EPA's Role in the G7 and G20
The Group of 7 (G7) and Group of 20 (G20) are international fora established in 1975 and 1999, respectively, for the world’s largest economies to discuss global economic and financial issues. Since their inception the G7 and the G20 have expanded their scope and now cover broader global challenges, including health, culture, tourism, energy, environment and climate change. The G7 and G20 provide platforms for EPA to promote US interests by working directly with the environmental leadership from the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies to tackle the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Through each of these fora, EPA works to strengthen our international relationships and drive global ambition to carry forward U.S. international environmental priorities, including advancing action on:
- environmental justice and inclusion;
- pollution reduction from lead, mercury, POPs (persistent organic pollutants), and other chemicals;
- plastic pollution and marine litter and to conserve, protect, and restore coastal and marine areas;
- circular economy and resource efficiency, including reducing food loss and waste;
- nature-based solutions and conservation to reverse and halt the disastrous declines in biodiversity; and
- building climate resilience and adaptation and tackling climate change through reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Learn more about EPA’s Role in the G7 and the G20:
2024 G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
OITA Assistant Administrator Jane Nishida served as the U.S. Environment Ministers at the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministers Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on October 3 where participants welcomed the Ministerial Declaration as a consensus statement, the first in this track since 2021.
The G20 Presidency, represented by Brazil Minister for Environment and Climate Change Marina Silva, presided over the meeting and set the scene for the urgency to act on the triple crisis of climate, biodiversity and pollution, especially in light of the environmental crises in Brazil and elsewhere in the world. The Ministerial Declaration highlighted the importance of strengthening climate change adaptation and resilience, protecting our oceans, supporting waste management and circular economy, and the value of payments for ecosystem services.
OITA Assistant Administrator Nishida spoke regarding the United States’ whole-of-government approach to address waste and promote the transition to more circular economies.
At the conclusion of the meeting, all G20 Ministers agreed to the following outcome:
2024 G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers Meeting in Turin, Italy
EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe served as the U.S. Environment Minister at the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers Meeting in Turin, Italy, from April 29-30. Principal Deputy Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Sue Biniaz served as the U.S. Climate Minister, and Deputy Secretary of Energy David Turk served as the U.S. Energy Minister. Within the environment track, the key priorities discussed were sustainable consumption and production through circular economy and resource efficiency, global pollution prevention, sustainable management of biodiversity, land, and water, cross-cutting actions, and collaboration between the G7 and developing countries. The G7 Environment Ministers committed to pursuing strong international environmental, social and governance standards on critical minerals, proposing lead as an issue of concern in the Global Framework of Chemicals, and increasing efforts to improve air quality monitoring.
Alongside her climate and energy counterparts, Deputy Administrator McCabe spoke regarding the collective urgency to act on the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution and how G7 countries can shift towards more just, climate neutral, net zero, resource efficient, and sustainable economies.
At the conclusion of the meeting, all G7 Ministers agreed to the following outcome:
2023 G20 Environment and Climate Ministerial in Chennai, India
India’s G20 Presidency focused on the theme One Earth One Family One Future, under which they affirm “the value of all life – human, animal, plant and microorganisms – and their interconnectedness on the planet Earth and in the wider universe”. India convened the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group, with three priority themes: circular economy and resource efficiency; land degradation and biodiversity; and sustainable and resilient blue economy with preparatory meetings leading up to a Ministerial meeting in Chennai, India on July 28, 2023.
Administrator Michael Regan represented the United States as Environment Minister at the G20 Environment and Climate Ministerial in Chennai, and he was joined by Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) John Kerry, who served as the U.S. climate minister. During the Environment and Climate Ministerial, Administrator Regan highlighted the United States’ international environmental priorities and commitment to leadership, and our domestic achievements as they relate to the priorities being advanced through the G20.
At the close of the meeting, the Ministers agreed to the following outcomes:
- G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group: Outcome Document and Chairs Summary
- High Level Principles on Blue Economy (annex to Outcome Document and Chairs Summary)
2023 G7 Environment Ministers Meeting in Sapporo, Japan
Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe served as the U.S. Environment Minister at the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers Meeting in Sapporo, Japan, from April 15-16, alongside Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm who served as the U.S. Energy Minister, and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate (SPEC) John Kerry who served as the U.S. Climate Minister. At the meeting Ministers focused on tackling the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution and agreed to the following outcomes:
- Climate, Energy, and Environment Ministers Communique
- G7 Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency Principles (annex to leaders)
- Terms of Reference for the G7-Alliance on Nature Positive Economies
- Five-Point Plan for Critical Minerals Security
Japan’s Presidency hosted the Leaders’ Summit May 19-21 in Hiroshima and issued the 2023 G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communique
2022 G20 Environment and Climate Ministerial Meeting in Bali, Indonesia
EPA Administrator Michael Regan represented the United States as the environment minister at the joint G20 Environment and Climate Ministerial Meeting in Bali, Indonesia on August 31, 2022. The meeting was held under Indonesia’s Presidency of the G20 with the theme of Recover Together, Recover Stronger and six major priority areas: land degradation; halting biodiversity loss; integrated and sustainable water management; marine litter; ocean conservation; sustainable finance.
At the meeting, Administrator Regan promoted the importance of the G20 leading collective, global efforts to tackle the urgent triple crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. He emphasized the importance of deepening efforts to build a more circular economy for all and the critical need to ensure environmental justice. Following the meeting, the Indonesian Presidency issued a Chair’s Summary for the environment and climate tracks.
2022 G7 Climate Energy and Environment Ministers Meeting in Berlin, Germany
EPA Administrator Regan participated in the in the G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Berlin, Germany. Germany launched its Presidency of the G7 under the theme of Progress towards an equitable world with 5 major goals:
- Strong alliances for a sustainable planet
- Setting the course for economic stability and transformation
- Enhanced preparedness for healthy lives
- Sustainable investments in a better future
- Stronger together
Administrator Regan highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s bold climate and environmental agenda and committed to action to reduce pollution and protect our oceans, a precious natural resource. Administrator Regan also highlighted the Administration’s commitment to advancing equity at home and abroad by highlighting the importance of environmental justice with his G7 counterparts.
Through the communiqué and associated outcomes, the ministers committed to important actions to tackle the triple global crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, including through:
- G7 2022 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers Communique
- 2022 Berlin Roadmap on Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy
- G7 Ocean Deal
2021 G20 Environment Ministers Meeting in Naples, Italy
On July 22, 2021, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan participated in the G20 Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Naples, Italy, advancing the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to confronting the climate crisis and restoring U.S. leadership on the global stage, and to advancing equity at home and abroad.
At the meeting, held under the Presidency of Italy, G20 environment ministers issued a communiqué reiterating their continuing and increasing efforts to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, equity, and biodiversity loss. Ministers committed to enhancing equitable access to affordable drinking water, hygiene, and sanitation for all and especially for vulnerable and underserved groups. Ministers also recognized the critical importance of involving youth in environment-related processes at all levels and empowering younger generations with the necessary skills and tools to build a sustainable future for all. They called for stronger actions to tackle sources of marine plastic litter and welcomed a G20 report sharing the latest best practices to control marine plastic. Ministers acknowledged the urgent need to align financial flows to sustainable development requirements, in order to meet biodiversity, ocean, land degradation and climate targets and enhance ecosystem services.
2021 G7 Climate and Environment Ministers Meeting - virtual
In 2021, the UK Presidency hosted the G7 Climate and Environment Ministers’ meeting virtually. EPA Administrator Regan participated as the environment minister for the United States. The G7 Ministers committed to a series of actions to tackle environmental challenges that also support economic opportunities and advance environmental justice. The G7 outcomes include:
- The G7 2021 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers Communique
- G7 Alliance for Resource Efficiency Food Loss and Waste Case Studies
- G7 Ocean Navigation Plan
About the G20
The Group of 20 (G20) is the premier forum for global economic cooperation and comprises the world’s largest advanced and emerging economies. It was formed in 1999 amid the Asian financial crisis and since its formation, the G20’s mission has broadened from finance to include additional issues which play an important role in the global economy, including the environment and climate change. The G20’s work in separated into tracks with meetings and negotiations held over the course of year, culminating in a meeting of the Leaders from G20 countries. Japan convened the first G20 Environment Ministerial track under its Presidency in 2019, and subsequent G20 Presidencies have continued to convene a separate track for environmental issues, each concluding with a meeting of Environment Ministers. The EPA Administrator has served as the United States Environment Minister since the inception of this Ministerial track.
The Presidency of the G20 rotates among its members annually. India held the G20 Presidency in 2023. Brazil currently holds the Presidency in 2024, and South Africa will hold the Presidency in 2025.
About the G7
The Group of 7 (G7) comprises the world’s leading democracies with members Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as the European Union. As with the G20, the Presidency of the G7 rotates annually with the Presidency determining the meetings and engagements during its terms. Since 2000, the G7 Environment Ministers track has regularly taken place, with the EPA Administrator serving as Environment Minister on behalf of the United States. Japan held the G7 Presidency in 2023. Italy currently holds the Presidency in 2024, and Canada will hold the Presidency in 2025.
Useful Links
- Official G20 website, hosted by rotating G20 Presidency
- G7 Alliance on Resource Efficiency
- University of Toronto Repository of documents relating to G20 Environment Ministers meetings and G7 Environment Ministers meetings+
Contacts
For additional information on EPA's Role in the G7 and the G20, contact:
Patrick Huber
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International and Tribal Affairs
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20460
E-mail: huber.patrick@epa.gov
(202-566-1935