by Katie Fretland
The Group of Eight industrialized nations today decided on a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050 in an effort to combat global warming, but environmentalists say the proposal falls short of setting more immediate goals.
Leaders from the United States, Japan, Russia, Germany, France, Britain, Canada and Italy issued a joint communique asking for a global response from all major economies on climate change.
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said long negotiations in the year since the last G8 summit in Germany led to today's agreement.
However, environmentalists criticized the plan.
Marthinus van Schalkwyk, the South African minister of environmental affairs and tourism, called the statement an "empty slogan."
"To be meaningful and credible, a long term goal must have a base year, it must be underpinned by ambitious midterm targets and actions," van Schalkwyk said.
Kim Carstensen, director of the World Wildlife Fund's Global Climate Initiative, said the G8's agreement reflects little change since the last summit.
"So little progress after a whole year of minister meetings and negotiations is not only a wasted opportunity, it falls dangerously short of what is needed to protect people and nature from climate change," Carstensen said.
Greenhouse gas emissions must fall within the next 15 years, scientists have said, in order to keep global temperatures down and avoid serious damage to the environment and extreme weather.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
(Photo by AP shows British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, President Bush and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper--left to right.)
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Comments
The pledge is a complete waste of time--and gas. Just like prior pledges.
If reporter Fretland would try and get reactions from a broader range of observers, instead of just from self-styled "environmental" groups, she'd have to report that these governments have in the past all funked out of their pledges of emissions cuts because the governments realize they'll strangle their economies if they try to do so. And that these costly cuts might make Ed Begley Jr. happy, but would result in no discernible improvement to the environment.
Posted by: Bruce | July 8, 2008 9:41 AM
Make big auto bring back the electric car for everyday communting purposes (Who Killed the Electric Car available on DVD).
Stop all the stupid oil shale plots in upstate new york and pa area.
These pigs are ruining our planet (they ruined the country long ago.)
stop the coal shenanigans in appalachia--we need solar and wind small and big scale in desert areas for production and on housetops to supplement.
clean energy is a right--not a commodity.
Posted by: Golden "Hussein" Oldie | July 8, 2008 9:47 AM
The UK Telegraph reports that the G8 leaders feasted, while their biofuels policies drive up the cost of food:
"The Prime Minister was served 24 different dishes during his first day at the summit – just hours after urging the world to reduce the "unnecessary demand" for food and calling on British families to cut back on their wasteful use of food.
Mr Brown and his wife Sarah were among 15 guests at the "blessings of the earth and the sea social dinner".
The dinner consisted of 18 dishes in eight courses including caviar, smoked salmon, Kyoto beef and a "G8 fantasy dessert"."
"G8 fantasy" is exceptionally appropriate for "Does as I say, not as I do" politicians.
The full (and very lengthy) menu of the banquet is posted at www.order-order.com.
Posted by: Bruce | July 8, 2008 11:11 AM
2050 !! There will not be any environment worth protecting. The nonsense of these Corporatists is disappointing, to say the least !! There is no urgency in there concerns for our environment and that is very disturbing. What good will economies be when there is nor viable and safe environment in which to live. Now, we are now looking at big giveaways of SUVs and other light trucks, just so the Auto Corps don't have to eat their planning mistakes!! Hummers at a garage sale!! Only in America and you know what, I bet those Corps will have the American taxpayer paying for their mistakes, in the form of tax-write offs, because of their lack of foresight and initiative !! The Corps sure have found a nation of suckers and we, happily, go off to the poor house and it isn't any where near Crawford !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | July 8, 2008 11:19 AM
Bruce is right, forcing industry to make sensible changes that improve lives will destroy the economy. Detroit automakers folded into bankruptcy when the government required them to install seatbelts in all new models way back.....wait.
Posted by: john | July 8, 2008 1:32 PM
The polar bears will be dead by 2050. BushCo manipulated scientific reports on climate change for the past 7 1/2 years. The Indian Nations of North America need to be included in environmental discussions and agreements. They have standing here. Common sense and a real love for the earth would be good.
Posted by: Vivian | July 8, 2008 7:24 PM