When the best chance to view wildlife is dead on the side of a road – we recently saw a mangled owl, badger and fox in the space of a mile driving along the A30 – we know things have gone as wrong as they possibly can.

Unfortunately any glimmer of hope for the upcoming G7, whose aim is partly to “create a greener, more prosperous future” has been dashed before its even began. Taking place in Carbis Bay, a pricey coastal village in Cornwall from 11-13 June this year, “Visit Cornwall estimates the total economic impact for the county will be £50 million” – with presumably at least 75% of all profit immediately leaving the region. Cornwall isn’t one of the most deprived regions of Europe for nothing.

There is a stunning coastal walk from Lelant to St Ives, which takes in a handful of gorgeous sandy beaches, including Carbis Bay, which we have walked past several times in recent months. We noticed a lot of building going on, and where there’s building there’s destruction, but we thought little of it, until recently we heard reports of ancient trees and badger setts being destroyed and badgers being killed. There was footage uploaded to Facebook and the BBC and Guardian covered the story. Apparently the developers were denied planning permission to extend the hotel several years ago, but went ahead anyway.

My best hope for the summit? A tsunami to come and wash all the leaders away* (and any property developers and councillors too, for that matter). I actually do want to live in a world where I trust and respect its leaders. But it hasn’t happened so far.

*But how would nations survive? I hear you gasp. Well, if Belgium is anything to go by, just fine, thanks. The country has been without government twice in the last decade.