G8/Japan

G8 pledges to halve greenhouse gases

Article published on the 2008-07-08 Latest update 2008-07-08 09:25 TU

G8 press conference.
( Photo : AFP )

World leaders have agreed a global target of cutting carbon emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2050 in an effort to tackle climate change. Japan's Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, announced the deal after all-night negotiations at a summit of the Group of Eight at Toyako on Hokkaido island. The group also expressed serious concerns about the threat posed to the global economy by soaring oil prices.

Global warming has been one of the most difficult issues tackled by the G8 leaders, with disputes over targets and expectations of developing countries.

Fukuda said he would call for the co-operation of China and India in cutting emissions when they join the meeting on Wednesday, while UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Monday that the United States must take the lead in fighting climate change as he opened the talks.

"I hope the US ultimately should take all this leadership role. This is what the whole international community expects of the United States," Ban told the French news agency AFP.

Ban also said he would meet on the sidelines with African leaders in a bid to resolve the political crisis in Zimbabwe and that he spoke about climate change with Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao during a visit last week to Beijing.

"I know that the Chinese and Indians, they are also committed to this process. I was encouraged by what Chinese leaders have told me," Ban said.

The G8 - which consists of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States - is set to meet Wednesday in an extended session with leaders of emerging economies including Hu and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Both major candidates to succeed US President George W. Bush have promised tougher action on climate change. A UN-led conference in Bali in December set a goal of reaching a post-Kyoto deal by the end of 2009.

The last G8 summit in Germany agreed that industrial powers would "consider seriously" at least halving carbon emissions blamed for global warming by 2050.