The G7 on Monday offered a helping hand to India, South Africa, Argentina, Senegal and Indonesia in turning their economies green, as western powers try to position themselves as a force for good amid spiralling global crises.
The leaders of the five guest countries flew to the summit in Germany with the G7 hosts hoping to bring them into the fold on issues including energy, food and the international security order.
In a joint declaration, the 12 countries and the European Union said they would work together to speed up the race to climate neutrality, while ensuring energy security at a time of soaring prices.
The specifics could include partnerships with India, Senegal and Indonesia and to clean up their energy sectors, modelled on an arrangement with South Africa that includes a promise of $8.5 billion of western aid.
The G7 and partners said they would push for “decent green jobs” and put a particular focus on “delivering socio-economic benefits and development opportunities” for the five emerging economies.
“Phasing down unabated coal and scaling up clean and renewable energies needs to be environmentally and socially just,” adopting India’s favoured but controversial wording of phasing down rather than out.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the summit to tout his country’s efforts on clean energy and green growth after sharing laughs and handshakes with leaders including US President Joe Biden.
Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo, who will host a G20 summit in November, joined Mr Modi on a military helicopter to the G7 meeting, from where he will continue to Ukraine and Russia to meet leaders on both sides of the war.
The circle was widened further by international organisations such as the UN and the World Health Organisation, with climate policies only one part of the G7’s push to work with less established allies.
Western officials insist they do not want to return to the rival blocs of the Cold War, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying on Monday that this would be falling into a Russian trap.
However, they have made no secret of wanting to counter China’s growing influence and prevent Russia from forging new alliances to escape isolation.
"As democracies, we look at the world similarly. And is good, important and necessary that we talk to each other,” said Mr Scholz, who acknowledged that the larger group was not unanimous on the war in Ukraine.
The guests arrived for talks after Mr Biden and other G7 leaders promised a major investment push in developing countries in a thinly-veiled riposte to China’s multi-trillion dollar Belt and Road initiative.
Mr Biden said the US would organise $200 billion in public and private funding over the next five years towards the so-called Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment.
The five guests are seen by western officials as democracies uncommitted in the battle for influence, with Beijing only last week making overtures to India and South Africa at a summit with Russia.
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Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, France's President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi chat before their meeting at Elmau Castle on Tuesday morning. Getty Images -
Olaf Scholz speaks at a press conference at Elmau Castle. EPA -
Joe Biden waves as he crosses the tarmac next to Air Force One at Munich International Airport. The US president is leaving Germany on his way to Spain to attend a Nato summit. AP -
Boris Johnson speaks to press at the G7 summit. PA -
Emmanuel Macron holds a press conference at Elmau Castle. AFP -
Vans equipped with electronic detection devices are stationed in front of Elmau Castle, where the G7 summit is taking place. AFP -
Boris Johnson makes a point during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida. PA -
Clockwise from centre: Olaf Scholz; Joe Biden; Boris Johnson; Fumio Kishida; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel; Mario Draghi; Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Emmanuel Macron listen to an online address by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 summit in Bavaria. Reuters -
Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a working session of G7 leaders via video link from Kyiv, Ukraine. Reuters -
Olaf Scholz waves alongside G7 leaders and participants of the outreach programme as they pose for a 'family photo' at the Bavarian resort of Schloss Elmau. Reuters -
Emmanuel Macron greets India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the official welcome ceremony of G7 leaders. AP -
G7 leaders meet outreach guests at the summit. Reuters -
Boris Johnson speaks to Charles Michel. PA -
Amelie Derbaudrenghien, Britta Ernst, Carrie Johnson and Brigitte Macron at Elmauer Alm Mountain Restaurant. Reuters -
G7 leaders Olaf Scholz and Justin Trudeau talk a walk at Elmau Castle in Bavaria. EPA -
European Council President Charles Michel greets Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the G7 summit at Castle Elmau in Bavaria. AP -
Horseback police patrol at Elmau Castle in Bavaria. EPA -
G7 leaders have dinner at Elmau Castle in Kruen, Germany. Clockwise from front left, European Council President Charles Michel, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. AP -
From left, Mr Draghi, Ms von der Leyen, Mr Biden, Mr Scholz, Mr Johnson, Mr Trudeau, Mr Kishida, Mr Macron and Mr Michel. AFP -
Flowers for President Alberto Fernandez of Argentina at Munich Airport as he arrives to take part in the G7 summit in Bavaria. AFP -
Elmau Castle in southern Germany, the venue for the G7 summit. AFP -
The view from a German armed forces helicopter on its way to the G7 summit at Elmau Castle. AFP -
Gazing out from the helicopter. AFP -
In Berlin, campaigners sit near a sign reading 'G7: Who owes who?' at the Ministry of Finance building to demand debt relief for countries of the global south. Reuters -
From left, Mr Michel, Mr Draghi, Mr Trudeau, Mr Macron, Mr Scholz, Mr Biden, Mr Johnson, Mr Kishida and Ms von der Leyen at the summit at Elmau Castle. EPA -
Mr Draghi talks with Mr Biden. EPA -
Mr Scholz shakes hands with Mr Kishida. EPA -
Mr Johnson, Mr Scholz and Mr Biden. AFP -
A worker cleans the red carpet at Elmau Castle in the Bavarian mountains. AFP -
Mr Kishida leads the Japanese delegation. AFP -
The G7 logo at Elmau Castle. AFP -
Mr Biden and Mr Macron. AP -
The leaders at a photocall. Reuters -
Mr Biden walks with Ms von der Leyen and Mr Michel. Reuters -
Former German alpine ski racer Christian Neureuther, British Prime Minister's wife Carrie Johnson, former German biathlete Miriam Neureuther, French President's wife Brigitte Macron, German Chancellor's wife Britta Ernst and European Council President's wife Amelie Derbaudrenghien take part in a Nordic Walk as part of the spouses' programme. Reuters -
Mr Macron, Mr Biden, Ms von der Leyen and Mr Trudeau. AP -
Mr Draghi, Mr Trudeau, Mr Michel, Mr Scholz and Mr Johnson. AFP -
Ms von der Leyen chats with Mr Trudeau. AFP -
Mr Biden is welcomed by Mr Scholz and his wife Britta Ernst. AP -
The leaders get down to business. AP -
Mr Scholz and Ms Ernst welcome the Macrons. Reuters -
Mr Macron, Mr Biden and Ms von der Leyen. AP -
Mr Scholz greets Mr and Mrs Johnson. PA -
Mr Scholz and Ms Ernst welcome Ms von der Leyen to Elmau Castle. AFP -
Mr Johnson meets Mr Trudeau. PA -
A helicopter flies over the G7 venue. AP Photo
Mr Biden spoke of the US and its allies “offering better options”, without naming China as the alternative, by “using the global best practices” such as labour and environmental standards.
Mr Scholz said it was “time to show our offer to the world”, after G7 leaders agreed the principle of an infrastructure push at last year’s summit in Britain.
Diplomats have prepared a declaration this year committing the G7 and its guests to principles such as democracy, the rule of law and respect for international borders, an implied repudiation of Russia.
The G7 countries also hope to show leadership on global hunger, a problem worsened by the blockade of Ukrainian grain exports and causing much concern in developing countries.
“We commit to demonstrate global responsibility and solidarity through working to address the international impacts of Russia’s aggression, especially on the most vulnerable,” they said in a joint statement on Ukraine.
