BSM695: Assessing the G7's Role in Global Energy Governance

This essay examines the suitability of the Group of Seven (G7) in addressing global energy challenges. It begins by outlining the G7's formation, evolution, and core focus areas, including international security, energy, and economic issues. The essay evaluates the G7's successes in creating a forum for discussions, inspiring progressive energy policies, and establishing itself as a key player in global energy governance. However, it also critiques the G7's limitations, such as the non-binding nature of its resolutions, the exclusion of major global economic actors, and the lack of enforceability. The essay highlights the G7's role in previous agreements like the Paris Agreement and concludes that while the G7 provides a valuable platform for influential leaders to meet and discuss energy issues, its effectiveness is constrained by its informal structure and limited scope. The analysis draws on various sources to support its arguments and provide a comprehensive overview of the G7's impact on global energy governance.

The Suitability of the G7 in Addressing Energy Challenges
[Author(s) name(s):]
Word Count: 501
BSM695: Energy Law and Policy
[Tutor(s) name(s):]
[Institutional Affiliation:]

1
The Group of Seven or G7 as it is commonly known, is an informal alliance of seven highly
industrialised democracies, that is the United States, the United Kingdome, Italy, Canada,
Japan, Germany and France, which gathers annually to discuss and coordinate issues of
international security, energy matters and global economic issues.1 It was previously referred
to as the G8, however, in 2014, Russia’s annexation of Crimea led to its suspension. The
alliance was birthed as a result of various economic challenges that arose in the 1970s which
had the world apprehensive of the future.2 The role and agenda of the G7 have evolved over
the years, however certain issues such as international trade and economic relations, energy
and global securities have been recurrent concerns since its inception.3 The discourse herein
aims to examine the role this summit has played in tackling energy issues thus far and assess
whether it is indeed a suitable forum for the global community to address energy challenges.
So far, with regard to energy, G7 summits have proved successful in creating a forum for the
world’s most influential representatives to discuss and approach energy differently. Further,
their resolutions have been an inspiration to other nations and institutions which have relied
on them in adopting progressive energy policies; they have led to a more conscious global
mindset to energy matters. The G7 has established itself as a central point and forum to
discuss energy challenges on a global stage thus establishing its role in the global governance
framework.4 The G7 has been successful in previous years due to the political cohesion of
sitting leaders and a commitment to cooperation and compliance on matters of energy,
environment and climate change issues.5 However, the challenge facing the effectiveness of
1 Zachary Laub and James McBride, ‘The Group of Seven (G7)’ (Council on Foreign Relations, 30 May 2017)
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/group-seven-g7 accessed 7 October 2017
2 The Press and Information Office of the Federal Government, ‘The History of the G7’ (G7 Germany, 5
November 2014) https://www.g7germany.de/Content/EN/StatischeSeiten/G7_elmau_en/texte_en/2014-11-05-
geschichte-g8.html accessed 7 October 2017
3 Peter I. Hajnal and John J Kirton, ‘The Evolving Role and Agenda of the G7/G8: A North American
Perspective’ (2000) Spring Issue, NIRA Review http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/scholar/hajnal_nira.pdf accessed 7
October 2017
4 Dries Lesage and Others, ‘The G8’s Role in Global Energy Governance Since the 2005 Gleneagles Summit’
(2009) 15 Global Governance 271
5 John J Kirton and Ella Kokotsis, The Global Governance of Climate Change: G7, G20 and UN Leadership
( First Published 2015, Routledge 2016) 60

2
the G7’s role is premised on the fact that the resolutions of the summits are not binding on
both the seating parties and other nations.
Recently the summit has been subject to criticism and doubt over its future; this is based on
the rise in significance of the more inclusive G20 summit. Countries that play a larger role in
global economic growth in recent times, and would thus be more influential, are not part of
the G7 alliance.6 Further, the forum has been criticised for its lack of enforceability; issues
are discussed and resolutions passed but compliance is not effected. Previous discussions and
agreements of G7 members and other countries led to the Paris Agreement that sought to
control carbon emissions and promote renewable energy alternatives.7 However, the
agreement is not legally binding and as such, its application to date has been met with various
challenges. In conclusion, the G7 as an informal bloc lacks enforceability powers and as such
its discussions and commitments serve as mere pledges. Additionally, as it stands, major
actors in the global community are not included in the summit further limiting its
effectiveness. However, the forum presents a viable opportunity for influential global leaders
to meet and discuss energy challenges which thus far has proved successful.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
6 Keith Breene, ‘4 things you need to know about this week’s G7’ (World Economic Forum, 26 May 2016)
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/05/what-exactly-is-the-annual-g7-summit-japan/ accessed 8 October
2017
7 John Miller, ‘How Effective are U.S. and G7 Energy Security and Carbon Emissions Policies?’ (The Energy
Collective, 21 June 2017) http://www.theenergycollective.com/jemiller_ep/2407060/effective-u-s-g7-energy-
security-carbon-emissions-policies accessed 8 October 2015

3
Breene K, ‘4 things you need to know about this week’s G7’ (World Economic Forum, 26
May 2016) https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/05/what-exactly-is-the-annual-g7-
summit-japan/ accessed 8 October 2017
Dries Lesage and Others, ‘The G8’s Role in Global Energy Governance Since the 2005
Gleneagles Summit’ (2009) 15 Global Governance 271
Hajnal I P and Kirton J J, ‘The Evolving Role and Agenda of the G7/G8: A North American
Perspective’ (2000) Spring Issue, NIRA Review
http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/scholar/hajnal_nira.pdf accessed 7 October 2017
Kirton J J and Kokotsis E, The Global Governance of Climate Change: G7, G20 and UN
Leadership ( First Published 2015, Routledge 2016) 60
Laub Z and McBride J, ‘The Group of Seven (G7)’ (Council on Foreign Relations, 30 May
2017) https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/group-seven-g7 accessed 7 October 2017
Miller J, ‘How Effective are U.S. and G7 Energy Security and Carbon Emissions Policies?’
(The Energy Collective, 21 June 2017)
http://www.theenergycollective.com/jemiller_ep/2407060/effective-u-s-g7-energy-security-
carbon-emissions-policies accessed 8 October 2015
The Press and Information Office of the Federal Government, ‘The History of the G7’ (G7
Germany, 5 November 2014)
https://www.g7germany.de/Content/EN/StatischeSeiten/G7_elmau_en/texte_en/2014-11-05-
geschichte-g8.html accessed 7 October 2017