Pre-G8 Summit Conferences

In partnership with the G8 Research Group of the University of Toronto, CIGI has sponsored three pre-summit conferences in Tokyo to examine the various issues on this year’s G8 agenda. These conferences have been organized by some of Japan’s leading organizations on international affairs and bring togeter some of the world’s leading experts on the G8. The conferences include;

Global Development Challenges, Desired G8 Responses: A G8-Developing Country Dialogue for the Hokkaido Summit
Tuesday, July 1, 2008 – Partner: United Nations University
This conference will explore the mechanisms of the G8 and how development assistance has played an important role in the last decade of summits. Of special interest will be sustaining economic development in fragile and post-conflict societies and how the G8 and international institutions can assist transitional states. This conference will be webcast live and archived at: http://c3.unu.edu/unuvideo/index.cfm?fuseaction=event.home&EventID=191

G8 and Global Security Governance: Japanese and G8 Approaches
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 – Partner: Keio University
This conference will explore in particular, the G8’s role in mediating and avoiding global conflict. Japan has been a leader in nuclear non-proliferation and the avoidance of nuclear conflict. This conference will explore how this element can be instituted by the G8 and how G8 security governance can be strengthened through the next presidencies of Italy in 2009 and Canada in 2010. The conference will include presentations from academics, security experts and government officials.

Pre-G8 Summit Conference 2008: Global Challenges, Global Environment, G8 Innovations
Thursday, July 3, 2008 – Partner: Center for International Public Policy Studies
The third and final pre-summit conference takes a wider lens, looking at the purpose and functions of the G8 process in the 21st century. Special attention will be paid to the challenge of addressing climate change. The keynote address will be delivered by former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi on “Innovation in Global Environmental Governance.” This session will assess the interaction between technology advances and policy-making, and will question whether a wider cast of members is needed within the G8 to address these modern policy challenges.

This blog will summarize conference activities and comment on running themes of the G8 agenda and the ongoing Heiligendamm Process of outreach dialogue. Log-in for the webcast of the UNU conference and add your comments to this discussion.