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The Group of 78 is proud to announce its annual conference for 2022, Transforming International Finance: toward Economic, Social and Planetary Justice. The global context for this conference is shifting profoundly. The weaknesses of the international financial order have not been resolved since they were exposed in the crisis of 2007-08. Debt distress is afflicting a growing number of countries in the Global South as well as households and businesses everywhere. Such problems will be exacerbated by the post-pandemic wave of stagflation, or more accurately, the evident policy response in the form of sharply higher interest rates. Global trade is being upended as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war. Moreover, failure to address the existential threat posed by the climate crisis make all other international problems, save the threat of nuclear war, seem trivial in comparison. In this larger context, transforming international finance will be necessary, if not sufficient, to secure economic, social and planetary justice.
Overarching point: the proposed strategic framework is inadequate. – We are delighted the Federal Government has decided to hold consultations in framing a National Climate Adaptation Strategy for Canada. We address the following overarching issues raised by the discussion paper. Overall, our view is that the proposed elements of a draft strategy are inadequate because…
With gratitude and sadness, the Group of 78 acknowledges the passing of Patrick Watson, one of the “original 78” who signed the statement to the Prime Minister on Canadian foreign policy in 1981 that led to the creation of our Organization. Patrick Watson was a pioneering icon of Canadian broadcasting whose creativity and views were an invaluable contribution to Canadian public life over more than 50 years. The Group of 78 is grateful that the vision he shared with others 40 years ago is still strong and active today. We offer our condolences to his family.
Green bonds are one of the hottest options in the fight against climate change, a chance for everyday and institutional investors to match their dollars with their environmental values while getting a return on their investment. At a time when we need a seven-fold increase in climate investment around the world, every funding source has to be mobilized. But the details matter. What defines a green bond? How important are they as a source of climate finance? What difference have they made since they were introduced? How can bond buyers be sure their green investment dollars are going into legitimate climate solutions? Join us at 1 pm ET on Wednesday, June 15 to find out.
Last week, the federal government launched a consultation process to help bring together a national climate adaptation strategy for Canada by November, in time for COP-27, the next global climate conference to be held in Egypt. Building resilience against climate disasters will be high on the agenda.
In the shadow of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, moderator Peggy Mason will explore with panelists Robin Collins and Cesar Jaramillo what the crisis may mean for nuclear disarmament goals, European security, NATO’s reliance on nuclear deterrence, and challenges to the UN and UN Charter framework itself.
John Anderson will examine the importance of the regulation of AI and new forms of automation both as they effect jobs in the workplace, privacy and use and abuse for monitoring people in and out of the workplace and use in cybersecurity and control. As Vladimir Putin put it in 2017, “Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.”
In 2021, the Group of 78 marked the 40th anniversary of the signing of the original advocacy statement addressed to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau that led to the creation of the Organization. As part of its anniversary activities, G78 wanted to acknowledge with gratitude the 78 signatories to that statement. They were a varied assembly of prominent Canadians who never met together but had many commonalities in their views of Canada’s role on the international stage. Building on a booklet of brief biographies produced at the time of G78’s 25th anniversary to commemorate those who had passed on by 2006, we have added the rest of the “Originals” to acknowledge them as well. Find all 78 here.
April 5, 2022, G78 calls on Government of Canada to do what is necessary to support a peaceful resolution of the conflict, including the potential provision of security guarantees if agreed and to undertake a responsible and balanced approach to ensure stability returns to the region, while recognizing Ukraine’s rights as a sovereign and independent state.
This talk examines the implications of concentrated corporate power in the global food system in the context of the current climate and COVID crises, and the current war in Ukraine, and maps out potential policy options to rein in corporate power in the sector.
