The Group of Seven (G7)
The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental organisation composed of representatives from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Union is also a member, holding all the privileges and obligations of membership but without the right to host or chair a summit. The G7 often serves as a pathfinder group, piloting activities for broader G20 and UN initiatives that may be too complex to manage with a larger set of partners.
The G7 FSOI initiative
offers a mechanism to address the challenge of strengthening and sustaining ocean observations through the coordinated actions of the 7 leading nations in ocean observing plus the EU, who together fund more than half of global ocean observations.
The G7 members have emphasised the importance of focusing the G7 initiative on issues at the nexus of science and governance that address global ocean observations, working with the U.N.-sponsored Global Ocean Observing System to pilot efforts in areas where the FSOI can add unique value:
In 2016, the G7 Ministers agreed to take an ambitious approach to tackling ocean issues, and developed the Future of the Seas and Ocean Initiative with five main Action Areas. These Action Areas were revised in 2024 at the G7 Scientific and Technology Ministerial.
Action Areas 2016 - 2023
- 01 Observing system
- 02 Assessment and Reporting
- 03 Data Sharing Infrastructure
- 04 Regional Observing Capacity
- 05 Political Cooperation
Action Areas 2024
- 01 Ocean Observation
- 02 Digital Infrastructure and Data Interoperability
- 03 Analyses and Prediction
- 04 Regional Observing Capacity
- 05 Political Cooperation
In a Statement to the OceanObs’19 Conference that brought together 2400 scientists from 60 nations, the G7 members explained the position of the FSOI:
“As leaders in ocean observing, the G7 FSOI Working Group recognises that implementing a system of high quality, sustained ocean observations cannot be done in isolation, and that it needs to be a coordinated, collaborative and global effort. Therefore, through leading by example, we hope to promote and support partnerships, networks, and increase the availability of science through open data and scientific cooperation amongst the global community.”
Through leading by example, we hope to promote and support partnerships, networks, and increase the availability of science