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G-8 Summit: Leaders Agree to Halve Greenhouse Emissions by 2050
The major industrial nations have endorsed the goal of halving climate-damaging greenhouse gases by 2020. The G-8 wants to take this joint position into the negotiations on a follow-on agreement to the Kyoto Protocol. Chancellor Angela Merkel described the move as clear progress in protecting the climate. With their new accord, the eight heads of state and government meeting in Japan go beyond the agreements reached last year at Heiligendamm, where the seven largest industrial nations and Russia, with Germany presiding, agreed to seriously consider whether it would be possible to halve carbon emissions by 2050. Assuming Leadership in Climate Protection The new resolution represents the first time that the United States has also promised to reduce its greenhouse gases. Now the effort will focus on including developing countries such as China and India. "We can no longer stop the rise in temperatures alone; rather, we need all efforts," Merkel stressed on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The G-8 will consult on the second largest island of Japan until Wednesday, addressing issues ranging from climate protection to food and energy security to development of the African continent. At that time, the G-8 members will also have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with the developing countries, in accordance with the process launched at Heiligendamm. Already in the run-up to the talks with the governments of these countries, Chancellor Merkel emphasized that the industrial nations were assuming greater responsibility for setting ambitious climate goals. With the newly agreed target, the G-8 nations want to enter into the negotiations on the next climate convention, scheduled to take place in Copenhagen at the end of 2009. The negotiations are taking place under the auspices of the United Nations. Merkel said the G-8 has a clear obligation to reach a conclusion at the climate conference.
Joint, Gradual Progress Towards Targets on Climate Protection At the same time, the Chancellor urged patience, stating there would be "many hard negotiations" before the nations could reach a successful conclusion because medium-term strategies and intermediate steps are needed first before the long-term goal of climate protection can be achieved. With respect to Europe, Merkel pointed to the EU climate targets to be achieved by 2020, which were also agreed last year during the German EU presidency. On Wednesday morning, the G-8 could achieve a further important milestone. For the first time, the 16 heads of state and government of the world’s largest economies will meet to discuss climate protection. In addition to the five developing nations of Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and South Africa, the countries of Australia, Indonesia, and Korea will also sit together at the table. "The issue has risen to the top levels of government, where it also belongs," the Chancellor said with satisfaction. Neither climate change nor turbulence on the international financial markets stops at national borders, which is why there can only be one strategy. Of that Merkel is convinced: "We must learn to think, live, and make decisions globally." International organizations play an increasingly important role in this effort. But they must work more closely together in order to be able to manage the global economy. According to Merkel, the financial crisis has shown that the International Monetary Fund, for example, could assume the function of an early warning system. Need for Transparent Oil Prices The effort to ensure a secure and sustainable energy supply has many aspects – from climate protection to economic and social issues. In light of rapidly rising oil prices, the G-8 countries want to strive for greater transparency in producer countries. At the same time, demand needs to be curbed through the use of more renewable energies and greater energy efficiency. "We have to become less dependent on oil and gas," the Chancellor reaffirmed following the consultations. Source: translated from REGIERUNGonline July 8, 2008 Links
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