Key issues at G-7: Global economy, terrorism, women

The leaders of the Group of Seven industrialized economies pledged to tackle major economic and political risks including terrorism, floods of refugees, climate change and cyber-attacks.

Here are highlights of the G-7 leaders’ declaration:

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WORLD ECONOMY: The G-7 leaders said it was an urgent priority to “collectively” tackle global economic challenges. They pledged to use all policy tools — monetary, fiscal and structural — to strengthen global demand. The leaders urged further investment in areas such as the environment, energy, education and technology.

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TERRORISM: The leaders condemned terrorism in all forms, saying attacks and human rights abuses targeting civilians pose serious challenges to peace, security and humanity. They expressed “grave concern” over growing use of social media in recruiting and financing extremism and called for efforts to combat them. The leaders said ransom payments to terrorist groups support and strengthen their activities and should not be made.

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REFUGEES: The G-7 leaders said large-scale migration and refugee flows are a global challenge. They promised more help for refugees and host communities. The leaders encouraged international financial institutions and donors to step up financial and technical assistance.

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UKRAINE: G-7 leaders reiterated their full respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence and urged all sides to take concrete steps toward the complete cease-fire required under the Minsk agreements. The leaders renewed their condemnation of Russia over its annexation of the Crimean peninsula and urged it to use its influence over separatists constructively.

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CLIMATE: The leaders agreed to lead efforts to win approval for the Paris Agreement on curbing global warming in 2016 and pledged to formulate strategies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases ahead of a 2020 deadline.

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ENERGY: The leaders recognized the need to accelerate a shift away from reliance on fossil fuels and toward “decarbonization” of the global economy with more investments in renewable energy and energy-efficient technology.

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HEALTH: The G-7 leaders said health is the foundation of prosperity and security for both individuals and nations. They urged concrete actions to advance global health and promised to lead improved preparedness for public health emergencies, while promoting research and development and innovations in health.

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WOMEN: The leaders affirmed the importance of creating a society in which women and girls are empowered and engaged in sustainable, inclusive and equitable economic growth. They agreed to pursue necessary steps in education, training and promotion of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

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CYBERCRIME: The G-7 leaders “strongly” supported an accessible, open, interoperable, reliable and secure cyberspace as an essential foundation of economic growth and prosperity.

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ANTI-CORRUPTION: The leaders agreed to take collective and individual action to fight corruption as a critical step for economic growth, sustainable development and peace and security.

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