriate measures designed to address risks from outbound investment could be important to complement existing tools of targeted controls on exports and inbound investments, which work together to protect our sensitive technologies from being used in ways that threaten international peace and security. As we continue to work to make our economic security toolkits fit for today’s challenges, we will provide clarity to the private sector regarding these common goals. We will also continue to coordinate, share lessons, and seek to align our approaches where feasible to maximize the effectiveness of our efforts. ■

www.globusrelief.org www.inc-world.info

Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security

May 20, 2023

We, the leaders of Japan, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Comoros, the Cook Islands, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Viet Nam and the European Union, reaffirmed that access to affordable, safe and nutritious food is a basic human need, and shared the importance of working closely together to respond to the worsening global food security crisis with the world facing highest risk of famine in a generation and to build more resilient, sustainable and inclusive agriculture and food systems, including through enhancing stability and predictability in international markets. Noting the key actions outlined in the United Nations Food Systems Summit 2021 (UNFSS) and the 2022 Global Food Security Roadmap endorsed by over 100 country signatories as well as the G20’s efforts on global food security, we intend to jointly take the following actions in cooperation with the international community to strengthen global food security and nutrition and call on other partners to join us in these efforts.

Responding to the immediate food security crisis

Global food security is threatened by multiple factors and risks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, volatile energy, food and fertilizer prices, the serious impact of

climate change and armed conflicts, with disproportionate impacts on the most vulnerable, including women, children and persons with disabilities. The war in Ukraine has further aggravated the ongoing food security crisis around the world, especially in developing and least developed countries. We note with deep concern the adverse impact of the war in Ukraine and stress that it is causing immense human suffering and exacerbating existing fragilities in the global economy – constraining growth, increasing inflation, disrupting supply chains, heightening energy and food insecurity, and elevating financial stability risks. Especially in light of its impact on food security and the humanitarian situation around the world, we support a just and durable peace based on respect for international law, principles of the UN charter and territorial integrity and sovereignty. We call on all participants of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) to continue and fully implement its smooth operation at its maximum potential and for as long as necessary, and stress the importance of allowing grains to continue to reach those most in need.

According to UN and relevant reports, up to 828 million people were facing hunger across the world in 2021 and 258 million people in 58 food crisis countries, especially in developing and least developed countries, were estimated to need emergency food

assistance in 2022. We will be working together to respond to the immediate food security crisis including through:

• Supporting multisectoral humanitarian assistance to countries experiencing crisis and emergency levels of acute food insecurity, such as in the Horn of Africa.

• Advocating for a substantial increase in humanitarian and development funding, including from other international donors and private sector partners to fill emergency and critical development assistance funding gaps to avert famine and build sustainable and resilient food systems.

• Supporting grain exports from Ukraine and Russia including the expansion and extension of the BSGI, continuation of the EU “Solidarity Lanes” and the restoration of the agricultural sector in Ukraine as well as supporting any UN efforts to identify and evidence illegal movement of grains.

• Facilitating rules-based, open, fair, transparent and non-discriminatory international trade in food and agricultural products, to stabilize markets by reducing the risk of scarcity and mitigating price volatility.

• Strengthening coordination among donors, the UN including the Rome-Based Agencies of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Progamme (WFP) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development

According to UN and relevant reports, up to 828 million people were facing hunger across the world in 2021 and 258 million people in 58 food crisis countries, especially in developing and least developed countries, were estimated to need emergency food assistance in 2022.

(IFAD), International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and

• Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), including through the Global Alliance for Food Security (GAFS), the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC) and the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP), to prioritize and cover the most urgent needs, to avoid further deterioration of humanitarian conditions and to accelerate responsible investments in food systems.

• Supporting immediate assistance to scale up sustainable and efficient local, regional and international food production and value chains consistent with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules.

Preparing for and preventing future food security crises

We recognize the importance of enhancing market transparency, minimizing distortions that are inconsistent with WTO rules, enhancing the availability of accurate information and analysis as key aspects of preventing or minimizing the risk of food security crises and malnutrition and facilitating early actions in cases of crises. We also recognize the importance of developing a shared understanding of recommended actions in response to food security crises. Therefore, we intend to cooperate towards the following purposes:

1. To enhance market transparency and preparedness for food and nutrition crises

• Strengthening the Agricultural Market Information System (AMIS) by supporting G20 efforts to broaden its coverage to include fertilizer and vegetable oils, as well as improving data provision including on stocks.

• Supporting synergistic data collection, analysis and dissemination work by international organizations including the International Grains Council’s (IGC) data collection and analysis and the FAO’s development of early warning models, and recognizing the importance of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) as the global standard for acute food insecurity monitoring and analysis, the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) initiated in the framework of GNAFC to draw attention to the global food security crisis, the multi-donor

50x2030 initiative and the GAFS Global Food and Nutrition Security Dashboard.

• Supporting the implementation of existing crisis response and preparedness strategies in countries where they exist, and contributing to the establishment and implementation of Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plans (FSCPP) through World Bank support with other countries and relevant stakeholders and in the framework of GAFS where needed.

• Supporting ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) in ASEAN region and the East Asia Summit’s (EAS) renewed commitment in 2022 to implement the 2013 EAS Declaration on Food Security and the ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework and Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security 2021-25 as well as the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve, as initiatives to respond to food supply disruptions in the region.

2. To develop a shared understanding of recommended crisis-time actions

• Welcoming and supporting the dialogue on the food security crisis between food exporting countries and importing countries to be co-hosted by the IGC and Japan under its G7 Presidency in June.

• Contributing to the identification and the development of guiding principles and best practices related to trade and market transparency in crisis response based on this dialogue.

• Reconfirming that agricultural trade must be rules-based, open, fair, transparent, predictable, inclusive, non-discriminatory and consistent with WTO rules, and recalling the WTO Ministerial Decision on WFP Food Purchases Exemption from Export Prohibitions or Restrictions as well as the WTO Ministerial Declaration on the Emergency Response to Food Insecurity.

• Calling for more concrete actions to address measures that impact global food security by seeking meaningful outcomes on the issues in the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13) negotiations.

• Promoting donor coordination on food crises responses including emergency humanitarian assistance and mitigating measures for most affected populations through mechanism such as GAFS and GNAFC.

• Focusing on expanding fertilizer efficiency and soil health practices. →

→ Realizing resilient global food security and nutrition for all Realizing resilient global food security and nutrition for all is our shared goal for a better future for each human being. We are committed to working together to pave the way to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, progressively realizing of the right to adequate food and building resilient, sustainable, efficient and inclusive food systems, and enabling those in need to access affordable, safe and nutritious food and healthy diets now and into the future. We also emphasize the importance of climate change adaptation and mitigation in agriculture and food systems, of halting and reversing biodiversity loss while recognizing the strong interrelation between agriculture and biodiversity, preventing all forms of malnutrition, and reducing food loss and waste, as well as utilizing traditional knowledge and promoting gender-responsive approaches that engage women as key actors of food systems whereas women and girls are often disproportionately affected by food insecurity and malnutrition. We are joining hands to take the following actions:

1. To advance food security and nutrition for all

◆ Increasing efforts to achieve zero-hunger (SDG 2) and to ensure access to food and nutrition for all those in need, by

• Coordinating actions at the global, regional as well as national levels including through engagement with relevant initiatives and platforms such as FAO, WFP, and IFAD, FAO’s SouthSouth and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC), the Committee on World Food Security (CFS),GNFAC, GAFS and the Ministerial Mediterranean Dialogue on the Food Crisis, including for the purpose of mainstreaming gender equality in actions related to food security and nutrition.

• Leveraging integrated methods such as the Rome-Based Agencies Resilient Initiative and the joint Sahel action plan 2021-2027 to meet developing and least-developed countries’ food security needs.

• Supporting targeted and cost-effective approaches in humanitarian actions as well as in broader social protection and safety net responses, including school

meals programs which, as an integrated action within broader nutrition initiatives targeting vulnerable populations, can serve as safety nets.

• Supporting the incorporation of nutrition goals into related policies such as agriculture, health, social protection, water and sanitation and education.

• Improving access to affordable healthy diets and safe and nutritious foods through sustainable and nutrition sensitive agriculture and food systems and increasing the availability, affordability and quality of malnutrition treatment and prevention products and services.

• Engaging towards ambitious outcomes at the next Nutrition for Growth Summit to be hosted by France, together with stakeholders including donors, private sector and civil society, building upon the Tokyo Compact on Global Nutrition for Growth.

• Supporting inclusive food and agricultural policies that generate decent jobs, including for youth and others in vulnerable situations, contribute to poverty reduction and improve access to healthy diets.

• Supporting development, production, increased productivity and use of fortified foods adapted to local contexts and needs to tackle micronutrient deficiencies.

2. To build resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems

◆ Promoting and cooperating on achievement of resilient, sustainable and productive agriculture and food systems, including improving climate resilience, conserving biodiversity, conserving and sustainably managing inputs, and supporting local, regional and international food production by

• Building partnerships during the UN Food System Stocktaking Moment in July to promote efforts in all the action areas identified at UNFSS 2021.

• Supporting medium- to long- term activities, including (a) increased investment in food systems (i.e. production, food supply chains including processing, distribution, cold chain, sustainable food environments and consumer behavior, among others) while promoting responsible investment, (b) development of agriculture related infrastructure (i.e., storage, irrigation, transportation, connectivity) including rural infrastructure especially for least developed countries and in line with WTO commitments to the Nairobi Ministerial Decision on Export Competition, (c) addressing water availability and security for agriculture,

(d) promotion of organic farming, climate smart, agro-ecological, nature-based solutions and ecosystem based approaches and other innovative approaches as appropriate and (e) scaling up support for smallholder and marginal farmers including women and youth to be linked to larger agricultural markets.

• Promoting efforts to improve accessibility to a diverse range of financing instruments, including innovative finance and blended finance, as well as publicprivate partnerships to improve long-term food security and nutrition especially in developing countries, while ensuring that the financial and other incentives foster sustainability.

• Making fair and appropriate use of existing domestic agriculture resources and harnessing the potential of sustainable local productivity and production across all countries to increase food security and improve nutrition situation while facilitating fair and open trade, in line with WTO commitments.

• Promoting rule-based, open, fair, transparent, predictable and nondiscriminatory trade as an essential basis for building more resilient food systems, promoting food security and making nutritious food more affordable and available.

• Supporting efforts to control and manage transboundary pests impacts on food production including through research into management.

• Addressing climate-shocks by promoting climate-smart agriculture, agro-ecological, naturebased solutions and ecosystem based approaches and other innovative approaches as appropriate, drawing on the knowledge and evidence base developed by the FAO, IFAD and CGIAR, and noting outcomes of the Agricultural Breakthrough Agenda and deliveries of its priority Actions, and efforts of the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate) to advance investment in climate-smart research and development and innovation.

• Supporting efforts to adapt crops and livestock to climate change and to enhance their productivity sustainably, including in particular those traditional and indigenous crops whose potential to contribute to resilience, food security and nutrition has not been realized due to

past underinvestment, while enhancing benefits to indigenous peoples and local communities.

• Welcoming awareness-raising activities and researches of climate-resilient crops, including but not limited to those on millets in the International Year of Millets, 2023 and noting the importance of the full implementation of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) to promote access to and utilization of genetic resources covered by the Treaty for the purpose of breeding climate-resilient crops such as millet, and welcoming the launch of Millet and other ancient grains international research initiative (MAHARISHI) which has been supported by agriculture scientists in the Meetings of Agricultural Chief Scientists of G20 States (MACS-G20) 2023.

• Supporting local fertilizer production in line with relevant WTO rules and consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement.

• Promoting efficient use of fertilizers to reduce nutrient loss to the environment and agroforestry, and other innovative approaches, which can support biodiversity conservation.

• Engaging with the African Union on how to support the African Agenda for food security and nutrition, including the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit and Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP).

• Encouraging sustainable fisheries and in this regard supporting prompt entry into force of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, adopted at the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC12) towards ensuring ocean sustainability and prosperity.

• Engaging with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on how to support their specific food security and nutrition challenges inclusive of fisheries.

• Promoting efforts to generate and use soil data to support a broad range of appropriate policies and practices to improve soil health and fertility in regions where depleted soils limit productivity and sustainability.

• Supporting engagement with IFAD, on strengthening local production systems, meeting local and regional demand, building markets and reducing food loss to support development of sustainable and resilient

food systems for small-scale producers.

• Supporting efforts to reduce food loss and waste through agriculture, food and waste systems, including by utilizing innovative solutions and sustainable technologies and diverting organic waste from landfills, while noting ongoing efforts of educational and behavioral approaches such as India’s Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE).

• Supporting adoption of the One Health approach to address food safety, sustainable food production, and environmental stewardship.

Promoting innovation and technology and introducing them at every stage in food systems by

• Promoting engagements with private sectors in research and development (R&D) and responsible investment for further digitalization in agriculture and food systems.

• Supporting all knowledge holders in agriculture and food systems, including start-ups, academic institutions, indigenous peoples and local communities, women and civil society organizations in particular through promoting the awareness and utilization of their innovative technologies, practices and approaches.

• Supporting efforts to sustainably increase productivity and efficiency by using available technologies such as slow-release fertilizer and practices in favor of agricultural adaptation in underserved regions and to sustainably enhance production worldwide, in order to increase food output in the face of population growth.

• Supporting development of biological inputs and production managements reducing excessive dependence on fossil fuel-based inputs.

• Enhancing the access to technology for developing and least developed countries including through technical cooperation and appropriate transfer programs on mutually agreed terms, and supporting technological upskilling and capacity building of farmers, in particular smallholder and marginal farmers in developing countries, to broaden opportunities in the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices on farm level including, where suitable, modern, high-tech, resilient and environmentfriendly practices. ■

Everybody is again an «immigrant»

SIMON

TRIBELHORN

CEO at Liechtenstein Bankers Association (LBA)

The Liechtenstein financial centre stands for sustainability like no other. This is also manifested in the claim “Thinking in generations”. And this claim is more important today than ever before. The current major challenges in the global financial system impressively demonstrate the importance of long-term and sustainable thinking and action. Sustainability is part of the DNA of the Liechtenstein financial centre, not only in Sunday speeches, but also in everyday life. For us, sustainability is the ability to meet the needs of today’s generations without endangering future generations. In addition to the responsible use of our natural resources, this also includes social and societal responsibility. Our approach to sustainability is therefore more comprehensive than “merely” complying with climate targets. It is aligned with the UN’s 17 Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs). And that is good and right, even if there is no doubt that combating climate change is our most urgent challenge.

FINANCIAL LITERACY

A global boost is needed

A goal – albeit only a sub-goal – of the SDGs is the development of the ability to recognise financial issues. In technical jargon, we talk about financial literacy. Five components of financial literacy are commonly defined, about which one should know as early and as well as possible. These are earning, spending, saving/investing, borrowing and protecting.

This ABC of financial literacy can prevent major financial problems. In particular, early prevention is of great importance. Studies show that it is important to learn and acquire the conscious handling of money from an early age, because every fifth young

person in Europe between the ages of 12 and 18 already has debts. Among young adults aged 18 to 24, it is already one in three. And let’s not kid ourselves: entering adult life in debt is a false start that is difficult to correct.

So there is still a lot wrong in Europe. But also on a global level, financial literacy has unfortunately continued to decline over the last 30 years. So it is no surprise that the least successful countries are also the least financially literate.

DIGITAL LITERACY

important, necessary, urgent

In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on another skill besides financial literacy: digital literacy. Simply put, digital literacy is the knowledge, skills and abilities a person needs to use digital technologies effectively. It is therefore a combination of technical understanding and practical application.

Digital literacy is therefore much more than just knowing how to turn on a computer, make an online bank transfer or carry out stock market transactions via an app. The digital revolution is accelerating rapidly and is in a new, decisive phase. In particular, the gigantic advances in artificial intelligence (AI) are making a significant contribution to this. Hardly anyone would have expected a year or two ago that with ChatGPT, an AI could be used so quickly on a mass scale. Since the noughties, the ease of using the internet, smartphones or social media has led to a distinction being made in science between the so-called digital natives and the digital immigrants. The former group is mainly composed of Generation Z. This includes everyone born around 1990. This group has often looked pityingly on the sometimes somewhat helpless attempts of their mothers or fathers to find their way with the new digital tools. The good news for all older people: that’s over now. To exaggerate, ChatGPT is becoming THE equaliser. AI ensures that everyone will now become more or less a digital immigrant again.

Siamese twins

At the same time, financial literacy and digital literacy must be thought of together. One no longer works without the other. They are linked together as Siamese twins, so to speak, and cannot be considered on their own. Smart data, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence are not hype, but reality. This technological progress has fundamentally changed the way we interact with financial services. It is therefore also a game changer in the promotion of financial literacy. For example, digital progress opens up new possibilities for improving our understanding of finances and making our dealings with them more effective and efficient.

Here are a few examples

◆ Through the use of advanced algorithms and AI, financial data can be analysed faster and much better, and patterns and trends can be identified. This gives insight into

risks or opportunities and allows better financial decisions to be made at all levels.

◆ Informed and strategic decisions can be made faster and better. Intelligent applications can be, for example, personalised services or budgeting aids as well as support in the planning of investments.

◆ Through the use of augmented reality, financial data can be visualised in real time and presented in an understandable way. A better grasp of complex concepts is the result, which should improve understanding and decision-making.

◆ Virtual reality offers the possibility to simulate financial scenarios in virtual space and provide users with realistic experiences without taking real risks.

However, it is crucial not only to be able to handle the technology, but also to recognise its potential. Creativity, curiosity and openness are crucial. This is the only way to meet the demands of an increasingly digitalised economy - indeed, of a digitalised life. The above examples may apply more to adults. But similar to financial literacy, the same applies here: The earlier, the better.

Integrating financial and digital literacy into education

If promoting global financial literacy is already a Herculean task, linking it to digital literacy is even more challenging. But humanity has shown time and again that no task is too big.

We will be successful when educational institutions, technology companies and financial institutions work together. First, of course, integration into the education system is crucial. Schools and educational institutions should develop programmes that help young people gain a solid understanding of financial literacy and digital skills. Curricula need to be adapted for this. Of course, it is still important today to know how the ancient Greeks lived. But learning skills for today’s and tomorrow’s life is at least equally important. Through partnerships between educational institutions and the

IF PROMOTING GLOBAL FINANCIAL LITERACY IS ALREADY A HERCULEAN TASK, LINKING IT TO DIGITAL LITERACY IS EVEN MORE CHALLENGING. BUT HUMANITY HAS SHOWN TIME AND AGAIN THAT NO TASK IS TOO BIG.

business community, important knowledge from the real world can be taught. This creates a win-win situation where students benefit from sound education and financial and technology companies gain a skilled and competent workforce for the future.

In addition, adults should also have access to continuing education programmes to continuously improve their financial and digital literacy. More than ever, a lifelong learning culture is needed to ensure that people always have up-to-date knowledge and skills to keep up with ever-changing technologies.

Of course, we must not be naive in this. We must take seriously the many voices warning against the misuse of AI. But only an informed society can also take an informed look at the risks and challenges associated with the use of these technologies. Keywords here are responsible handling of personal →

→ financial data, avoiding fraud and ensuring that AI systems are fair, transparent and non-discriminatory.

Strong and established in promoting financial literacy

When it comes to promoting financial literacy, the cooperation between schools and banks in Liechtenstein has been working well for years. Since 2012, we as the Bankers Association have been committed in many ways to sustainably improving the financial literacy of children and young people. For example, we participate in the annual European Money Week, an initiative of the European Banking Federation, with various activities. Furthermore, we are also one of the sponsors of the picture book “Money for Sale!”. In it, money questions are answered in a playful way by children between 4 and 8 years of age. Finally, especially when entering adulthood, one is confronted with many financial decisions. For example, research shows that young, male and urban singles in particular are most likely to live beyond their means. Consumption on credit is no longer seen as a bad thing, as it is often modelled by parents. For this reason, the focus of our efforts is on the graduating classes of secondary schools. The very successful project half-day “Banking 4 you - debt prevention” was developed for this target group. Since 2012, more than

2000 pupils have been made fitter for the financial challenges of adult life.

In the area of promoting digital literacy, courses are mushrooming, although there are still few systematic and holistic offers. These gaps need to be closed in the coming years and this is where we see an important role for us as an industry and banking association.

In summary, the combination of financial and digital competence offers

About Liechtenstein Bankers Association (LBA)

many opportunities. In my opinion, the most important one is to increase the participation of as many people as possible in the digital economy. To fully exploit these potentials, a holistic approach is required. Only through joint efforts can we ensure that people develop the necessary skills to be competent. This is how the opportunities are seized and the risks minimised. ■

The Liechtenstein Bankers Associafion was founded in 1969 and is the voice of Liechtenstein banks at home and abroad. It is one of the most important associafions in the country and plays an important role in the successful development of the financial centre. As a member of the European Bankers Federafion (EBF), the European Payments Council (EPC), the European Parliamentary Financial Services Forum (EPFSF), the Liechtenstein Bankers Associafion is an important member of key bodies at European level and plays an acfive role in the European legislafive process. Since 2017, the Liechtenstein Bankers Associafion has also been a member of the Public Affairs Council (PAC) with offces in Washington and Brussels, and since 2018, a member of the internafional network “Financial Centres for Sustainability” (FC4S). With the Roadmap 2025, the LBA has placed an even stronger focus on the two major topic «sustainability» and «digitalisation». As a consequence, the LBA joined the following two initiatives in 2021, each of which is a leader in its field: firstly, it has become an offcial supporter of the UN Principles for Responsible Banking and the Net-Zero Banking Alliance and secondly, it has become an affiliate member of the Canada-based Blockchain Research Institute (BRI), an independent, global think-tank dedicated to inspiring and preparing private- and public-sector leaders to be the catalysts of the blockchain transformation.

About LBA’s Roadmap 2025, the strategy for the entire Liechtenstein banking cente

The Roadmap 2025 is the multi-year strategy of the Liechtenstein banking centre. It is all about “growth through sustainability and innovation”. Ongoing climate change is one of the greatest global challenges. We are the first generation to sustainably destroy our planet and probably the last to prevent it. The financing needed to achieve the Paris climate goals as well as the broader Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations is enormous. According to PWC, the annual global investment required to achieve the SDGs amounts to 7 trillion US dollars. Currently, only one seventh of this is financed by the public sector. A substantial part must therefore come from the private sector. The financial sector, and banks in particular, can and must therefore play a central role in mobilising and channelling these financial resources. This means a great responsibility, but also brings with it a great opportunity. If we successfully accompany this transformation, we will create the necessary growth to continue to create prosperity. Increasing digitalisation has a huge potential to accelerate the needed transformation for the benefit of our future generations.

A focus on solutions can close the implementation gap

At May’s summit in Hiroshima, members of the G7 reaffirmed their commitment to meeting the Paris Agreement and called for all governments to aim for net zero by 2050 at the latest. With the world’s most successful economies still behind on reaching their targets1, this reaffirmation and call for leadership is particularly welcome. But the challenge is always in implementation. It is on the national and subnational levels that we now need to create decisive action. Closing the implementation gap is challenging in part because the task of implementation often lies in different hands from the task of target-setting. And often, the gap between ambition and action rests on a widespread perception on all levels that decarbonization is a cost, rather than an opportunity.

The true cost of fossil fuel addiction

The devastating ecological and human impact of climate inaction if now well understood. But our dependence on fossil fuels is also a costly one. These legacy energy sources are no longer cheap, even before the staggering subsidies enjoyed by the industry. In 2021, the International Monetary Fund estimated that the global production and burning of coal, oil, and gas was subsidized by US$5.9 trillion in 2020, or 6.8% of GDP, and that number is expected to rise. To put it another way, we subsidized fossil fuels by more than US$700 per capita in 2020 alone. According to the IMF, efficient fuel pricing in 2025 would reduce global carbon dioxide emissions 36 percent below baseline levels in 2025, in line with keeping global warming to 1.5 degrees2

Despite this colossal financial and ecological burden, our society retains an inexplicably attachment to outdated technology that hampers our development and pollutes our planet. With innovation and possibility all around us, we should be moving to adopt technologies that solve multiple problems, which in all cases are both more attractive and more profitable. These solutions are more economical, better for the environment, and provide a better standard of living for citizens at large.

When the Montreal Protocol was agreed in the late 1980s, we were unaware that it would be widely considered a warm-up for the main event. In a spirit of unprecedented commitment and cooperation, this multilateral agreement has successfully set us on a path to recover the ozone

layer by the middle of this century. Private sector innovation immediately followed as companies devised and adopted newer technologies without ozone-depleting properties. With the right motivation, there is no shortage of public and private sector innovation that can move us towards outcomes that are not just cheaper, but better in every way.

Energy efficiency now

Indeed, our lowest cost solution is simply to reduce our energy expenditure. Energy efficiency is the energy that costs nothing. By doing more on efficiency, we free up electricity to accelerate electrification of heating and transport, lessening our dependence on fossil fuels. In the lighting industry, we know the benefits of switching conventional light points to connected LED. Lighting is a technology that touches everyone. There are close to 30 billion light points across the world, presenting a huge opportunity for progress. LED lighting is not just a greener technology, but one that is better in every way: it costs less to run, it lasts longer, it is easier to detect faults and maintain, and with minimal investment, it can lay the digital infrastructure for smart cities and buildings. At Signify, 85% of our sales are now LED. But despite these very apparent advantages, 35% of the installed lights around the world are still using outdated technology. In the USA and Europe, that is as much as 50% of all light points. By simply changing all Europe’s lights to connected LED, we could free up enough electricity to charge 55 million EVs or power 47 million heat pumps, lessening our addiction to fossil fuels.

To take this further – in Germany alone, converting only street lighting to connected LED could save the equivalent of the electricity required to operate half a million heat pumps, which is the government’s annual target to fight the energy crisis. In Italy, converting all lighting to LED would save more than half the electricity previously generated by Russian gas. And in France, converting all lighting to LED would save 70% of all electricity

now generated by fossil fuels. In many cases, making the switch is as easy as changing a light bulb.

If this is possible for lighting, there is so much that can be done in other sectors. Increasing the renovation rate of our infrastructure to 3% per year creates vital opportunities to adopt energy-efficient technologies within our built environment. Beyond lighting, it introduces opportunities to improve the efficiency of HVAC and introduce building management systems that help our cities do more with fewer natural resources. If we double our efforts in energy efficiency, everything we do to accelerate renewables counts twice as much. We decarbonize the economy twice as fast, and twice as cheaply.

All this work can be done now. While regulation continues at its typical slow pace, we all understand the direction and what needs to be done. The fields of play for implementation are subnational, in cities and in businesses. So, it’s up to these smaller, more agile units to get ahead of multilateral decisions and move now, for the health of our planet but also for the health of our bottom line, our industries, and the people who depend on them. As businesses, we can choose how we decarbonize our operations and future proof the products and services we offer our customers. In cities, we can target investments in sustainable

development that creates opportunities, jobs, and better living conditions. The work of Bertrand Piccard and the Solar Impulse Foundation’s Solutions Guide for Cities reveals the vast array of solutions that are already out there –each with the potential to elevate cities to clean, efficient spaces that work for their citizens. This also demands a refresh in the way we approach procurement. Leasing or shared ownership models can help dispense with high upfront costs and remove barriers to adopting cleaner technologies that save money over the life cycle of the product.

It is this change of focus – from cost to benefit, from problem to solution, that will define how successfully we close the implementation gap and manage the climate emergency. Successful implementation rests on our curiosity, our openness, and our commitment to progress. G7 countries pride themselves on their innovation and leadership. Now, let’s see how we can grab these solutions and opportunities with both hands. The faster we do this work, the easier it will be for us to keep the hope of a 1.5C scenario, and a livable planet, alive for future generations. ■

1.https://climateactiontracker.org/countries/ 2.https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/climatechange/energy-subsidies

The 2023 G7 Hiroshima Meeting; The Next Steps on Climate Transition

1.

Introduction

The 2023 G7 Hiroshima Meeting, building on Indonesia’s G20 presidency in 2022, was another milestone in international efforts to combat climate change, address climate finance, and promote the green economy. As the world grapples with the existential threat of climate change, this gathering of the seven most advanced economies was of critical importance.

The G7 Summit, held from 19 to 21 May 2023 in Hiroshima, Japan, marked the 48th meeting of leaders of the

world’s most advanced economies. It took place in the shadow of a variety of geopolitical issues that are challenging conventional approaches to global challenges, including those related to the climate and nature crisis.

This is a vital year for the consolidation of the Paris Agreement, as its first Global Stock take will take place at COP28. Ahead of this key milestone, much is expected from the G7 Summit and other meetings of global leaders in the run up to COP28. The G7 and other meetings will set the political tone for

what must be done to tackle climate change and protect nature.

2. Building on the success of Indonesia’s G20 Presidency and the G20 Leaders Bali Communique

President Joko Widodo attended the G7 Meeting in Hiroshima and so was able to ensure continuity from the G20 to the G7. The G20 Bali Leader’s Declaration strongly supported global climate action, strengthening policies, mobilizing financing, technology transfer and capacity building to

foster collaboration between developed and developing countries for climate action and the SDGs. The world’s two largest economies met. US President Joe Biden and China President Xi Jin Ping met on the margins of the G20 ended positively with both sides pledging to overcome differences, and work together on global challenges such as climate change and food security.

For Indonesia, the historic $20 billion ‘(JETP)’ Just Energy Transition Partnership with the USA and Japan as joint leads, the International Partners Group support an ambitious just energy transition to keep global warming to below 1.5 °C. It is expected to retire Indonesia’s coal power plants and shift significantly to renewable energy, delivering strong emissions reductions, drive sustainable development while protecting the livelihoods of communities in affected sectors.

G20 Leaders acknowledged the Global Blended Finance Alliance (GBFA) in the G20 Bali Leaders’ Declaration as a global community of support to accelerate investment in climate action and sustainable development. The GBFA will prepare G20 Blended Finance Principles and promote the scaling and replicating of blended finance instruments to incentivize private sector investment in Developing Countries, including Least Developed Countries and the Archipelagic Island States.

Indonesia launched the Ocean 20 and Blue Halo S to advance blue ocean economy as well as protecting and restoring marine ecosystems. A record amount of blended finance funds were raised at the 2022 Tri Hita Karana Forum. The THK Forum as the preeminent sustainability side event of the G20 — “Future Knowledge and Better Business Better World” — catalyzed over $30 billion worth of pledges, projects and initiatives in clean energy, avoided deforestation, ecosystem restoration, marine protection, circular waste management and human health.

Key launches under the New Era Bali Kerthi Roadmap include the Tri Hita Karana Center of Future Knowledge, Knowledge Innovation and Technology

Alliance (KITA), Data Governance for children, Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center, UN SDSN and Rocky Mountain Institute Southeast Asia hubs, E-Liability dynamic carbon accounting led by Harvard and Oxford Universities, G20 for Arts Constellations: Global Reflections by leading G20 artists on Climate and SDGs.

3. Climate Change: Acknowledgment, Commitments, and Ambitions

The G7 Hiroshima meeting commenced with a unanimous acknowledgment of the urgent need to tackle climate change. The G7 said that they are taking concrete steps to:

• “drive the transition to clean energy economies of the future through cooperation within and beyond the G7;

• deliver our goal of mobilizing up to $600 billion in financing for quality infrastructure through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII)”

The G7 Leaders went on to say that “Our planet is facing unprecedented challenges from the triple global crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution as well as from the ongoing global energy crisis. We are steadfast in our commitment to the Paris agreement, keeping a limit of 1.5°C global temperature rise within reach through scaled up action in this critical decade, halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030, and ensuring energy security, whilst leveraging

THE GBFA WILL PREPARE G20 BLENDED FINANCE PRINCIPLES AND PROMOTE THE SCALING AND REPLICATING OF BLENDED FINANCE INSTRUMENTS TO INCENTIVIZE PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES,

INCLUDING LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AND THE ARCHIPELAGIC ISLAND STATES.

synergies and recognizing the interdependent nature of these challenges. “

• Net-Zero Emissions: The G7 nations unanimously committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or earlier. “We underline our commitment, in the context of a global effort, to accelerate the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels so as to achieve net zero in energy systems by 2050 at the latest in line with the trajectories required to limit global average temperatures to 1.5 °C above preindustrial levels, and call on others to join us in taking the same action.”

• Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs): The G7 leaders agreed to revise and strengthen their NDCs under the Paris Agreement. This revision aims to ensure that emissions reductions targets are more ambitious, in line with the goal of limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. They said, “We reiterate our commitment made in Elmau last year to rapidly implement domestic mitigation measures aimed at achieving our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets and to increase our ambition including, for example, by adopting or strengthening sectoral targets, by developing non-CO2 sub targets, and by adopting stringent implementation measures. We underscore that every major economy should have significantly enhanced the ambition of its NDC since the Paris Agreement; already peaked its GHG emissions or indicated that it will do so no later than 2025; and in particular, included economy-wide absolute reduction targets and that cover all GHGs in its NDC.”

• Phasing Out Fossil Fuels: The G7 countries emphasized the need for a swift transition away from fossil fuels. They committed to accelerating the shift toward renewable energy sources, investing in clean technologies, and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. The leaders endorsed the G7 Clean Energy Economy Action Plan. →

BALI G20 RESOUNDING SUCCESS

TRI HITA KARANA CLIMATE ACTIONS & SDG INITIATIVES

→ Leaders committed to accelerating the decarbonization of the energy sector and the deployment of renewables. They reaffirmed their “commitment to a highly decarbonized road sector by 2030, and recognize the importance of reducing GHG emissions from the global fleet and the range of pathways to approach this goal in line with trajectories required for keeping a limit of 1.5°C within reach. We are committed to the goal of achieving net-zero emissions in the road sector by 2050.”

Likewise, the G7 committed to strengthen efforts to decarbonize the global shipping sector. This is an important step, especially as crucial decisions will be taken at the International Maritime Organization’s July meeting of the committee negotiating to cut emissions from ships. “We reaffirm our commitment to strengthen global efforts to achieve GHG lifecycle zero emissions from international shipping by 2050 at the latest. We commit to support this target and introducing intermediate targets for 2030 and 2040 for the revised International Maritime Organization (IMO) GHG reduction

THE G7 COUNTRIES EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR A SWIFT TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS. THEY COMMITTED TO ACCELERATING THE SHIFT TOWARD RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES, INVESTING IN CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES, AND PHASING OUT INEFFICIENT FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES.

strategy, in line with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels through a credible basket of measures.“

In aviation, Leaders committed to “accelerate global efforts to achieve the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)’s goal of net-zero emissions in international aviation by 2050, including making an effort for promoting and introducing sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), introducing new technologies and improving operations, also building on ICAO’s Carbon Offsetting and

Catalysed an estimated $30 Bil worth of investment

In collaboration and coordination with THK Partners and Indonesia’s financing agencies SMI SDG Indonesia One, Indonesia Investment Authority (INA), Indonesia Environment Fund (BPDLH) et al.

Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).”

4. Climate Finance: Mobilization and Accountability

Recognizing the importance of financial resources in supporting climate action, the G7 Hiroshima meeting centered discussions on climate finance. The leaders aimed to mobilize adequate financial support to assist developing nations in their climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Key developments in this area include:

• Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Adaptation Fund: The G7 reaffirmed their commitment to the GCF and the Adaptation Fund, pledging increased financial contributions. These funds play a crucial role in supporting developing countries in their climate resilience-building endeavors. Leaders “look forward to an ambitious and successful second replenishment for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and reaffirm the need for robust G7 pledges. We urge other countries to do the same and underscore the need to broaden the GCF’s contributor base by encouraging all potential contributors.”

• Innovative Financing Mechanisms:

The G7 leaders explored innovative financing mechanisms to mobilize additional resources for climate action. Ideas such as green bonds, carbon pricing, and private sector engagement were discussed to harness the power of market mechanisms and drive investment toward sustainable development. The G7 reaffirmed its “strong commitment to supporting developing countries’ just energy transitions, which will be supported by coordinated actions, including through the PGII. We welcome progress achieved on JETPs with South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam, and also continue our discussions with India and Senegal.”

“We remain committed to supporting the implementation and monitoring of the G20 Sustainable Finance Roadmap. We highlight the need for corporates to implement their netzero transitions in line with the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement based on credible corporate climate transition plans. We also highlight that transition finance, in line with keeping a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise within reach, avoiding carbon lock-ins and based on effective emissions reduction, has a significant role in advancing the decarbonization of the economy as a whole.”

• Debt Relief and Climate Resilience:

Acknowledging the vulnerability of many developing nations to climate impacts, the G7 nations committed to exploring debt relief measures that take climate resilience into account. This recognition is vital in ensuring that climate-vulnerable countries can allocate resources toward building resilience and adapting to changing climate patterns.

• Promote the evolution of the Multilateral Development Banks: The G7 encouraged “MDBs and Development Financial Institutions (DFIs) to accelerate their efforts to increase their capacity to leverage private finance, including through implementing MDB reforms. In this regard, we strongly support and encourage to expedite the ongoing

work on the evolution of the MDBs to review and transform their business models to better address transboundary challenges such as climate change, pandemics, fragility and conflict, which are integral to achieving poverty reduction and shared prosperity. This evolution should come with the most efficient use of their existing capital. “

5. Green Economy: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Growth

The G7 Hiroshima meeting recognized the imperative of transitioning to a green economy, one that fosters sustainable and inclusive growth while minimizing environmental impact. Discussions surrounding the green economy focused on the following aspects:

• Green Jobs and Just Transition: The G7 leaders emphasized the creation of green jobs as a crucial element of the transition to a sustainable economy. They acknowledged the need for a just transition that ensures workers in carbon-intensive sectors are not left behind, but rather equipped with the skills and opportunities to participate in the green economy.

• Nature-Based Solutions: The G7 countries recognized the value of nature-based solutions in addressing climate change and achieving sustainable development. They pledged to invest in initiatives that conserve and restore ecosystems, such as reforestation, afforestation, and sustainable land management. They committed to “supporting and advancing a transition to nature positive economies, including through sharing knowledge and creating information networks among the G7 such as the G7 Alliance on Nature Positive Economy.” Leaders called on “businesses to progressively reduce negative and increase positive impacts on biodiversity.”

Leaders again committed to “halting and reversing forest loss and land degradation by 2030, and are committed to conserving forests and other terrestrial ecosystems and accelerating their restoration,

supporting sustainable value and supply chains as well as promoting sustainable forest management and use of wood.”

• Circular Economy and Sustainable Consumption: The G7 nations stressed the importance of transitioning toward a circular economy, which promotes resource efficiency, waste reduction, and recycling. They aimed to promote sustainable consumption patterns by encouraging responsible production and consumption practices and minimizing the use of single-use plastics. “We commit to realizing the transformation of the economic and social system towards net-zero, circular, climate-resilient, pollutionfree and nature-positive economies and to halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030, in an integrated manner, while ensuring sustainable and inclusive economic growth and development and enhancing the resilience of our economies. Highlighting that enhancing resource efficiency and circularity along value chains reduces primary resource use and contributes to achieving our climate and other environmental goals, we encourage stakeholders and in particular businesses to strengthen their action.”

6. Conclusion

Just as at the Bali G20 meeting, the 2023 G7 Hiroshima meeting witnessed another step in the fight against climate change, as leaders of the world’s most advanced economies came together in Hiroshima. The discussions surrounding climate change, climate finance, and the green economy demonstrated a renewed commitment to ambitious targets and collaborative action. The commitments made at the meeting are expected to pave the way for a more sustainable and resilient future, setting an example for other nations to follow. However, translating these commitments into concrete actions will require continued dedication, international cooperation, and robust implementation strategies. ■

U7+ Alliance of World Universities presents peace and security agenda to G7 leader s

The world faces significant challenges to peace and security. Armed conflict or threats of conflict in many regions have resulted in violations of human rights and, for the first time in a generation, the open threat of nuclear warfare.

Within this context, more than 75 university leaders from 16 countries convened at Keio University in Japan ahead of the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima and called on G7 leaders to invest in peace and security education at all levels, incorporate the latest research into policy on peace and security, diversify the set of stakeholders involved in high-level policy discussions on peace and security, lower barriers to student exchanges that foster

cross-cultural understanding and defend academic freedom.

“The world has seen significant innovation in warfare; it is now time for innovation in peace and security,” a statement from the U7+ Alliance of World Universities reads. It calls for “comprehensive, long-term and complex understandings of the patterns and processes that lead to sustainable peace, including strong institutions, economic stability and social inclusion.”

“Education and knowledge creation are vital to building peaceful and sustainable democracies. To address the global challenges we face, we need collaboration and partnership among universities, governments, communities and industries to foster deeper

From left to right: Gwen Burrows, University of Toronto; Annelise Riles, Northwestern University; Daniel Jutras, Université de Montréal; Meric Gertler, University of Toronto; Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida; Kohei Itoh, Keio University; Motohiro Tsuchiya, Keio University and Hideko Sumita, Keio University

Copyright: Office of Communications and Public Relations, Keio University

understanding and greater trust among citizens,” said Professor Meric Gertler, President of the University of Toronto and Chair of U7+ Presidential Steering Committee.

The presidents of the U7+ universities formally committed to take action to support the G7 agenda and contribute to fostering a more peaceful and secure world through research, education and public engagement during the annual U7+ Presidential Summit at Keio University in Tokyo, Japan in March 2023. These commitments were outlined in the U7+ Tokyo Statement: Universities as Engines of Innovation for Peace and Security, which was unanimously adopted by the presidents. The statement was delivered to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday March 15 in his capacity as 2023 host to the G7.

The U7+ Presidential Summit is the annual meeting of the U7+ Alliance, the first coalition of university presidents from Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa and Australia dedicated to defining concrete, collective actions universities can take to address global challenges, in coordination with government leaders in G7 countries and beyond. The inaugural meeting of the Alliance was hosted by Sciences Po in Paris in 2019, with the support of French President Emmanuel Macron. Northwestern University serves as home to the Secretariat for the Alliance. The University of Toronto chairs the Presidential Steering Committee,

whose members also include Bocconi University, Georgetown University, Keio University, University of Ibadan, University of Mannheim, Université de Montréal and Sciences Po.

At the U7+ Alliance’s 2023 Presidential Summit themed “The Pen is Mightier than the Sword,” U7+ Alliance members committed to provide students with opportunities to learn about the causes of conflict and methods of peacebuilding, share research on issues of peace and security with policymakers and the public, provide students and scholars displaced by conflict, persecution and humanitarian crises with opportunities to teach and learn on their campuses and collaborate with G7 and United Nations bodies devoted to preventing conflict.

The U7+ commitments align with a long history of a dedication to fostering peace within academia. “The founder of Keio University, Yukichi Fukuzawa, once wrote, ‘And as our associations broaden, the closer become the bonds between us. One country cannot rashly wage war against another, for the rights of nations are guaranteed under international law,’” explained Kohei Itoh, President of Keio University. “It is the aim of universities to avoid wars and to work to create a peaceful and progressive society through diplomacy that is driven by learning and human interactions. This is the mission of Keio University. It is what unites us to the spirit of the U7+ Tokyo Statement.”

It’s time for universities around the world to step up and collaborate across national borders to invest in research and education devoted to a sophisticated understanding of the parameters and pathways of peace.

The G7 Summit concluded in May with the release of a communiqué outlining several commitments to education, some of which reflected the U7+ Alliance’s engagement with the G7 this year. For example, the U7+ Tokyo Statement requested G7 leaders’ commitment to enhancing student mobility on a global scale, and G7 leaders’ communiqué encouraged “international talent mobility and circulation among academics, students and researchers.” It also acknowledged the role of education in fostering economic growth and addressing social issues.

“It’s time for universities around the world to step up and collaborate across national borders to invest in research and education devoted to a sophisticated understanding of the parameters and pathways of peace,” said Annelise Riles, Northwestern University Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs Executive Director and Associate Provost for Global Affairs. “Crucially, this means leveraging transnational university networks to ensure that differing national perspectives and concerns are reflected in research and practice rather than taking one national perspective as universal.” ■

Singularity Battle Quest:

Competing AI/ICT Skills in a Game Format by Future Kids Contents Research Institute

In the pursuit of nurturing AI talent, the Japanese government faces an AI education workforce shortage, leading children to learn AI on their own. Recognizing this pressing concern, Mr. Yusuke Mutoh of Future Kids Contents Research Institute launched the “Singularity Battle Quest” targeting high school students back in 2019. This innovative competition has garnered attention as a comprehensive event that tests knowledge, skills, and teamwork in the realm of AI/ICT. The competition comprises five categories: AI Quest, Cyber Quest, Data Quest, Robo Quest, and X Quest, offering participants a practical learning experience through competitive challenges.

In collaboration with many corporations and organizations, including Hitachi Solutions Create, Woven by Toyota, and

Mitsubishi Memorial Foundation for Educational Excellence, the event drew support due to heightened concerns and interests in nurturing AI talent in Japan. These partners have been attracted to Mr. Mutoh’s endeavors in the IT field. “I also produce television programs, and by creating a pilot episode (Episode 0), I get to gauge viewers’ reactions. Similarly, for this competition, starting from scratch is tough, but if you have a base (Episode 1), people can evaluate it as good or bad, and some even suggest improvements.

To expand activities, it’s crucial to create prototypes and wave flags. Thanks to this, organizations, companies, and educators who share concerns and challenges about nurturing AI talent in Japan have

National High School AI Athlete Championship

Singularity Battle Quest

come together,” says Mr. Mutoh.

While the 2023 edition of the competition marks its fifth occurrence, participants have been steadily increasing year by year. Graduates from the high school competition are now participating as interns on the operational side. Notably, the competition’s content grows in complexity each year, with developers often amazed by the participants’ growing skill levels. The stimulated and strengthened athletes, driven by past experiences, participate repeatedly and their growth contributes to raising the competition’s bar. In addition, the event’s operation, supporting players extensively with online materials for district qualifiers, orientation, training, and more, helps shape the larger “AI Athlete” community, encompassing individuals with honed AI/ICT skills.

Future Kids Contents Research Institute extends its activities beyond the competition. One example is their outreach programs for AI talent development, particularly for special needs schools in Tokyo. Mr. Mutoh remarks, “AI/ICT skills are crucial, especially for students in special needs schools, where the need for these skills is high and there’s a strong affinity. We’d like participants from special needs schools to join Singularity Battle Quest and support esports club activities.” Furthermore, they are dedicated to educating not only children but also adults in the surrounding community. In March 2023, in collaboration with Red Impulse, an IT venture company from the University of Electro-Communications, they hosted the “ChatGPT Online Course for Parents and Educators.”

With future international expansion in mind, they are working on developing an AI communication robot tailored to senior citizens. Four interns will participate as a Japanese team in the “DX Cup” AI event for Mongolian students in June. This venture is the first step towards Singularity Battle Quest’s global expansion, aiming to enhance collaboration with Mongolian AI/ICT educators for the Asian edition. Mr. Mutoh envisions, “For the 2024 Asian event and the 2025 World Expo in Osaka, we will focus not only on Japan but also on international expansion. We will meet partners who share concerns about AI/ICT education worldwide, striving to support the growth of the next generation.”

The term “Singularity” in the event’s name signifies a technological turning point where AI surpasses human intelligence, heralding significant global changes. It’s a time where these children, together with themselves, will shape and navigate. As a result, the competition’s evolution continues, hand in hand with those who received inspiration and strength through battles and repeated challenges. ■

While the 2023 edition of the competition marks its fifth occurrence, participants have been steadily increasing year by year. Graduates from the high school competition are now participating as interns on the operational side.

Off-site Class for AI Robot Car Development at Special Needs High School

Homodeus Generation Modern Pentathlon Development Engineer Participated from Collaborating Companies

The Immersive

Era

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, technology has emerged as a driving force behind transformative shifts in the way we connect, experience, and consume. From virtual events and immersive shopping to the power of virtual experiences, the fabric of human connection is being rewoven, presenting a new era where boundaries are blurred, and possibilities seem infinite.

Virtual experiences have become an integral part of our lives, transcending physical limitations, and offering unprecedented opportunities for connection. Through virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), individuals can transport themselves to distant lands, explore ancient civilizations, and even simulate exciting adventures. The boundaries of time, space, and imagination are shattered, allowing people to engage with content and each other in a deeply immersive and personal way.

Virtual events, once an innovative concept, have now become the norm. From industry conferences and trade shows to concerts and art exhibitions, technology has provided a platform for people to gather and connect virtually. The digital realm knows no geographical boundaries, enabling individuals from different corners of the globe to participate simultaneously, fostering diverse perspectives and a global exchange of ideas. With virtual events, attendees can network, share knowledge, and engage with experts without leaving the comfort of their own homes.

The rise of virtual shopping has revolutionized the retail industry, offering consumers a personalized and seamless experience from the convenience of their screens. With advanced technology, shoppers can explore virtual stores, try on virtual clothing, and even visualize how products would fit into their lives. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented reality has enhanced the decision-making process, providing personalized recommendations and a more interactive shopping journey. Virtual shopping not only saves time and effort but also opens a world of

possibilities for small businesses to reach global audiences without the need for a physical storefront.

As technology continues to advance, the way people connect is becoming more immersive and interconnected. The boundaries between physical and virtual worlds are dissolving, fostering a sense of belonging in a global community.

In this era of immersive experiences and interconnectedness, technology serves as a catalyst, shaping our world and challenging traditional norms. It is up to us, as individuals and as a society, to embrace the opportunities presented by these virtual frontiers while ensuring that human connection remains at the core of this technological revolution.

A Sustainable Path to Business Growth and Collaboration

In our ever-changing world, the marriage between technology and sustainability has emerged as a powerful driver of positive change. The rise of virtual experiences, whether through virtual events or Metacommerce domains, offers an opportunity to reshape the way we conduct business while reducing our carbon footprint. This transformative shift toward a sustainable-conscious approach not only benefits the environment but also opens new avenues for growth, collaboration, and global connectivity.

Virtual events have revolutionized the way businesses connect and collaborate, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional in-person gatherings. By eliminating the need for travel, these virtual platforms significantly reduce carbon emissions associated with transportation, lowering the environmental impact of business operations. This shift towards virtual events contributes to carbon footprint reduction and enhances accessibility, allowing participation from individuals across the globe without geographical limitations. The virtual environment fosters diversity, inclusivity, and a global exchange of ideas, propelling innovation, and collaboration to new heights.

The Metacommerce domain, characterized by virtual shopping experiences, presents another dimension of sustainable business practices. →

At its core, Vosmos represents a commitment to digital transformation in the consumer space, strongly emphasizing sustainability.

→ With the advent of advanced technologies like augmented reality and virtual reality, consumers can engage in immersive shopping experiences without the need for physical stores. This eliminates the energy consumption and environmental impact associated with maintaining brick-and-mortar establishments. By adopting virtual shopping platforms, businesses can reach a wider audience, reduce resource consumption, and optimize inventory management, thereby promoting sustainability without compromising on business growth.

These sustainable-conscious approaches to business benefit the environment and resonate with the values of an increasingly eco-conscious consumer base. Customers are actively seeking brands that align with their sustainability values, and virtual experiences offer a compelling narrative of eco-friendly practices.

Businesses that embrace virtual platforms can enhance their reputation, build customer loyalty, and gain a competitive edge in an evolving market.

Powering Ahead with Vosmos: Revolutionizing Virtual Experiences

Vosmos a globally recognized and acclaimed data-driven mar-tech company headquartered in Singapore, continues to make remarkable strides. With a vision to create simplified, connected, and immersive worlds, Vosmos stands as a self-sufficient and ever-evolving solution for businesses seeking seamless communication and growth across continents.

Vosmos offers clients tailor-made technology solutions, enabling the propagation of meta-commerce and virtual events that seamlessly blend the physical and digital realms. At its core, Vosmos represents a commitment to digital transformation in the consumer space, strongly emphasizing sustainability. Whether it is saving time by providing virtual walkthroughs of real estate projects, eliminating the need for physical travel, streamlining logistics for product exchanges, or facilitating cost-effective skill acquisition, Vosmos caters to diverse needs.

The Metacommerce world of Vosmos empowers brands with the opportunity to establish a presence in a virtual

environment that facilitates seamless viewing, engagement, and transactions. Within Vosmos, brands can establish virtual stores, educational centers for knowledge scalability, enriching workfrom-home office spaces, and more. Vosmos leverages deep insights into customer behavior to enable businesses to deliver unparalleled experiences in sectors such as education, tourism, shopping, banking, and government services. Vosmos is AI-enabled and can be customized to scale and geographies. Multiple modes of payment can be integrated to suit the brand’s requirements. The look test feature, try-it-on, and the immersive buying experience from the comfort of where the customer is makes the platform a sought-after marketplace. We are creating a world that connects physical and digital economies for clients. It is a space that enables commerce and growth! Business agility, global scale, and customer-centric solutions are the focus today and reinvention has become a necessity. This is the beginning of a new journey where brands in business can address global customers from the word go. Some of the Vosmos features are:

• It transforms online interactions into real experiences.

• The metaverse virtual space is fully customizable, offering complete brand personalization.

• Brands can promote their products 24/7, reaching a global audience.

• Vosmos adopts a pay-and-use model, facilitating easy integration with payment gateways for direct-toconsumer (D2C) brands.

• Virsa, the AI-driven bot, provides invaluable assistance within the metaverse virtual reality.

The Vosmos events and Metacommerce domain are unlocking opportunities for businesses while focusing on reducing their carbon footprint. The convergence of technology and sustainability not only benefits the planet but also aligns with the evolving values and expectations of consumers. Embracing this sustainable-conscious approach is an investment that Vosmos is mindfully making as an organization. ■

The story of Brunnbäck Water

Brunnbäck is a small community with about 23,000 inhabitants located in the southeast of Avesta, a municipality in Dalarna province in Sweden. Brunnbäck is a beautiful place up on the hill with forest and the big Lake Dalälven that stretches 541 km.

In 1521, there was a historic battle between Sweden and Denmark (War of Liberation 1521-1523) where Sweden won over Denmark. This was a massive victory for Sweden and Gustav Vasa. At Brunnbäck, there is a big Stone as the symbol for the 1521 victory, and the people can go there and read this historical memory on site.

Hence the name of this historic Water from Brunnbäck and where our Water is coming from. 16th May 2023 it has been 500 years since the historic battle was in Brunnbäck Sweden , in this day 16th May the Swedish army hold a ceremony in Brunnbäck to the memories.

“ Today’s Sweden was born at Brunnbäck “ - Börje Forslund.

The Water is approved by the Swedish Livsmedelsverket, a Report issued by

Accredited Laboratory and Eurofins with a pH 7.8, and minimal with salt in the water. It is a Quality water and one of the best in Sweden.

My name is Rickard Nilsson. I’m 37 years old, and I am the CEO & Founder of Brunnbäck Sweden Natural Mineral Water AB. I was born and raised in Avesta and live 2,5 miles from

Avesta now with my family.

I founded Brunnbäck Sweden Natural Mineral Water AB on February 20th, 2022. We are growing slowly but at a good pace. We are marketing a lot and we are been seen in DAZN streaming Service with Brunnbäcks collaborations with Muay Thai For Life Gala, among many other things. My vision is to start selling this fine Water worldwide, and I will also focus on helping vulnerable people who need Water by donating at least a million litres of Water each year to them.

We need to start rethinking and doing the right thing other than profitability. The earth and we as a species must start working together and contribute to a better world on all fronts, such as storage, solar energy, and transport. Switch to Green Energy, but it must be allowed to take time and don’t make a quick decision.

After a while, we will see that the decision to take time was wise; however, we still need to move fast.So we need to take a decisive conclusion.

RICKARD NILSSON CEO & Founder Brunnbäck

Our water Factory will be 100% powered by solar energy, and our Water will be transported and distributed to our customers by electric trucks or vehicles. We are going to sell our Water in Pet and glass bottles, but we are looking for better options for bottles and labels.

We will focus very much on making everything much better for the environment. If you who read this article feel and think like me that you want to make a difference in this world, I am looking for the right investment partners to help me start to build the Factory and sell this quality water worldwide.

I plan to launch the products to the market in Q4 2025. I want to invite my future investment partner to come to Sweden and Brunnbäck, and I will show you the location and the plans. So you are most welcome if you are likeminded to me. I have had this vision/ call since 2013, and now is the right time to put Brunnbäck Sweden on the world map and help a better world. ■

World’s Islands Showcasing How Leadership is Based on Resilience, Not Economic Power

Vincent Diringer, PR & Editorial Lead, Island Innovation

Islands are pivotal to the G7 and G20. It was islands that facilitated trade, exploration, and colonization throughout the age of sail, building empires that have shaped the geopolitics and socioeconomic status quo that we experience today. The transition away from traditional shipping and the changing landscape of economic development has turned strategic island enclaves, once central to global trade networks, into remote communities dependent on tourism and import-export. These same communities have been on the frontlines of climate change for decades.

The first Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in 1992 “reconfirmed” that atolls and islands were severely threatened by sea-level rise and severe weather events. In its first set of recommendations, the IPCC called for emissions reductions and international cooperation to find a global solution. Thirty years later, the IPCC continues to advocate for the same action, while climate change’s grip extends past islands and further inland, more visibly threatening the economies of the G7.

The resilience of island communities is what ensured their ability to make the most of their surroundings, outlast the productivity of the age of sail, and push forth to develop on their own terms while tackling climate change. While the path has not always been easy, islanders continue to innovate and pursue solutions capable of building their resilience and reducing their dependence on import-export systems that tie them to a G20 still driven by their own bottom lines rather than improving the global community as a whole. What has driven centuries of adaptation in islands is community, not the economy, notes Max Harris in The New Zealand Project,

“[community-based politics] needs all of us to play a part: to roll our sleeves and to work out how we might contribute.” A sentiment that needs to be more apparent on the global stage when it comes to climate diplomacy.

Islands have faced common issues and challenges throughout history, and in the present this is no different. While we continue to move towards an era of ‘global boiling’, as described by UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres, islands have been working on building sustainable solutions and fighting at an international level for stronger climate action. It was the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) that first championed a treaty to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius in 2009, before it was adopted by global decision-makers in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Tuvalu’s long-term adaptation plans involves cutting-edge infrastructure redesign, Fiji is selling blue bonds to finance its transition while Barbados challenges the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank on global financing.

The Leading Edge

While scattered geographically, islands are using the internet to unite, organize, and share their knowledge on common issues. There are thought to be over 16,000 permanently inhabited islands spread around the world, many of them in Small Island Developing States (SIDS), and 44 territories with a combined population of over 730 million. Nearly 10% of the global population lives on islands, all of which are on the forefront of climate change, yet they are underrepresented on the global stage and in critical policy discussions. The innovation and potential within these communities is immense, and interdisciplinary collaboration between them can ensure a free flow of information on climate adaptation, sustainable economic growth, smart agriculture, marine conservation and renewable energy opportunities - just to name a few.

The resilience of island communities is what ensured their ability to make the most of their surroundings, outlast the productivity of the age of sail, and push forth to develop on their own terms while tackling climate change.

Island Innovation is one of the organizations providing a platform for island entrepreneurs, academics, and diplomats to connect and create a network of purposeled changemakers. “Island communities are resilient by nature and are a hotbed for innovation,” Island Innovation CEO James Ellsmoor explains, “I was researching how the territory of Tokelau transitioned to renewable energy when I started to realize that the developments happening on this chain of islands in the Pacific could benefit island communities in the Caribbean, the South Atlantic, the Indian Ocean… so why aren’t they? I created Island Innovation first and foremost as a knowledge platform to share information on projects developed on islands that have the potential to be used elsewhere. It’s been over five years, and we are now a specialized consultancy organization with a team of almost

20 full time staff working with all levels of island stakeholders on the next steps in sustainable governance. The demand for workable solutions for islands has been huge and is still growing. It is matched only by a continuous supply of new projects.”

The organization’s first and foremost mission is to create long-lasting collaboration between island communities, something it achieves through its consultancy services but also a suite of yearly virtual events catered to the latest in sustainable island development. Here too, demand has continued to grow, with some of Island Innovation’s events routinely drawing over 10,000 attendees from around the world keen to hear island voices and solutions.

“I congratulate Island Innovation for this important activity, this conference is happening at an important time for us all,” Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley expressed during the organization’s flagship Virtual Island Summit in 2022, “The ability for leaders and experts of island nations to come together on the basis of our shared experiences during this climate crisis, is a moment that is of great importance not just to us who live in island nations, but indeed to the entire world. I truly believe we can, and must use this summit to advance the development of our global island community.”

What is becoming clearer as island stakeholders convene, is that the advancements they are pioneering have the capacity to have an outsized positive impact for the global community as a whole.

Models of Resilience

Despite not being a part of global conversations, islands are leading the charge in terms of innovation and pathways to climate action and sustainable development. To name a few examples: a Bahamian marine conservation project was an inaugural Earthshot Prize winner; the Seychelles are set to become one of the first nations to map its blue carbon stocks; and the United Nations’ recent appointment to its high-profile climate bureau is a Grenadian diplomat.

However, the power of island communities lies in the power of collaboration.

Caribbean nations are looking to collaborate to implement a green hydrogen export market, maximizing their renewable resources and meeting decarbonization goals. →

→ Meanwhile, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is showing signs of acquiescing to pressure from a group of Pacific island nations to meet more ambitious decarbonization goals.

Vanuatu became the first country to advocate for an international law on ecocide, as well as a treaty phasing out fossil fuels, while also making early advances in an international case to sue high-emitting countries for climate change. The latter echoes similar legal cases being brought domestically by inhabitants of Bonaire and the Torres Strait against the Netherlands and Australia, respectively. Back-to-back-toback international summits on biodiversity conservation, high seas policy, and plastic pollution saw island nations jointly shifting their weight to achieve better outcomes for their citizens and the planet.

The world’s major economies are not blind to the potential that islands hold, after all they are developing their own island territories in similar ways. From renewable energy systems being pioneered on Orkney (Scotland) and Samsø (Denmark), to blue economy policies in Niue (New Zealand) and Tahiti (France), or even smart agriculture on Prince Edward Island (Canada) - economic powerhouses are aware of the challenges, opportunities and solutions that can help island communities. So why not work with other countries on developing socio-economic policies that benefit the global community as one, rather than individual bottom lines?

What is becoming clearer as island stakeholders convene, is that the advancements they are pioneering have the capacity to have an outsized positive impact for the global community as a whole.

Blueprints for Innovation

“The world as we know it is in real danger of becoming ‘the world as we knew it’,” Prime Minister Mottley noted during the Virtual Island Summit 2022, “These issues while daunting are known, but what is equally known is that we do not face them alone, for we face them together as a community. As islanders, we know that to live is to share, to be creative, to be resourceful, that is our life. That is why I am certain that we can and will apply these very same qualities that we as islanders share and during this Virtual Island Summit find solutions to issues that we all face.”

Islanders have survived through millenia thanks to their resilience, a renewable resource in its own right, which built the empires that eventually became the G20. As such, we are all linked to the 11,000 islands scattered across our oceans, and

we should learn to listen to these communities at the edge of the world on the frontlines of climate change. This is one of the driving principles behind Island Innovation, “On islands everything is linked and can have a wider application,” points out Ellsmoor, “You can’t talk about energy on an island without thinking about tourism, waste management, transportation, conservation… Our approach is always to make sure we have in the room the private sector, research and academia and civil society.”

Within a climate change-fraught environment, Island Innovation’s seeds are bearing fruit. The company has provided consultancy services to governments, NGOs, and private sector businesses to promote sustainable development across the world’s islands, as well as launched community programs such as the Academic Council, bringing together over 20 renowned academic institutions based on islands to share knowledge and make research insights more accessible and its Caribbean Climate Justice Leaders Academy which is currently training 35 Caribbean youth on climate change policies, after which they will have the opportunity to partake at the 2023 UN climate conference, COP28, in Dubai. There has been a hunger among the world’s islands to work together for sustainable solutions, and where it has not been satiated they have found their own alternatives. Their resilience is something the G20 and the world at large can and should learn from. ■

Your Unseen Advantage: How To Amplify Your Message With AI

In a dim, cozy corner of a bustling coffee shop, a young vice president named Jenna gingerly flipped open her laptop. She was driven, not just by the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee, but by a dream. Jenna envisioned a world where her brand’s story reached every nook and cranny, creating ripples of impact. Just when she was wondering how to amplify her message, a whisper of a revolutionary tool reached her ears - ePubAI.

Jenna wasn’t just any vice president. She was a seeker, always on the lookout for novel tools to push her brand forward. The world of business is like an ever-expanding universe. Every now and then, a shining star bursts onto the scene, illuminating new paths and opportunities. For Jenna, ePubAI was that shimmering beacon.

Now, let’s imagine you’re Jenna for a moment. You’ve got a mission, a message, an advocacy that you hold close to your heart. Like a powerful melody, it’s itching to break free, to reach millions and create lasting change. But how do you ensure that your message doesn’t just become another whisper in the cacophony?

Enter ePubAI.

Imagine a world where the combined wisdom of human creativity and cutting -edge AI crafts books that resonate with your audience. Books that are not just a collection of pages, but a dynamic entity. They evolve, they learn, and they speak directly to the heart of your audience.

In the past, the journey from thought to published book was a long and winding road, often fraught with obstacles. Traditional publishing, with its gatekeepers and lengthy processes, often diluted the potency of the original message. But with ePubAI, you become the master of your narrative.

The heart of ePubAI lies in its name – AI. This isn’t just about publishing. It’s about harnessing the unparalleled

THE HEART OF EPUBAI LIES IN ITS NAME – AI. THIS ISN’T JUST ABOUT PUBLISHING. IT’S ABOUT HARNESSING THE UNPARALLELED POWER OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO WEAVE STORIES THAT ARE DEEPLY PERSONAL YET UNIVERSALLY RELEVANT.

power of artificial intelligence to weave stories that are deeply personal yet universally relevant. Imagine a book that molds itself to the reader, offering insights and solutions tailored just for them. This isn’t fantasy; with ePubAI, it’s reality.

For businesses, this opens a realm of possibilities. A book crafted with the precision of AI can be your most powerful ally. It’s not just about promoting your brand. It’s about crafting a legacy. It’s about embedding your message into the very fabric of society.

Jenna felt a surge of excitement. The prospects were dazzling. With ePubAI, she wouldn’t just be another vice president with a dream. She’d be a trailblazer, setting new standards in how businesses communicate their core message.

But Jenna had one lingering question: “Is ePubAI the right fit for my business?”

As if in answer, a gentle nudge from the universe pointed her towards a unique opportunity – a free quiz titled, “How to Know Whether an AI Book Makes Sense for Your Company.”

You see, ePubAI isn’t just a tool; it’s a movement. It seeks to empower executives by giving them the clarity they need. And this quiz at epub.ai? It’s the key to unlock that clarity. Every journey begins with a single step. For Jenna, and perhaps for you, that step is simple: Take the quiz at ePub.ai. Discover if the world of AIdriven publishing aligns with your brand’s ethos. Understand if this tool can be the amplifier for your advocacy message.

Remember, a book is not just bound pages. It’s a world unto itself. With ePubAI, you’re not just creating a book; you’re crafting an experience. An experience that resonates, influences, and, most importantly, leaves a lasting impact.

So, here’s your golden ticket. A chance to redefine your brand’s narrative. A chance to join the ePubAI revolution. ■

ACTION STEP:

Visualize your brand’s story being read by millions, creating change with each word. Now, take that first step towards turning this visualization into reality. Dive into the “How to Know Whether an AI Book Makes Sense for Your Company” quiz at https://epub.ai. Picture the satisfaction of knowing you’ve found the perfect tool to amplify your message. For instance, imagine your company’s innovative eco-friendly product being highlighted in every bookstore, every e-reader, transforming the way your target audience views your initiatives.

Taking steps towards Net Zero at AkzoNobel

approach, which lies at the heart of everything we do, we’ve identified three key global topics – climate change, circularity, health and wellbeing as guideposts for our efforts.

We recognize that no one can solve this challenge alone. Collaborating with customers, suppliers, academia and other stakeholders is fundamental to what we want to achieve. It’s about pushing boundaries and finding

with the Paris Agreement – which aims to limit climate change and ensure the global temperature doesn’t rise more than 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels – and are approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

For our own operations, we’re moving to renewable electricity and reducing our overall energy consumption. Across our value chain, we engage with our suppliers and develop sustainable

• Scope 3 downstream: the application and curing of our coatings accounts for 30% of our total carbon footprint, mainly due to coatings cured at elevated temperatures. VOC emissions make up 11% of our total footprint. We added this category to our SBTi commitment as VOCs are an important emission factor for the paints and coatings industry.

Scope 3 downstream: end-of-life emissions relate to the carbon in our products which is released at the end of their lifecycle, accounting for 11% of carbon emissions.

To achieve our target of reducing our carbon footprint in our own operations by 50% (Scope 1 and 2), we’re working on two enablers: increasing the percentage of renewable electricity to 100% and reducing the energy we consume by 30% by 2030 (versus 2018).

From an absolute reduction perspective, our combined Scope 1 and 2 reduced by 28% versus our 2018 baseline (absolute). Compared with 2021, we further reduced carbon emissions by 12% in 2022 (absolute). We’re well on track towards our 50% reduction target for 2030. From a relative perspective, our at since 2018, while our Scope 2 emissions reduced by 32%.

Part of reducing our carbon emissions from our own operations (Scope 1 and 2) is reducing the amount of energy we consume. We’re committed to reducing our relative energy consumption by 30% by 2030 (baseline 2018) and plan to do so through an ambitious 5% relative year-over-year reduction objective. For 2022, our absolute energy consumption reduced 7% versus 2021, while our relative energy consumption was 1% up compared with 2021, and reduced by 1% versus 2018.

We track the cumulative energy reduction impact of improvement projects such as shutdown management and LED installation. This helps us better understand our performance and adjust our strategy as we continue in a cycle of continuous improvement. Despite the programs in place, achieving the 5% relative reduction target has been challenging, partly due to changes in our product and portfolio mix. For example, changes in our product portfolio mix include increased demand for products that take a higher energy intensity to produce.

The current macro-economic environment has also impacted our volumes and therefore our relative energy consumption. In addition, the

WE’RE AWARE THAT CLIMATE CHANGE COULD AFFECT OUR OPERATIONS, OUR SUPPLY CHAIN AND OUR CUSTOMERS. SO, IN 2017, WE COMMITTED TO BECOMING A CARBON-NEUTRAL COMPANY BY 2050.

VOC emission abatement systems and solvent recovery units we’re installing to reduce VOC emissions and waste are relatively energy intensive.

While an overall relative energy consumption reduction of 5% was not achieved, we’ve implemented many energy reduction initiatives. For example, our Hull site in the UK installed CEMA lighting, which reduced the lighting system’s carbon emissions by 70%.

And in France, a renewal of Montataire’s compressor room and a warehouse LED project have reduced annual electricity consumption by more than 1.8 GWh. We’re continuing to investigate targeted investment for energy reduction programs, refine our energy monitoring management and implement a renewed governance structure.

Renewable energy

Our total percentage of renewable electricity was 50% in 2022, well on track towards our target of 100% by 2030 and already achieving our 2025 interim target of 50%.

During 2022, we continued to install solar panels at several sites and purchase renewable electricity with certificates of origin. Generating renewable electricity on site alleviates pressure on the electricity grid and further reduces our carbon footprint. In total, 53 of our locations now use 100% renewable electricity and 26 sites are using solar panels as a supplementary source of energy.

Our Izmir powder coatings facility in Türkiye completed a major solar energy project in 2022, with more than 2,300 panels installed. Similarly, our Songjiang decorative paints facility installed over 5,000 solar panels during 2022.

Example: Solar Projects in Thailand & Malaysia in 2021

Three rooftop solar PV systems at AkzoNobel sites in Malaysia and Thailand have been commissioned by Cleantech Solar under long-term agreements where Cleantech Solar has funded, built, and will operate and maintain the systems throughout the term of the agreement.

Two of the sites are located in Chon Buri and Samut Sakhon, Thailand and the third site is located in Nilai, Malaysia. The combined 1.6 MW solar power plants saw 7818 panels installed across the industrial coatings sites and are targeted to avoid about 28,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions across the term of the agreement. The solar power plants has helped AkzoNobel progress towards its target in sourcing 100% renewable electricity by 2030 as part of its RE100 commitment.

Volatile organic compounds

The production of solvent-based paints and coatings causes emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These emissions are included in our cradle-to-grave carbon footprint. In our own operations, we achieved a relative 7% reduction versus 2021 in VOC emissions per ton of product, and a total reduction of 45% versus the 2018 baseline.

We’re reducing VOC emissions in two distinct ways. Firstly, we implement abatement technologies such as thermal oxidizers or activated carbon →

→ filters. Secondly, we optimize our footprint by concentrating solventbased production in more efficient or automated factories to altogether eliminate emissions. In addition, we’re also actively working on transitioning from solvent-based to water-based solutions where possible.

Example: Increased capacity for sustainable solutions

We’ve invested in a new production line for water-based texture paints at our Songjiang site in Shanghai, China –boosting capacity for supplying more sustainable products. The site is one of four water-based decorative paints plants in China and among our largest globally. The new 2,500 square meter facility will produce Dulux products for various markets, such as interior decoration, architecture and leisure.

Recent projects include introducing new solar energy systems and a more automated high-speed filling line.

“As our largest single country market, China has huge potential,” explains Mark Kwok, Director of Decorative Paints North Asia. “The new production line will help enhance our leading position in paints and coatings in China by expanding new markets and further driving us towards our strategic

ambitions.” China is increasingly focusing on energy conservation and emission reduction, which in turn is being reflected in the type of products customers want to buy. The production of low VOC, water-based paints will therefore need to keep expanding to meet this demand.

2022 Sustainable product solutions to address climate change Energy efficiency: new low-curing powder coatings in the agriculture, construction and equipment market segment help our customers reduce energy consumption.

Reduced solvent emissions: we continued switching wood care and trim paints to water-based technology, which is making up more than half of our volume in Decorative Paints EMEA in 2022.

Circular solutions: we scaled up the use of bio-based renewable raw materials in our wood finishes for the furniture market.

Circularity: For AkzoNobel, the circular economy goes beyond recycling. It all starts with limiting the need to recycle. Therefore, we focus on zero waste, finding alternative sources for our raw

materials and repurposing and reclaiming materials. This commitment goes beyond our own operations. It’s a responsibility which stretches across the value chain. We work closely together with suppliers and customers, because collaborative innovation will play a crucial role in helping us to achieve our ambitions.

Paints and coatings make a vital contribution to extending the lifespan of substrates, which effectively means that circularity is built into the benefits they offer. Our products can make objects last longer, reducing the need for additional raw materials and resources, while also improving our customers’ productivity and reducing waste. Just think about how long buildings or cars would last without being coated.

Waste and Water Management: We’re on a journey towards achieving 100% circular use of materials in our own operations by 2030. To get there, we’re focused on reducing the amount of waste and increasing the circular use of materials. In 2022, we achieved circular use of materials for 56% of our obsolete material and waste streams. In line with our strategy of reducing, reusing and recycling materials, our material optimization process focuses on

Solar Projects in Thailand & Malaysia in 2021

MATERIAL FLOW IN KILOTONS

The amount of materials reused by AkzoNobel and third parties (reusable waste and by-products) divided by the total waste and by-products, provides the percentage of circular use of materials

diverting slow-moving and obsolete materials from incineration to internal reuse and third-party recyclers and outlets.

Over the last few years, we have managed to reduce our relative and absolute waste generation. While the disposal of slow-moving obsolete stock and legacy waste remains a continuous challenge, numerous waste reduction projects help to achieve the observed reduction. We’re driving various global programs, such as wash water recycling, solvent recovery units, and finding ways to avoid sending waste to landfill avoidance to further reduce our waste.

The bulk of our water use is for cooling (78% in 2022). This occurs at only a handful of our production locations in areas with a low water availability risk (assessed through the

Aqueduct tool). Water is also used as a raw material in paints and for cleaning. We concentrate our water consumption reduction efforts at our water intensive sites – which we define as a site that uses more than 15,000m3 per year, excluding cooling water. These sites are expected to meet our target of less than 250 liters of relative fresh water consumption per ton of product. As per our internal, best-in-class benchmark analysis, a site that consumes less than 250 liters per ton of product produced is considered to have “water reuse” measures in place. Currently 34% of our sites (42) meet the definition of a water intensive site, representing 76% of our total freshwater consumption. In 2022, 14 out of the 42 water intensive sites reached the target.

Recycled content in packaging

In 2022, we delivered towards our ambition to use at least 50% recycled content in the plastic packaging used by our Decorative Paints Europe business by 2025. Through collaboration with our packaging suppliers, we’ve been able to achieve up to 70% recycled content in our key packs without increasing the packaging weight or reducing its performance. In 2022, we updated most packs in the UK – our largest European market – and have further worked towards the roll-out in mainland Europe. Currently, almost one third of plastic packaging contains recycled content. We expect that to grow to more than two thirds of products in 2023, with the remainder to be changed in 2024.

Example: Paint the Future accelerates sustainable startup solutions

Three startups have signed letters of intent to continue working with us on sustainable business opportunities following our latest global Paint the Future challenge. The accelerator event was held in March, with the 2022 edition attracting a total of 245 submissions from 62 countries. The three winning startups were SolCold from Israel, Aerones from Latvia and the Czech Republic’s SprayVision.

SolCold’s solution is a sustainable, self-cooling coating based on antiStokes. It uses the sun’s energy to keep the inside temperature much cooler, without having to use any electricity.

Aerones brings a robotic solution to wind turbine maintenance. Their crawling robot allows technicians to safely and efficiently perform inspections, cleaning and repairs at height.

SprayVision’s solution brings a datadriven approach to optimizing spray application of paint, offering customers full control over the process. It helps to reduce environmental impact by saving material and improving quality.

Health and Well-being:

The health and well-being of our employees, customers, end-users →

Factory

WATER

→ and other stakeholders in the communities where we operate is very important to us.

2022 sustainable solutions for health and well-being: Customers and end-users benefited from several sustainable solutions launched in 2022, designed with safety, health and well-being in mind.

Reduce harmful substances: launched new food packaging coatings that are free from BPA, including Aqualure G1 50.

Anti-bacterial benefits: a new all-inone decorative paint rolled out in North and South Asia offering anti-bacterial protection due to its silver ion technology.

Safer handling: launched a new exterior wood finishes primer for high moisture resistant MDF, which is safer for users as it contains fewer substances of concern.

ESG rating agencies and benchmarks

As we work towards our ambitious targets, we benchmark ourselves versus peers and industry. We annually review

About Akzonobel

the benchmarks we actively participate in, taking into account stakeholder preference, such as investors, suppliers and customers. We prioritize active participation in those benchmarks that help to drive continuous improvement and rely mostly on publicly available information. We’re proud that we’ve remained at the forefront of the paints and coatings industry throughout 2022, based on these ESG rating agencies and benchmarks.

• EcoVadis: We were awarded a Platinum rating in the latest review, positioning us in the top 1% of our industry.

• FTSE4Good: We were included in the latest FTSE4Good Index Series – that makes more than 15 years we’ve been included in this influential ranking.

• MSCI: We’ve received the highest possible rating (AAA) for seven consecutive years.

• Sustainalytics: We’re assessed as “low risk” and ESG top rated in our industry.

We reiterate that these ambitious goals cannot be achieved alone and invite like-minded partners and customers to join us on this journey. ■

We supply the sustainable and innovative paints and coatings that our customers, communities –and the environment – are increasingly relying on. That’s why everything we do starts with People. Planet. Paint. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We are active in more than 150 countries and have set our sights on becoming the global industry leader. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering paints company that’s committed to science-based targets and is taking genuine action to address globally relevant challenges and protect future generations.

For more information, please visit www.akzonobel.com

About the Author

Pamela Phua has been General Director of AkzoNobel Decorative Paints Vietnam since 2017. At the beginning of 2021, she was appointed to be Product Management Director, Decorative Paints - SESA, being instrumental in developing and maintaining a product portfolio that satisfies market demands and maximizes margins at competitive costs.

Before moving to head Vietnam Paints business, Pamela was the BU R&D Director & Global Director, Exterior Walls. In her 18 years stint in R&D, she has driven the business with new technology development and product implementation across the region, especially in Vietnam market and has successfully launched many innovative products including Dulux Weathershield / Powerflexx, Dulux Pentalite, Dulux Wash & Wear / EasyClean, Dulux Inspire/ Catylac by Dulux and Aquatech.

In her global capacity, Pamela implements the functional and production innovation strategy for exterior wall paint. She spearheads the RD&I functional excellence, standards and capability, and the efficient delivery of processes as the approved standards and processes across the globe.

Together with a special passion for sustainable development, she has led her teams to innovate paintings products and solutions through increasingly sustainable benefits for AkzoNobel customers and the environment. She also actively gets involved in sustainable activities in projects to create inspiring living spaces for local communities and to promote green architecture trends.

Pamela’s expertise and experience has been instrumental in the setting up of industry standards in Singapore. She is the President and Technical Chairperson for the Singapore Paint Industry Association and a management member in the Chemical Standards Council of Singapore. She contributed to the development of various Singapore Standards such as SS 345 (Specification for emulsion paints for decorative paints), SS500 (Specification for elastomeric wall coatings), SS150 (Specification for Emulsion Paints for Decorative purposes), SS 579 (Specification for water- based sealer for interior and exterior uses) and many others. Pamela currently leads Working Group for Fine Ceramics (for photocatalysis) and Waterbased Standards and participates in the Working Group for Energy Efficient Coatings. She is also an A*Star certified auditor for accredited laboratories in Singapore.

With a special passion for sustainable development, Pamela is actively involved in projects to create inspiring living spaces for local communities and to promote green architecture trends. She is an author for the G7&G20 summit publication advocating green developments. She is also a keynote speaker in United Nation climate Change Conferences.

Email: Pamela.phua@akzonobel.com Mobile: +65 90279663

Address: AkzoNobel House, 3 Changi Business Park Vista, #05-01 SDingapore 486051

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