President Obama and other leaders backed historic new targets for tackling global warming last night in an agreement designed to pave the way for a world deal in the autumn. For the first time, America and the other seven richest economies agreed to the goal of keeping the world's average temperature from rising more than 2C (3.6F). They also agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 as they strove for a worldwide deal at Copenhagen in December. The moves were designed to put the squeeze on the world's developing nations, most of whose leaders will join the G8 for a debate chaired by President Obama today.
President Obama and other leaders backed historic new targets for tackling global warming last night in an agreement designed to pave the way for a world deal in the autumn.
For the first time, America and the other seven richest economies agreed to the goal of keeping the world's average temperature from rising more than 2C (3.6F).
They also agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 as they strove for a worldwide deal at Copenhagen in December.
The moves were designed to put the squeeze on the world's developing nations, most of whose leaders will join the G8 for a debate chaired by President Obama today.
The world's leading industrialized nations pledged to limit global warming to within two degrees of pre-industrial levels, but dates pegged to concrete emissions goals are a long way off. Leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized nations made a bid to prevent catastrophic climate change on Wednesday, calling for global warming to be kept to two degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels. They also agreed to new carbon emissions cut targets, pledging to cut emissions from within their borders by 80 percent by 2050. G-8 leaders also expressed hope that they would be able to convince rapidly developing nations to limit their own emissions, pitching in on an effort to cut worldwide emissions by 50 percent over that time. "We have agreed for the first time [in the G-8] that average global temperatures must rise by no more than two degrees...We hope that we will get that agreement tomorrow too," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said during a break in talks at the summit of G-8 leaders in the Italian town of L'Aquila.
Leaders of the Group of Eight industrialized nations made a bid to prevent catastrophic climate change on Wednesday, calling for global warming to be kept to two degrees centigrade above pre-industrial levels.
They also agreed to new carbon emissions cut targets, pledging to cut emissions from within their borders by 80 percent by 2050. G-8 leaders also expressed hope that they would be able to convince rapidly developing nations to limit their own emissions, pitching in on an effort to cut worldwide emissions by 50 percent over that time.
"We have agreed for the first time [in the G-8] that average global temperatures must rise by no more than two degrees...We hope that we will get that agreement tomorrow too," British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said during a break in talks at the summit of G-8 leaders in the Italian town of L'Aquila.
None of the G-8 countries is on track to fend off the dangers of climate change, WWF's Kim Carstensen told Deutsche Welle. Leaders need to agree on goals and financing for a deal at major climate talks in December. Kim Carstensen is the head of the World Wide Fund for Nature's Global Climate Initiative. The WWF and Allianz recently released the G-8 Climate Scorecards 2009, which rank G-8 members according to their improvements since 1990, their current status and their policies for the future. Deutsche Welle: How important of a role do the G-8 countries play in the potential success of climate talks at the end of the year in Copenhagen? Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Major economies need to carry the heaviest burden, says Carstensen Kim Carstensen: The level of commitment from developed countries needs to be carried by the biggest and strongest economies, and they are the G-8 countries. Without the G-8 countries coming together and committing to targets, committing to finances, committing to action on adaptation and on support for developing countries - if we don't get the G-8 countries to come forward and commit to that then it's going to be impossible to get a strong enough deal in Copenhagen in December.
Kim Carstensen is the head of the World Wide Fund for Nature's Global Climate Initiative. The WWF and Allianz recently released the G-8 Climate Scorecards 2009, which rank G-8 members according to their improvements since 1990, their current status and their policies for the future.
Deutsche Welle: How important of a role do the G-8 countries play in the potential success of climate talks at the end of the year in Copenhagen?
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Major economies need to carry the heaviest burden, says Carstensen
Kim Carstensen: The level of commitment from developed countries needs to be carried by the biggest and strongest economies, and they are the G-8 countries. Without the G-8 countries coming together and committing to targets, committing to finances, committing to action on adaptation and on support for developing countries - if we don't get the G-8 countries to come forward and commit to that then it's going to be impossible to get a strong enough deal in Copenhagen in December.
The G-8 state's pledge to limit global warming to two degrees sounds like a commendable target. But German commentators warn that concrete details are needed to prove the proposal isn't just a bunch of hot air. Promises are all very well, but show us the money: That, in a nutshell, is the reaction of scientists and environmentalists to the G-8 states' commitment to limit global warning to just two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), compared to levels at the start of the industrial age. The G-8 summit logo: Leaders have agreed to limit global warming to two degrees compared to pre-industrial levels. Leaders of the G-8 member states -- the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, Britain, Italy, France and Russia -- announced the promise on Wednesday, the first day of their summit in L'Aquila, Italy. They also said that rich countries should cut emissions by 80 percent by 2050 while the world as a whole should cut them by 50 percent by 2050. The commitment is seen as an important preparatory step for the major United Nations climate change summit in Copenhagen in December, where delegates are hoping to reach a deal on a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol. Still, scientists and environmentalists reacted with skepticism to the G-8 promise, saying there was no information about how the targets were actually going to be met. The role of developing and emerging economies, who are producing an increasing share of greenhouse emissions, is also crucial. In a key session to be chaired by US President Barack Obama at the summit on Thursday, G-8 leaders will meet with members of the G-5 group -- Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa -- in a bid to get them to sign up to the newly announced targets.
The G-8 state's pledge to limit global warming to two degrees sounds like a commendable target. But German commentators warn that concrete details are needed to prove the proposal isn't just a bunch of hot air.
Promises are all very well, but show us the money: That, in a nutshell, is the reaction of scientists and environmentalists to the G-8 states' commitment to limit global warning to just two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit), compared to levels at the start of the industrial age.
The G-8 summit logo: Leaders have agreed to limit global warming to two degrees compared to pre-industrial levels. Leaders of the G-8 member states -- the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, Britain, Italy, France and Russia -- announced the promise on Wednesday, the first day of their summit in L'Aquila, Italy. They also said that rich countries should cut emissions by 80 percent by 2050 while the world as a whole should cut them by 50 percent by 2050. The commitment is seen as an important preparatory step for the major United Nations climate change summit in Copenhagen in December, where delegates are hoping to reach a deal on a successor treaty to the Kyoto Protocol.
Still, scientists and environmentalists reacted with skepticism to the G-8 promise, saying there was no information about how the targets were actually going to be met. The role of developing and emerging economies, who are producing an increasing share of greenhouse emissions, is also crucial. In a key session to be chaired by US President Barack Obama at the summit on Thursday, G-8 leaders will meet with members of the G-5 group -- Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa -- in a bid to get them to sign up to the newly announced targets.
The G8 summit in Italy welcomes emerging economic powerhouses, including China, India and Brazil, for talks aimed at reaching a new deal to combat global warming. Five emerging economies have joined the G8 summit at L'Aquila in Italy for talks on climate change and the global financial downturn, amid reports of small progress in tackling environmental issues. On Wednesday, the Group of Eight countries - USA, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, Italy, Canada and Russia - agreed to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. While leaders agreed to cut emissions by between 50 and 80 percent by mid-century, Russia dismissed the target as "unacceptable and unattainable."
Five emerging economies have joined the G8 summit at L'Aquila in Italy for talks on climate change and the global financial downturn, amid reports of small progress in tackling environmental issues. On Wednesday, the Group of Eight countries - USA, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, Italy, Canada and Russia - agreed to limit global warming to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times. While leaders agreed to cut emissions by between 50 and 80 percent by mid-century, Russia dismissed the target as "unacceptable and unattainable."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has criticised leaders of the G8 industrial nations for failing to make deeper commitments to combat climate change.On Wednesday, the leaders, meeting in Italy, agreed to cut emissions by 80% by 2050, but Mr Ban said big cuts were needed sooner rather than later. The leaders are set to meet their counterparts from emerging economies to discuss a new deal on global warming. US President Barack Obama will chair the session, in the city of L'Aquila.The second day of the summit has begun, opening up its discussions to take in the so-called G5 nations - Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. Egypt is a special invitee.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has criticised leaders of the G8 industrial nations for failing to make deeper commitments to combat climate change.
On Wednesday, the leaders, meeting in Italy, agreed to cut emissions by 80% by 2050, but Mr Ban said big cuts were needed sooner rather than later.
The leaders are set to meet their counterparts from emerging economies to discuss a new deal on global warming.
US President Barack Obama will chair the session, in the city of L'Aquila.
The second day of the summit has begun, opening up its discussions to take in the so-called G5 nations - Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. Egypt is a special invitee.
In a separate joint statement, the G-8 said it was committed to finding a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program and urged Iran to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency. "We sincerely hope that Iran will seize this opportunity to give diplomacy a chance," the statement said. Western countries believe Iran is trying to build an atomic bomb. Tehran says its uranium-enrichment program has purely civilian aims and has rejected all overtures for talks. Growing impatience with Tehran The United States and Canada said the world's main industrialized nations were growing increasingly impatient with Iran's tactics.
In a separate joint statement, the G-8 said it was committed to finding a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program and urged Iran to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency. "We sincerely hope that Iran will seize this opportunity to give diplomacy a chance," the statement said.
Western countries believe Iran is trying to build an atomic bomb. Tehran says its uranium-enrichment program has purely civilian aims and has rejected all overtures for talks.
Growing impatience with Tehran
The United States and Canada said the world's main industrialized nations were growing increasingly impatient with Iran's tactics.
The helicopter blades have stopped turning, the limousine engines have been switched off.All the VIPs who have been flown or driven to the G8 summit in the central Italian city of L'Aquila have now arrived. But even as it got under way there have been some who have been saying it has been badly organised. Britain's Guardian newspaper was one that said preparations were so chaotic that there have been murmurings from other member states about expelling Italy from the G8. The paper said that moving the summit from Sardinia to L'Aquila, which was hit by an earthquake in April, had created a situation where other countries were setting the agenda for the conference, instead of the host, Italy. The Italians have reacted with anger and disbelief. Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said it should be The Guardian who ought to be expelled from the list of great newspapers.
The helicopter blades have stopped turning, the limousine engines have been switched off.
All the VIPs who have been flown or driven to the G8 summit in the central Italian city of L'Aquila have now arrived.
But even as it got under way there have been some who have been saying it has been badly organised.
Britain's Guardian newspaper was one that said preparations were so chaotic that there have been murmurings from other member states about expelling Italy from the G8.
The paper said that moving the summit from Sardinia to L'Aquila, which was hit by an earthquake in April, had created a situation where other countries were setting the agenda for the conference, instead of the host, Italy.
The Italians have reacted with anger and disbelief.
Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said it should be The Guardian who ought to be expelled from the list of great newspapers.
Italians break convention and listen in Whenever G8 leaders gather for their annual talks, an elaborate ritual unfolds to ensure the conversations within this elite club are kept confidential. There will be no recording or note-taking of their deliberations, and each head of government is accompanied by just one aide - the "sherpa" - who is allowed to communicate with those outside the closed room only through a digital pen. Their huddle is projected on a video to aides outside the conference room, without sound. Their mouths are digitally blacked out. It is a process that has been respected each year. Only once, in St Petersburg in 2006 - when a microphone picked up an exchange between then US president George W. Bush and Tony Blair, British prime minister at the time - has part of their conversation leaked out. The Italians insist there is no change in procedure this time. But the Financial Times has learnt from a senior official, who requested anonymity, that Italian aides did listen to yesterday's proceedings through headphones from nearby rooms. A document obtained by the FT, written earlier by a member of the organising team, urged discretion. "Pay attention not to tell the other delegations about our facility, otherwise they will all want it and that is not possible," it said.
Whenever G8 leaders gather for their annual talks, an elaborate ritual unfolds to ensure the conversations within this elite club are kept confidential.
There will be no recording or note-taking of their deliberations, and each head of government is accompanied by just one aide - the "sherpa" - who is allowed to communicate with those outside the closed room only through a digital pen.
Their huddle is projected on a video to aides outside the conference room, without sound. Their mouths are digitally blacked out.
It is a process that has been respected each year. Only once, in St Petersburg in 2006 - when a microphone picked up an exchange between then US president George W. Bush and Tony Blair, British prime minister at the time - has part of their conversation leaked out. The Italians insist there is no change in procedure this time.
But the Financial Times has learnt from a senior official, who requested anonymity, that Italian aides did listen to yesterday's proceedings through headphones from nearby rooms.
A document obtained by the FT, written earlier by a member of the organising team, urged discretion. "Pay attention not to tell the other delegations about our facility, otherwise they will all want it and that is not possible," it said.
Poor Obama! being set up by a stubby buffoon and his paranoid Libyan business partner. This is not going to go over in the States where Kheddafi is heartedly detested, especially by the conservative base. I frankly wonder if B is pulling off a dirty trick on behalf of his neocon chums.
Obama will grin and bear it. May he even the score asap.
Obama Shakes Hands With Libya's Qaddafi President Obama's gesture was his latest effort to reach out to controversial world leaders in an attempt to improve the United States' standing around the world that he says was damaged by former President Bush's unilateral diplomacy. President Obama shook hands with Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi Thursday, a sign that relations have improved considerably between the U.S. and the North African nation. The two met as they posed for pictures ahead of a G-8 summit dinner hosted by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano. Obama's diplomatic gesture was his latest effort to reach out to controversial world leaders in an attempt to improve the United States' standing around the world, which he says was damaged by former President Bush's unilateral diplomacy. But it was Bush who restored full diplomatic relations with Libya in 2006 after the formerly isolated country, which was recognized as a sponsor of terrorism, announced it was ending its weapons of mass destruction program.
President Obama's gesture was his latest effort to reach out to controversial world leaders in an attempt to improve the United States' standing around the world that he says was damaged by former President Bush's unilateral diplomacy.
President Obama shook hands with Libyan leader Muammar al-Qaddafi Thursday, a sign that relations have improved considerably between the U.S. and the North African nation.
The two met as they posed for pictures ahead of a G-8 summit dinner hosted by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.
Obama's diplomatic gesture was his latest effort to reach out to controversial world leaders in an attempt to improve the United States' standing around the world, which he says was damaged by former President Bush's unilateral diplomacy.
But it was Bush who restored full diplomatic relations with Libya in 2006 after the formerly isolated country, which was recognized as a sponsor of terrorism, announced it was ending its weapons of mass destruction program.
If we look at the dinner setting the message B is conveying is that he is responsible for détente between Qaddafi and Obama. Unmerited credit.
