Does the G8 keep its word?
Since 1975, leaders of the world’s most powerful nations have gathered to hash out global problems. While G7/G8 meetings end with calls to action, follow through is questioned. On the eve of G7 this weekend, the National Post’s Victor Ferreira examines su
2005 — GLENEAGLES HOTEL, U.K.
The Summit: The 31st G8 summit was overshadowed when suicide bombers killed 52 people in the London Underground and on a bus. Former U.S. president George W. Bush also made headlines when he lost control of his bicycle and struck a British police officer.
The Vow: Leaders agreed to cancel the debt of heavily indebted African nations and provide $50 billion in global aid — $25 billion of which would go to Africa — by 2010.
The Legacy: Widely considered one of the most successful G8 meetings in history because of the pledges made, by 2011 the Guardian reported that only $11 billion of the promised $25 billion had been delivered to Africa.
2006 — CONSTANTINE PALACE, SAINT-PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
The Summit: Russian President Vladimir Putin put the focus on global energy security, but the Israel-Lebanon conflict that broke out during the second day of meetings stole the show.
The Vow: Members agreed to enhance global energy security by increasing investment in energy and boosting transparency, predictability and stability of global energy markets.
The Legacy: Not much was accomplished at this summit, and “energy security” has faded as a buzz issue.
2007 — HEILIGENDAMM, GERMANY
The Summit: French President Nicolas Sarkozy was the talk of the 33rd G8 summit when he appeared to be drunk at a news conference after a “long meeting” with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Sarkozy said he was simply short of breath.
The Vow: The summit focused on global warming as member nations agreed, in a non-binding communiqué, to halve carbon dioxide emissions by 2050.
The Legacy: The long horizon means its too early to tell anything.
2008 — HOKKAIDO, JAPAN
The Summit: The 34th G8 summit was known for being the first to bring five major emerging economies — Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa — to the table.
The Vow: Leaders set a fiveyear deadline on providing $60 billion to help combat disease in Africa and again promised to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The Legacy: Leaders simply used the occasion to reaffirm past promises and attempt to get back on track with broken ones.
2009 — L’AQUILA, ITALY
The Summit: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi moved the summit from La Maddalena to show support for the earthquake stricken region of L’Aquila.
The Vow: Leaders agreed to mobilize $20 billion over three years through the L’Aquila Food Security Initiative to support rural development in poor countries.
The Legacy: By 2012, only 56 per cent of that money pledged in the L’Aquila Food Security Initiative had been distributed.
2010 — HUNTSVILLE, ONT.
The Summit: Because of the subsequent G20 conference in Toronto, this meeting was considered a preliminary meeting.
The Vow: The Muskoka Initiative for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health committed $5 billion between 2010 and 2015 to reducing maternal, infant and child mortality.
The Legacy: By 2015, Canada had distributed 100 per cent of its promised $2.85 billion share of the Muskoka Initiative. In 2014, it announced another $3.5 billion, in a renewed effort, to be distributed by 2020.
2011 — DEAUVILLE, FRANCE
The Summit: Tunisia and the League of Arab States were invited to attend as the summit focused on helping Arab Spring countries.
The Vow: Through the Deauville Partnership, G8 members pledged $20 billion in support if Arab countries continued their transformations into “democratic and tolerant societies.”
The Legacy: While the G8 has not shied away from offering support to Arab Spring countries, the legacy of the revolution is still uncertain. History may ask if the G8 did enough.
2012 — CAMP DAVID
The Summit: The European debt crisis and the fate of Greece were top of the agenda.
The Vow: U.S. President Barack Obama promised to tackle the crisis with programs that balanced growth with debt reduction.
The Legacy: Global growth has been slow at best and the world is still awash in debt. On the plus side, Greece is still part of the EU.
2013 — LOUGH ERNE, NORTHERN IRELAND
The Summit: British Prime Minister David Cameron chose the location as a way to showing that normality had returned to Northern Ireland after years of conflict.
The Vow: The G8 worked to address tax evasion by share information and to restrict companies from shifting profits across borders to avoid paying taxes. Leaders also agreed to work together to “rid Syria of terrorists and extremists.”
The Legacy: The U.S. has cracked down on tax evasion but at last check, Syria was still teeming with terrorists and extremists.
2014 — BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
The Summit: G8 leaders were originally supposed to meet in Sochi, Russia, but decided to change the venue — and downgrade the meet to a G7 — after Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
The Vow: The group called on Russia to recognize Ukraine’s election results, withdraw weapons and militants, and push for peace.
The Legacy: Sanctions have been implemented on Russia, but, despite a cease-fire agreement, Putin has had his way in Eastern Ukraine.