Civil Society Rallies Ahead of G7: A Call for Global Justice

Canada at the Center of a Worldwide Movement for Climate, Economic and Social Justice

Climate, energy and environment, economic justice, humanitarian action and peace and sustainable development—those are the issues Cuso International and other civil society and international relief and development organizations hope will be addressed at the upcoming June 15-17 G7 meeting in Canada.

The issues were agreed on at the 2025 Civil Society 7 (C7) Summit, a platform for civil society to engage with the G7 that ensures that diverse perspectives are taken into account, especially from the Global South.

This year’s Summit was held April 14–15 in Ottawa. Over 130 attendees from 11 countries met to develop policy recommendations for G7 leaders under the theme of “Global Justice, Together.”

At the Summit, attendees agreed to ask the G7 leaders to address climate adaptation, financing, biodiversity loss and a just transition to renewable energy; to advocate for fair tax policies, trade justice, debt relief and reforms in global financial systems; to focus on enhancing humanitarian aid, ensuring access and promoting global security policies that prioritize civilian protection; and to tackle issues like food security, global health and education to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The summit culminated in the release of the 2025 C7 Communiqué, which encapsulates the collective recommendations of global civil society to the G7. It calls for systemic changes to address interconnected global crises, emphasizing the need for policy coherence and inclusive approaches that leave no one behind.

Since Canada holds the G7 presidency this year, and the G7 meeting is in Canada, it is hoped the recommendations from the C7 will play a significant role in shaping the discussions and decisions of the G7, as well as ministerial meetings throughout the year.

For more information, visit the C7 website.