The Group of 77 (G77) at the United Nations (UN) is a coalition of developing countries, designed to promote its members' collective economic interests and create an enhanced joint negotiating capacity in the United Nations.[1]: 79 The group consists of a diverse set of states with a common South-South ideology.[2] There were 77 founding members of the organization headquartered in Geneva, but it has since expanded to 134 member countries.[1]: 79–80 Uganda holds its chairmanship for 2024, succeeding Cuba.
Regarding environmental matters, the G77's position is that the developed countries bear historical responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions, pointing also to the disparity in per capita emissions between the developing and developed countries.[8]: 53 As a result, the G77 often resists binding commitments to reduce its emissions.[8]: 53 The G77 has been subject to criticism for its lacklustre support, or outright opposition, to pro-environmental initiatives, which the group considers secondary to economic development and poverty eradication initiatives.[6]: 30 In turn, the G77 has criticized the wealthier nations for their insufficient attention to poverty eradication, including at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.[6]: 30–31
Members
Group of 77 countries as of 2013
As of 2023, the group comprises all of the UN member states (along with the UN observer State of Palestine), excluding the following countries:
New Zealand signed the original "Joint Declaration of the Developing Countries" in October 1963 but pulled out of the group before the formation of the G77 in 1964 (it joined the OECD in 1973).
South Korea was a founding member but left the Group after joining the OECD in 1996.
Yugoslavia was a founding member; by the late 1990s, it was still listed on the membership list, but it was noted that it "cannot participate in the activities of G77." It was removed from the list in late 2003.[citation needed] It had presided over the group from 1985 to 1986.
Bosnia and Herzegovina was the only former Yugoslavian state to be listed as a member on the G77 official website in 2007;[14] it was removed from the member list in February 2020.[15][16]
Cyprus was a founding member[9] but was no longer listed on the official membership list after it acceded to the European Union in 2004.[citation needed] A document from 1975 states that Cyprus is not a member.[12]
Malta was admitted to the Group in 1976 but was no longer listed on the official membership list after it acceded to the European Union in 2004.
Palau joined the Group in 2002 but withdrew in 2004, having decided that it could best pursue its environmental interests through the Alliance of Small Island States.
Romania was classed as a Latin American country for the purposes of the G77, having joined in 1976.[17][18] The G77 was divided into geographical regions, and because there was technically no European area, Romania was placed under the umbrella of Latin America.[19] Romania left the G77 following its accession to the European Union.[20]
China
The Group of 77 lists China as one of its members.[21] The Chinese government provides consistent political support to the G77 and has made financial contributions to the Group since 1994, but it does not consider itself to be a member.[22] As a result, official statements of the G77 are delivered in the name of The Group of 77 and China or G77+China.[23]
Presiding countries
The following is the chain of succession of the chairmanship of the G77:[24]
Presiding countries of the G77 since 1970. Colors show the number of times a country has held the position. Gray = never, Yellow = once, Orange = twice, Red = three times
The Group of 24 (G-24) is a chapter of the G-77 that was established in 1971 to coordinate the positions of developing countries on international monetary and development finance issues and to ensure that their interests were adequately represented in negotiations on international monetary matters. Every member of the G-24 is also a member of the G77.
^Mexico was a founding member but left the Group after joining the OECD in 1994. Its rejoining the organization was approved in 2023.[11] Despite the approval, Mexico does not appear yet as a member on the official website of the organization.
^ abLewis, Joanna I. (2020). "China's Low-Carbon Energy Strategy". In Esarey, Ashley; Haddad, Mary Alice; Lewis, Joanna I.; Harrell, Stevan (eds.). Greening East Asia: The Rise of the Eco-Developmental State. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN978-0-295-74791-0. JSTORj.ctv19rs1b2.
