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Where are the tough targets on emissions we were expecting from the G8?
Posted by saunvedan on 9 July 2008.
When the G8 announced a 50 per cent cut in emissions by 2050, the obvious question that popped up was ‘50 per cent cut in comparison to when?' Even Yasuo Fukuda, the prime minister of Japan where the G8 is being hosted was thrown and answered the cuts would be in comparison to present levels. This is just an example of how ambiguous and indefinite the G8 is on tackling climate change.
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The Independent: G8 accused of 'failing the world' on carbon cuts
Leaders of the world's richest nations have kept alive hope of a global agreement to combat climate change by agreeing to cut their carbon emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2050.
Environmental groups said the agreement at the G8 summit in Japan did not go far enough, and the search for a deal moves to the talks about a "son of Kyoto" global agreement in Copenhagen next year.
100 months to save the Earth
Posted by John Sauven on 8 July 2008.
Today's G8 announcements on climate change set the bar too low, writes Greenpeace's John Sauven for Comment is free.
The informal annual gathering of the world's most powerful leaders emerged after the oil crisis and the subsequent recession in the 1970s. The vested interests of this group in the global economy and access to the world's resources are obvious. The eight countries now forming the group represent between them the bulk of the world's economic activity; they also own most of the world's firepower and consume most of the world's resources.
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Weasel words and hot air
Posted by bex on 7 June 2007.
It was a bad day for the fight against climate change. The G8 has met and published their deal (pdf) and, despite the spin, it wasn't the deal the world needs.
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G8 deal - Greenpeace response
Reacting to today's G8 agreement on climate change, Greenpeace UK director John Sauven said:
"George Bush's final gift to Blair falls short of what was needed to protect the climate. An agreement without targets is barely worth the paper it's written on."
He continued: "Bush says the US will 'seriously consider' substantial long term cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, but that's like saying aid to Africa is a good thing then refusing to actually commit to donating a single dollar."
He added:
"Scientists tell us we need to slash emissions over the next decade if we're to have a chance of preventing dangerous climate change. This document acknowledges the seriousness of the situation then ducks reality by offering weasel words like 'seriously considering', as if this was an after dinner discussion rather than the most important issue facing the world."
The document can be read here (pdf).
For more information, contact the Greenpeace press office – 0207 865 8255
G8: the deal
Posted by bex on 7 June 2007.
The G8 has released the summit declaration, "Growth and responsibility in the world economy"; you can read it here (pdf). More coming soon.
Greenpeace boats deliver the message: G8 Act Now!
Posted by bex on 7 June 2007.
An hour or so ago, 11 inflatable boats carrying 24 Greenpeace volunteers, sped towards the G8 summit. Chased by police, two boats entered the exclusion zone around the Heilingendamm summit, where world leaders are due to discuss climate change later today. The police stopped some of the inflatables, knocking two of them over (three Greenpeace folk were injured and are on their way to hospital now).
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G8: the story so far
Posted by bex on 7 June 2007.
UPDATE - 12.40pm: There have been boat chases and arrests near the G8, as Greenpeace inflatables entered the exclusion zone.
After a week of farcical manoeuvrings and diversions in the run up to the G8, today’s the day of reckoning; this afternoon, Angela Merkel, George Bush, Tony Blair et al will sit down in Heiligendamm to talk about climate change. The interplay of power between them will help determine if, how and when climate change is seriously tackled by the world’s most polluting countries.
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Bush at the G8 - Greenpeace response
Responding to reports that President Bush will not sign up to a proposed target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50 per cent by 2050 at the G8 meeting, Greenpeace director John Sauven said:
"It took George Bush precisely one week to prove his critics right by slipping back into his default position of blocking action on climate change. Binding international targets are an indispensable weapon in the fight to keep temperature rises below two degrees, but Bush would rather we cross our fingers and hope for a techno-fix. The rest of the G8 should look beyond the White House and find partners in progressive states like California, where action by responsible politicians is leaving the President as isolated at home as he is abroad."
James Connaughton, President Bush's senior climate adviser, made clear today that the US did not believe the G8 should be the forum for setting targets. He told reporters: "There is significant agreement that those should be established on a national basis, and the only area of disagreement is that the G8 should dictate the national policies of its members."
For more information contact the Greenpeace press office on 0207 865 8255
George Bush: Mugging the G8
Posted by John Sauven on 1 June 2007.
Written by John Sauven for Comment is Free.
So this is it. After years of denial, evasion and hostility George Bush has finally been forced to play defence on climate change. It’s good news, right? Tony Blair called the President’s speech yesterday "a big step forward". Well I call it a disaster. Yesterday afternoon George Bush committed a squalid street mugging on the G8 process and the Kyoto Protocol, and Tony Blair just stood behind him grinning.
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