Top G7 Diplomats Pledge Unity on China, Action on Renewable Energy

Foreign ministers from G7 countries committed to accelerate their transition to renewable energy and to unite against “coercion” from China in the first days of a summit in Japan. 

Renewables: On Sunday, the group committed to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, many news sources noted the absence of an agreement on limiting the use of coal.

China: Coverage on Monday afternoon highlighted the ministers’ focus on China. The U.S. sent a warship through the Taiwan Strait as the meetings took place on Sunday, about a week after China conducted military drills encircling the island. 

Ukraine: The group agreed on Monday to maintain a $60/barrel price cap on seaborne Russian oil, shoring up its commitment to Ukraine despite rising oil prices spurred by OPEC+ production cuts. In a Newsweek (Center bias) op-ed, Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi touted the G7’s “unwavering solidarity” toward the people of Ukraine. 

For Context: The summit will run from Sunday through Tuesday and is intended to set the stage for a meeting of G7 leaders — including the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the E.U. — in Hiroshima in May. 

How the Media Covered It: Coverage was most common in outlets rated Center or Lean Left. Major outlets on both the left and right often republished coverage from AP (Lean Left bias).