Climate Change Clouds and the G8 Summit
The headline issues of past G8 summits during George W. Bush's presidency have included the Iraq war, trade, and development aid. But climate change may be the issue that has resonated most consistently, starting with the 2001 Genoa summit, where Bush underscored his rejection of the Kyoto treaty.
The headline issues of past G8 summits during George W. Bush's presidency have included the Iraq war, trade, and development aid. But climate change may be the issue that has resonated most consistently, starting with the 2001 Genoa summit, where Bush underscored his rejection of the Kyoto treaty.
During Bush's final G8 summit, which opened in Japan on July 7, leaders agreed to seek UN sanctions for Zimbabwe (UK Independent) and called on countries to lift food export bans and to make biofuels compatible with food security.
Yet it was climate change policy that dominated the meeting, and member states agreed to adopt a goal of reducing emissions 50 percent by 2050.
This moves beyond last year's pledge by G8 countries only to "seriously consider" the goal rather than adopt it.
But Washington blocked proposals on interim emissions targets and benchmarks. Environmentalists expressed disappointment in the lack of interim targets (Reuters) and contended the long-term goal did little more than "restate last year's G8 commitment."
Read full article on the Washington Post website
Source: The Washington Post website
