Need to know: World leaders meet at Carbis Bay for the G7 summit on Friday – what’s on the agenda and why Cornwall?

Two-factor identification, 10-foot steel fences and heavily policed streets – for onlookers, it sounds like something out of 1984. But for the residents of Carbis Bay, it’s the reality of living at the epicentre of the G7 summit.

This Friday, some of the world’s most powerful leaders will descend on the tiny Cornish seaside town in southwest Cornwall for the G7 summit. Besides its golden beaches, scenic views and lapping waves, Carbis Bay is a somewhat unusual destination for the world’s political A-listers. The small town – known as the subtropical suburb of St Ives – has a population of 3,500 and tends to feel like a sale d’attente for its upmarket neighbour.

The location was the choice of the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson – who claims to have Cornish roots – as he holds the rotating presidency for the G7 this year. Between 11 and 13 June, global leaders from Canada, Italy, Germany, Japan, France, the UK and the US will stay in Carbis Bay. It’s a big occasion, as it’s first time the leaders have seen each other since the pandemic outbreak last March and US President Joe Biden’s first trip to Europe since being elected.

Top of the agenda will be climate change, trade and – of course – Covid recovery. Including more of a general debate over a “stronger global health system that can protect us all from future pandemics.”

As drones and presidential choppers swirl around the Cornish blue skies, here is what you need to know ahead of the G7 summit:

Who will be attending?

All the G7 leaders will be there: they include Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Canada), President Emmanuel Macron (France), Chancellor Angela Merkel (Germany), Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga (Japan), Prime Minister Mario Draghi (Italy), Prime Minister Boris Johnson (UK) and President Joe Biden (USA). The summit will mark Prime Minister Suga’s and President Biden’s first-ever G7 summit.

Other leaders from non-member countries who have been invited include South Korean President Moon Jae-In, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (who will be appearing virtually due to the severity of the pandemic in India). The President of the European Council Charles Michel, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will also be there.

What’s on the agenda?

Since 1975, representatives from the seven nations have met annually to discuss issues ranging from debt relief for developing countries to health emergencies such as HIV and AIDS to global security threats.

The goal of this year’s summit, according to the G7 UK website, is to: “Help the world fight, and then build back better from coronavirus and create a greener, more prosperous future.” As part of this “build back better” agenda, the UK has highlighted pandemic recovery, free and fair trade, new technologies and championing “shared values” as “policy priorities” for the summit.

Climate change is also likely to be high up on the agenda, with Boris Johnson saying he wants the nations to “create a greener, more prosperous future” in what has been pledged to be the first carbon-neutral G7 summit. The UK recently set the climate change target of reducing emissions by 78 per cent by 2035 compared to 1990 levels and to reach net-zero by 2050 – and the PM is likely to urge other leaders to do the same.

Why Carbis Bay?

With over 400 miles of coastline, the PM sees Cornwall as an ideal location because of its green credentials and new moniker as the “Klondike of lithium”. Johnson believes the region will be the driver of the UKs “green revolution” with the country’s first geothermal power plant and lithium extraction site situated there. For Johnson, flaunting the country’s green credentials is especially important ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow in November.

He also hopes that hosting the summit will positively impact local businesses after the detrimental impact of Covid-19. He said: “This summer, Cornwall will again be the nucleus of great global change and advancement.”

How have locals reacted?

Local citizens and businesses have not responded to the summit with the same enthusiasm. Road closures and massive disruptions around Newquay airport and Falmouth are driving locals to despair, with some diversions sending people on a 30-mile long drive along the coastal road.

Residents of entire streets near the Carbis Bay Hotel will have to show two forms of identification to access their properties, and tradespeople or family members visiting a property in the area will have to speak to the police first. One resident of Carbis Bay told CornwallLive: “I wish the G7 wasn’t happening, like everyone else here. People are saying this will put Carbis Bay and St Ives on the map – but they were already on the map. The roads are terrible – it’s not going to bring any more people into the area as we’re already full.”

David Upton is the landlord of the Cornish Arms in Carbis Bay and has vented his frustrations over the congestion in the area and how it has affected his business. He said: “The traffic has been a nightmare for the last couple of weeks whilst they’ve been doing security, putting up barriers, sealing the drains. Unfortunately, my pub is right in the middle of the two main venues, the Tregenna Castle and the Carbis Bay Hotel, and so the road outside my pub will be closed during the event.”

The main road to Carbis Bay and St Ives will be closed off from Thursday, leaving many disgruntled and fleeing elsewhere. Locals claim they see no sign of this alleged “positive impact” and are far more concerned about the impact on their business, travelling back-and-forth and walking their dog without having to flash their ID.

Where will they be staying?

Some leaders will be staying at the Carbis Bay Hotel, where the summit is also being hosted. The four-star hotel is on a 125-estate and has undergone a £25million redevelopment project. The hotel now includes a two-storey spa extension, a new gym, treatment rooms, and an outdoor swimming pool that directly overlooks the bay.

The  choice of hotel has met with scepticism. “Why has the Prime Minister decided to inflict cruel and unusual punishment on his fellow world leaders?” asks Adam Raphael, the editor of the Good Hotel Guide. “The Carbis Bay Hotel near St Ives is not just a trek for Macron, Merkel, Biden et al. but it is an odd choice of venue.”

Yet it also has the most spectacular view across the bay, and a huge beach for those willing to stroll for a photo-shoot. There is also a beautiful spa area where dignitaries can escape for scrubs, seaweed wraps, aromatherapy,  or a £125 “Anti-Ageing Restorative Facials” to revive themselves after lengthy trade talks. It’s often in places like this that the real negotiating takes place .

Others will be staying at the grand Tregenna Castle or Una St Ives for the duration of their stay. Both hotels are in a prime location, where – if they have a moment spare – leaders can get their cultural fix by visiting the Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden, Tate St Ives or Leach Pottery. For the gastronomes amongst the leaders, they could always head for some fresh seafood at the esteemed Porthminster Café. Or, for those after a quick fix, a box of fish ‘n’ chips from Harbour Restaurant or a pasty from St Ives’s Bakery should do the trick.

How will they get there?

It’s either by car, which from London can take up to seven hours or the GWR Riviera train from Paddington to St Ives, via St Erth. Attendees could also fly into Newquay airport or charter a helicopter service. Sadly, as much as it’d be nice to envisage Angela Merkel and Joe Biden clinking breakfast teas on the St Erth-St Ives train, it is likely that most of the G7 contingent will be flying into Newquay before travelling onto the town in cars.

In Biden’s case, there have already been local sightings of Presidential helicopters landing at Tregenna Castle in St Ives. It has also been rumoured that he has swapped his armoured “Beast” limousine for a “mini-Beast” to travel around the narrow and windy lanes. We can expect other state officials to follow suit.

Will there be security?

Up to 5,000 officers and police staff will be deployed from across England, with Devon and Cornwall Police having to plan everything from their accommodation to their meals. Police have also hired a cruise ship to help house officers off nearby Falmouth.

Specialist units of police officers who are trained in public order and riot control will be deployed to Carbis Bay to deal with potential protests, with 150 police dogs also on duty. Security is likely to cost around £70 million.

 Extinction Rebellion, the eco-activists, has warned Falmouth residents they are planning a series of peaceful protests during the G7 summit. They have also apologised ahead of the protests, but promise they will be peaceful and Covid-safe. but they maintained that their protesting would be entirely peaceful and Covid-safe.

Is the G7 worth the hype and hassle?