Explained: what is the G7 and why is the 2021 summit in Cornwall?
G7 countries took major steps to address the resilience of the planet as leaders met in the coastal Cornwall region of England where a new Blue Planet Fund was launched to help protect the ocean.
The G7 is to endorse a Nature Compact at a meeting on Sunday to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. The commitments in the agreement include supporting a global target to conserve or protect at least 30 per cent of land and 30 per cent of ocean globally by the end of the decade.
Meeting at the Carbis Bay resort the leaders were urged on by environment focused community groups. The UK-backed £500 million ($705.3m) fund is designed to support countries tackle unsustainable fishing, protect and restore coastal ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs, and reduce marine pollution.
Some of the main beneficiaries are Ghana, Indonesia and Pacific island states.
“Protecting our planet is the most important thing we as leaders can do for our people. There is a direct relationship between reducing emissions, restoring nature, creating jobs and ensuring long-term economic growth," Mr Johnson said.
Formal agreement is likely come in a midday session that will be addressed by Sir David Attenborough, the broadcaster and campaigner. Officials said the G7 are also expected to commit to almost halve their emissions by 2030 relative to 2010.
In a pre-recorded video message Mr Attenborough gave a bleak assessment of progress on arresting the threat to the planet.
“The natural world today is greatly diminished," he said. "That is undeniable. Our climate is warming fast. That is beyond doubt. Our societies and nations are unequal and that is sadly is plain to see.
“But the question science forces us to address specifically in 2021 is whether as a result of these intertwined facts we are on the verge of destabilising the entire planet? If that is so, then the decisions we make this decade - in particular the decisions made by the most economically advanced nations - are the most important in human history.”
The summit is also to agree on the Carbis Bay declaration which sets down recommendations on how governments and others can quickly respond to new outbreaks of infectious diseases. To prevent future pandemics it sets up new research capabilities as well as frameworks for developing new treatments.
"The first 100 days after the identification of an epidemic threat are crucial to changing its course and, ideally, preventing it from becoming a pandemic," a statement from host country UK said.
The declaration said countries would focus on slashing the time taken to develop and licence vaccines, treatments and diagnostics as well as support for reforming and strengthening the World Health Organisation.
In the name of global biosecurity, Mr Johnson has challenged governments to back a new Global Pandemic Radar as an early warning system.
In pictures: the Queen meets G7 leaders
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From left to right, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Queen Elizabeth II, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi, European Council President Charles Michel and US President Joe Biden pose for a group photograph during a reception on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Cornwall. Reuters -
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden and European Council President Charles Michel along with Britain's Queen Elizabeth attend a reception at the Eden Project in Cornwall. Reuters -
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson with his wife Carrie Johnson, right, along with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles with Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and Prince William with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attend a reception in Cornwall. Reuters -
President of the European Council Charles Michel, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, US President Joe Biden, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, chat at a drinks reception at The Eden Project. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth II smiles as she meets people from communities across Cornwall during an event celebrating The Big Lunch initiative at the Eden Project during the G7 Summit. Getty Images -
Queen Elizabeth II attends an event in celebration of The Big Lunch initiative at the Eden Project during the G7 Summit. Getty Images -
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer attend a drinks reception for Queen Elizabeth II and G7 leaders at the Eden Project during the G7 summit. Getty Images -
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, arrive for a drinks reception for G7 leaders at the Eden Project during the G7 summit. Getty Images -
Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and wife Mariko Suga attend a reception for the G7 leaders at the Eden Project. AP -
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and wife Carrie Johnson arrive for a drinks reception during the G7 Summit. Getty Images -
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attends a reception for the G7 leaders at the Eden Project in Cornwall. AP -
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and husband Joachim Saue attend a reception for the G7 leaders at the Eden Project in Cornwall. AP -
French President Emmanuel Macron, Queen Elizabeth II, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden arrive at a drinks reception during the G7 Summit. Getty Images -
Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson his wife Carrie Johnson share a joke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband Joachim Sauer during a reception for the G7 leaders at the Eden Project in Cornwall. AP -
US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrive at a drinks reception for Queen Elizabeth II and G7 leaders at the Eden Project during the G7 summit. Getty Images
