When leaders meet, are actions louder than words?

By: Sanchana Sundararajan

Every year, world leaders gather in luxury conference halls, surrounded by countless flashing cameras and high-level security, making vital promises that could shape the planet’s future. But behind the speeches and headlines lies a bigger question: Do these top-notch discussions actually leave an impact on our world?

To understand whether these high-profile gatherings truly make a difference, it’s important to first know what these summits actually are and how they function. Two of the most prominent global summits are COP and the G7

COP, or the Conference of the Parties, is the United Nations’ annual climate summit. It brings together nearly every country in the world to negotiate how to address climate change. Nations discuss emissions reductions, climate finance, renewable energy targets, and global climate agreements. COP is the world’s largest and most important climate meeting, bringing leaders together to create solutions based on diverse perspectives. A major outcome, the Paris Agreement at COP21 in 2015, saw nearly every country commit to limiting global warming, reducing emissions, and supporting developing nations in tackling climate change (UNFCC, 2015)

COP summits have led to some of the most significant climate commitments in history. The Paris Agreement is the strongest example, pushing nearly every nation to create climate plans, reduce emissions, and invest in clean energy. COP meetings also keep climate change at the top of the global agenda and encourage wealthier nations to support developing countries. However, progress can be uneven (European Council, 2023).

  Many agreements lack binding enforcement, meaning countries can fall behind without facing major consequences. This sometimes leads critics to view COP as slow-moving or overly political. Even so, it remains the only global forum where almost every country negotiates climate action, making it essential despite its flaws. 

The G7, or Group of Seven, is a forum of seven powerful democratic economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the European Union also participating. Unlike COP, the G7 is not a UN summit, but a gathering where influential nations coordinate on global economic, political, and security issues. At these manual meetings, leaders discuss topics ranging from trade policies and technological innovation to international development and security aid. 

The G7 influences the world in a different way. As a group of major economic powers, its decisions often shape global markets, trade rules, and responses to international crises. When G7 nations coordinate on issues like sanctions, development aid, or technology standards, the effects ripple far beyond the seven members. Still, the G7 is often criticized for being exclusive, since it represents a small, wealthy portion of the world. This raises concerns about whose interests are prioritized in global decision-making. 

In many cases, progress happens gradually. Policies inspired by COP agreements, such as national climate plans, renewable-energy targets, and investments in green technology, unfold over the years. Likewise, G7 decisions can influence global financial systems, shape development funding, or guide international responses to conflicts and crises. These effects may not be immediately visible, but they help shape long-term political and economic landscapes.

Overall, while COP and the G7 are not perfect and often face criticism for slow progress or unequal influence, they still play an important role in shaping global action. They bring powerful leaders together, set shared goals, and spark policies that continue to influence the world long after the meeting ends. Their impact may not always be immediate, but without these summits, many global challenges would be far harder to address. 

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Works Cited

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (2015). The Paris Agreement. https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (n.d.). Conference of the Parties (COP). https://unfccc.int

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2023). Climate change 2023: Synthesis report. https://www.ipcc.ch

Government of Canada. (2023). About the G7. https://www.international.gc.ca

European Council. (2023). The EU and the G7. https://www.consilium.europa.eu

International Monetary Fund. (2023). World economic outlook. https://www.imf.org

World Bank. (2023). Global economic prospects. https://www.worldbank.org

Council on Foreign Relations. (2023). The G7 and global governance. https://www.cfr.org

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Photo by The New York Times