Multilateral Organizations and Activities

G-8 Environment

• Objectives
• Membership
• Activities
• Environment Canada's Involvement

Objectives

A meeting of G-8 Environment Ministers is held once a year prior to the Leaders Summit. These are informal meetings and are not part of the formal Summit process. They are convened at the discretion of the Summit host and serve to inform the G-8 leaders on key environmental and sustainable development issues and to make a contribution to their Summit discussion.

Membership

The G-8 includes Canada, France, Germany, UK, Italy, Japan, Russia, USA and the European Commission. Since the first G-5 Summit in Rambouillet, France, in 1975, the process has evolved from a forum dealing essentially with macro-economic issues to an annual meeting with a broad-based agenda that addresses a wide range of international, economic, and social issues. The first G-7 Summit took place in Puerto Rico in 1976, when Canada and Italy joined the USA, the UK, France, Germany and Japan. The first Summit of the Eight, with Russia as a full Summit partner, was held in Denver in 1997.

Activities

It is now a well established practice that each year, the host country of the G-8 Summit convenes a meeting of G-8 Environment Ministers. The timing and agenda are usually determined by the host. The UK holds the G-8 Presidency in 2005 and Russia will chair the Summit in 2006. Previous G-8 Environment Ministers meetings have been held in the United States (2004), France (April 2003), Canada (April 2002), Italy (April 2001), Japan (2000), Germany (1999), UK (1998), U.S. (1997), France (1996), Canada (1995), and Italy (1994).

Environment Canada's Involvement

The Minister of the Environment usually participates in the annual G8 Environment meeting. The International Policy and Cooperation Branch of IRD leads the preparations for the ministerial event.