Canada Hosts the G7: A Call for Climate Action and Indigenous Rights

This June, Canada takes centre stage as host of the Group of 7 (G7) Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, with newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney chairing the event (Kotris, K., 2025). This gathering of world leaders is not just a meeting behind closed doors, it is a critical turning point for all of us. Now, more than ever, it is our civic duty to pay attention, speak up, and demand action on the issues that shape our future.

The health of our planet depends not only on the decisions of leaders, but on the collective power of everyday people. Through our actions, whether raising awareness, advocating for Indigenous rights, or demanding sustainable policies, we can become the voice for the forests, rivers, and ecosystems that sustain us all. Indigenous peoples, as guardians of biodiversity, hold vital knowledge too often ignored in
global policy, and it is our responsibility to amplify their voices alongside our own.

Understanding the G7 Summit

The annual meeting of the G7 serves as a platform for discussing global economic and geopolitical issues, bringing together seven member countries: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union. The presidency of the G7 rotates annually among the member countries, with the host nation setting the agenda and priorities for the year, although the European Union does not assume hosting responsibilities. Roughly 5,000 participants are expected to take part in the event this year, comprised of 70 official guests, 2,000 delegates, 1,400 journalists, 400 summit staff, and over 1,000 security personnel. This year, the G7 celebrates its 50th anniversary, marking half a century since France hosted the inaugural meeting in 1975. 

Why Kananaskis?
Kananaskis, located in the Treaty 7 region of Southern Alberta, is the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy Nations of the Kainai, Piikani, and Siksika, and the Stoney Nakoda Nations comprised of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney First Nations, and the Tsuut’ina First Nation. It is also home of the Otipemisiwak Métis people and Government (Districts 5 and 6). The choice of this remote, scenic location is strategic: it allows for tight security and physical isolation of delegates, making it easier to protect world leaders and manage protests or disruptions (MacGillivray, K.,2025). During the summit, the area is closed to the public, with extensive security measures involving the RCMP, local police, and the Canadian Armed Forces. The peaceful, secluded setting also fosters a more intimate and focused environment for high-stakes negotiations (G7 2025 Kananaskis, 2025b). This year’s summit is especially significant, as it marks a return to the site of the 2002 G8 Summit, where world leaders gathered to address urgent global issues, including trade, security, development, and health (G7 2025 Kananaskis, 2025a). The 2002 summit led to the creation of the Africa Action Plan, a commitment to support African-led initiatives for development, poverty reduction, and health improvement (G7 Research Group, 2002). Additionally, it led to a global pledge of $20 billion over a decade to eliminate
weapons of mass destruction in Russia and former Soviet republics.

Today, the stakes are even higher. The G7 must confront the defining challenges of our time: climate change, social and economic inequality, and the ongoing need for reconciliation and justice for Indigenous peoples.

Concrete Solutions for a Sustainable Future

Despite representing a relatively small portion of the global population, the G7 nations hold a disproportionately large share of the world's wealth (CFR, 2024). With this wealth comes both the power and the responsibility to drive meaningful, positive change. These countries have a moral obligation to make equitable choices that reflect not just their own interests, but also the hopes and needs of our global community. Concrete solutions are on the table:

  • Fossil Fuel Divestment:
    • Moving investments away from fossil fuels and into renewable energy is essential for reducing global emissions and accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy.
  • Elimination of Fossil Fuel Subsidies:
    • Ending subsidies that prop up the fossil fuel industry will free up resources for sustainable development and send a clear signal that the era of polluting energy is over.
  • Renewed Commitment to Indigenous Land and Water Rights:
    • In Canada and beyond, Indigenous communities are on the front lines of environmental stewardship. Respecting and upholding their rights is not only a matter of reconciliation and justice, but also a proven pathway to protecting biodiversity and combating climate change.
  • Ending All Wars:
    • Environmental destruction is both an outcome and a tactic of warfare: “Not only do wars prevent us from resolving serious, survival-threatening emergencies such as climate change and biodiversity loss – by sucking up money and resources and prioritizing destruction
      over problem-solving – they also contribute greatly to those problems (David Suzuki Foundation, 2024). The resources and influence of G7 nations should be leveraged to lead global efforts aimed at mitigating environmental harm caused by conflict and promoting peace driven solutions for addressing ecological crises.
  • Eliminating Debt in the Global South:
    • Debt burdens severely limit the ability of Global South countries to implement climate policies, despite their minimal role in causing the crisis (Green Central Banking, 2024). These nations are often caught in a cycle of debt, exacerbated by external factors beyond their control. To manage their debts, they are sometimes forced to continue engaging in environmentally damaging industrial and agricultural activities. Providing debt relief and more grant-based financing from wealthier nations can empower these countries to focus on sustainable development (CEPR, 2023).

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, set ambitious targets to limit global temperature rise and supporting a just transition to a low-carbon economy (UNFCC, n.d.). The G7’s declarations and communiqués consistently emphasize the group’s support for the Paris Agreement’s objectives; however, Canada’s actions fall short (IISD, 2025a and 2025b).

In 2024 alone, Canada provided nearly $30 billion in direct subsidies and public financing to the oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors (Environmental Defence, 2025). Over the past five years, federal support for the fossil fuel industry has totalled a staggering $74.6 billion, including direct grants, tax breaks, loans, and loan guarantees. This massive financial backing persists despite repeated promises to phase out “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies and a federal commitment to end them by 2025 (GoC, 2024). The environmental and social costs are immense, with pollution from oil and gas companies estimated to have cost Canadians $53 billion in 2024, including health impacts, property damage from extreme weather, and lost agricultural productivity (Environmental Defence, 2025).

A Call to Action: Get Involved

As the G7 Summit approaches, it is crucial for each of us to take action and ensure our voices are heard. Never rely on others to take action, your involvement is essential. Here are some ways you can participate:

  • Take Part in Demonstration
    • The Calgary Climate Hub, in coalition with several justice organizations, is holding a G7 HANDS OFF OUR WATER Rally for Indigenous Water Protections at Calgary City Hall on June 15th from 12am-2PM. This demonstration will draw attention to the profound and disproportionate impacts felt by Indigenous communities due to water mismanagement and misuse, while demanding fundamental water and self-governance rights. For more information, please click here.
  • Engage with Local Advocacy Groups
    • Connect with organizations working on climate justice and Indigenous rights. Volunteer your time, skills, or resources to support their efforts and campaigns.
  • Raise Awareness
    • Use social media platforms to share information about the G7 Summit and its implications for climate policy. Encourage your network to stay informed and engaged
  • Contact Your Representatives
    Reach out to local and national leaders to express your concerns and demand accountability on climate commitments. Let them know that you expect bold action and transparency. Together, we can push for the changes needed to secure a sustainable and just future. It is time to hold our leaders accountable and insist on meaningful commitments at the G7 Summit. Our collective action can make a difference. 

 

 

By Blaine Standing, Content Writer