- Cologne 1999
- Okinawa 2000
- Genoa 2001
- Kananaskis 2002
- Evian 2003
- Sea Island 2004
- Gleneagles 2005
- St. Petersburg 2006
Cologne 1999
The G8 committed itself to debt relief for heavily indebted developing countries. The Cologne Debt Initiative strengthened the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) framework. For the first time, debts owed to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank were also cancelled.
The Initiative was designed to provide deeper, broader and faster debt relief, and to link this more closely to the fight against poverty The G8 committed itself to work for debt relief of up to 90 per cent. The total volume of debt was to be halved by 2015.
Okinawa 2000
Health is key to prosperity. This was the theme of the G8 summit in Okinawa in 2000. The fight against infectious diseases became a highlight of the Japanese presidency. The member states committed themselves to extensive cooperation with the WHO, pharmaceutical companies and research institutes.
In doing this, the G8 sought to achieve three key UN targets: to reduce the number of HIV infections among young people by 25 per cent by 2010, and to reduce deaths from TB and the burden of Malaria by 50 per cent by the same year.
The G8 undertook to provide increased financial aid and also convened a special conference – "a quantum leap" in the history of the Group.
It was this initiative that led to the establishment of the Global Health Fund. The G8 have now made 1.4 billion US dollars available to fight disease.
Genoa 2001
The G8 established a task force on education. This was in response to the goals adopted at Dakar for the "Education for All" (EFA) Initiative. Particular important among these was universal primary education.
Kananaskis 2002
The G8 met with the Presidents of Algeria, Nigeria and South Africa and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to discuss the situation in Africa. The G8 adopted a detailed Action Plan for Africa in response to the adoption of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
Each G8 country undertook to establish enhanced partnerships with one of the NEPAD countries. Such partnerships would involve, amongst others, projects in the fields of health or economics, debt relief or water management.
Kananaskis also saw the establishment of the "G8 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction." Following the attacks of 11 September 2001 support was given to specific cooperation projects addressing non-proliferation, disarmament, counter-terrorism and nuclear safety issues.
Among the priority concerns were:
- the destruction of chemical weapons,
- the dismantlement of decommissioned nuclear submarines,
- the disposal of fissile materials, and
- the employment of former weapons scientists.
Evian 2003
Central to this summit in France was a package of measures on sustainable development. Under the Action Plan adopted, the number of people without access to potable water and sanitation facilities was to be halved by 2015.
Another summit document concerned support for the application of science and technology to questions of global observation, air pollution, climate change, agriculture and biodiversity. At Evian the G8 also took further steps in the fight against terrorism.
The stage was set for the Paris Club to provide tailor-made phased debt-relief to countries not qualifying under the HIPC Initiative.
Sea Island 2004
The Secure and Facilitated International Travel Initiative (SAFTI) was adopted. This provided for measures of different kinds, among them steps:
- to improve the security of travel documents,
- to improve the exchange of terrorism-related information to counter the threat from man-portable air defence systems (ManPADS),
- and measures to promote in-flight security, and the security of ports and sea transport.
>> The Secure and Facilitated International Travel Initiative of the G8 (Safti)
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Gleneagles 2005
The G8 meeting in Great Britain in 2005 was dominated by the themes of Africa and climate change.
With the Action Plan on "Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development," the G8 Heads of Government put a whole package of measures in train. A Dialogue was also initiated between the G8 and the major emerging economies of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa on achieving progress towards a sustainable, climate-friendly energy policy.
The summit also agreed a second Action Plan for Africa, specifying concrete measures to be taken by G8 states in the fields of health, education and economic development.
The G8's initiative and its agreement to fund a Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative led to further debt cancellations. The following year, the International Monetary Fund, the International Development Association (part of the World Bank Group) and the African Development Fund decided to cancel all the existing debt of Heavily Indebted Poor Countries that had successfully completed the HIPC Initiative process.
St. Petersburg 2006
At the G8 summit in Russia discussion focused for the first time on the question of security of energy supply. The Action Plan adopted is intended to strengthen the institutional framework for trade and investment in energy.
The summit took further steps in support of initiatives taken at earlier summits regarding education and the fight against infectious diseases. In their discussion of international security, the G8 states reaffirmed their determination to act against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The G8 also welcomed a Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism.