Solving the world’s other emergency

Global vaccine inequality can – and must – be tackled as world leaders meet for the G20 summit

As we look ahead to COP26, it is no surprise that little coverage has been given to what would ordinarily be a major event grabbing the headlines this weekend.

Today and tomorrow sees the G20 summit, the first in-person version for two years, and it could barely be held at a more critical time.

Climate will of course dominate in Rome and to a certain extent the talks will set the tone for Glasgow, but vaccine inequality is an issue which many are hoping to see real progress on.

Fresh calls have been made today to tackle structural problems that campaigners say have so far been ignored, allowing Covid-19 doses to be “hoarded” by rich nations.

The People’s Vaccine Alliance, a coalition of more than 75 organisations including Oxfam, Amnesty International, the African Alliance, UNAIDS, and Global Justice Now, want the G20 leaders to unblock global supply shortages by waiving intellectual property and sharing technology of vaccines, diagnostics and treatments.

Former UK prime minister Gordon Brown has already called on western leaders to “make a decision” to provide the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people with Covid vaccines.

The coronavirus pandemic is a global issue, and requires a global solution.

That is not just because it is the right thing to do, but because it has to happen for our own security.

“Nobody’s really safe until everyone’s vaccinated everywhere,” Brown said.

“The disease is spreading in the poorer countries, it’s going to mutate, we’re going to have new variants like Delta, they’re going to come back to haunt even the fully vaccinated here.

“It’s in all our interests to get the vaccines all around the world to everyone.”

In short, we have the vaccines, we just need to get them out.

As the world faces demands to act on the climate emergency over the next two weeks, this other global crisis requires immediate attention.

The good news is that the solution in this case is relatively straightforward.

Saving the world really is a joint effort – and it can begin this weekend in Rome.