As civic space continues to shrink under increasing pressure from authoritarian regimes, illiberal democracies, and non-state actors, this session will explore concrete strategies for building resilience to repression in the civic space protection ecosystem. Panelists will discuss legal, digital, and grassroots tools that have effectively safeguarded fundamental freedoms. The session will also highlight insights and lessons for global advocacy and policy responses based on experiences from countries where civil society has successfully resisted backsliding.

With the G7’s role in upholding democratic values and human rights, this discussion will offer key insights into how international actors can support resilience and renewal in the civic space ecosystem.

This session will take a high-level view of the C7 Communiqué while exploring the connections between diverse civil society priorities, ensuring a cohesive message to the G7 and beyond. Setting the stage for the afternoon sessions and for the recommendations being presented to government on day two of the Summit, it will examine how the C7’s key thematic areas—Sustainable Development, Humanitarian Action & Peace, Climate, Energy & the Environment, and Economic Justice—intersect and interact, highlighting shared drivers, disruptors, and enablers across all four areas, as well as the cross-cutting issues of Gender Equality, Civic Space and Democracy, and Evolving Technology.

This session will focus on actionable strategies for implementing the C7 Communiqué recommendations. In a highly interactive breakout groups format, participants will engage in dynamic discussions that will further deepen our collective understanding, especially around the one or two topics most pertinent in 2025.

Parallel Working Group Sessions

1. Climate, Energy & Environment

2. Economic Justice

3. Humanitarian Action and Peace

4. Sustainable Development

This session will explore key lessons in advocacy, focusing on how civil society can effectively influence decision-makers, including governments and multilateral forums like the G7. Participants will discuss strategies for sustained engagement beyond the summit, leveraging key international moments to maximize impact. The session will also contribute to a participatory advocacy initiative highlighting the tangible benefits of investing in global cooperation. Outputs will include clear, action-oriented messaging and creative advocacy materials to support broader outreach efforts.

This session will allow civil society actors to explore how we respond to major shifts in global development finance: the deepening debt crisis and the dramatically changed landscape of official development assistance (ODA). As debt levels reach unsustainable heights across the Global South and reform of the global financial architecture stalls, civil society is grappling with how to push for systemic change while supporting immediate relief. At the same time, many governments, including those of the G7, are cutting aid budgets or redirecting funds toward domestic priorities, raising critical questions about the future of aid, power imbalances in financing, and how to uphold principles of equity and solidarity. 

The session will feature a panel and facilitated discussion focused on identifying changes civil society must make in this evolving context, including for international development, humanitarian action and climate justice. What narratives, tactics, and alliances do we need to shift? How do we advocate for justice-based financing solutions while navigating donor withdrawal? The session will therefore aim to surface concrete recommendations for the C7 ecosystem as well as broader advocacy toward the G7 and international groupings and financial institutions.

In 2025, the global ambitions to achieve gender justice stand at a critical juncture as persistent challenges and emerging geo-political complexities shape the way forward. As we approach the midpoint of the Sustainable Development Goals timeline and reflect on the commitments made during the Generation Equality Forum, it is crucial to examine the current state of gender justice around the world, celebrate hard-won gains and reassess our strategies to chart a course for the years ahead. Join us as we delve into the multifaceted landscape of gender justice in 2025, and identify the synergies for working together to envision and create a future where gender justice is not just an aspiration, but a lived reality for all.

The world is undergoing profound transformations driven by geopolitical shifts, conflicts, climate change, economic considerations, and technological innovation. While these changes present challenges, they also create opportunities to strengthen international cooperation, build more inclusive global governance, and foster collective action for a more just and sustainable world. The G7, G20, and other multilateral forums have a unique role in shaping this future, ensuring that collaboration remains effective, responsive, and inclusive.

This high-level panel will bring together senior diplomats from G7 and G20 countries, alongside Canada’s G7 and G20 Sherpa, to explore how international cooperation can adapt and thrive in this evolving landscape. Moderated by Kate Higgins, Cooperation Canada’s CEO, the discussion will highlight ways to reinforce multilateralism, promote inclusive decision-making, and unlock new solutions for shared global challenges.

-Réseautage et engagement entre la société civile, les représentant-e-s des gouvernements et les fonctionnaires diplomatiques.

-Déclarations du gouvernement du Canada et de la directrice générale de Coopération Canada.