IN THE NEWS: Climate Compromise in Works at G8

OneWorld US
June 5, 2007

Citizens for Global Solutions relayed news this morning that a climate compromise might be forthcoming from the G8 negotiations, where U.S. intransigence had been expected to hold up any sort of meaningful deal to cut global carbon emissions.

Environmental Defense called the agreement "an important step forward" but focused on the need for the U.S. Congress to step into the fray with a firm cap on U.S. carbon emissions.

Meanwhile, China, which is only an informal participant at this week's G8 summit and not subject to the dictums of the Kyoto Protocol, unveiled its first national plan on climate change this Monday. More on that below from the Worldwatch Institute's China Watch initiative.

From the Citizens for Global Solutions blog

09:36:42 am, by Becca Brown

Reuters reports that the G8 leaders have agreed to a "substantial reduction of greenhouse gases," and a re-commitment to UN climate negotiations, but the final G8 communique will not include the firm emissions targets sought by Europe.

The G8 'sherpas' met late into the night last night to hammer out new draft language on climate change. According to the Financial Times, the new draft includes a commitment by all the G8 nations, including the U.S., to negotiate a UN climate agreement by 2009.

"The U.S. will be actively involved -- if not taking the lead -- in a post-Kyoto framework."
- President Bush, speaking this morning at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany

If this language remains in the final communique, it would represent a significant policy shift for the Bush administration, which has consistently opposed U.S. participation in the Kyoto Protocol, and refused to participate in UN climate negotiations.

Speaking after a meeting with Bush this morning, Prime Minister Blair waxed optimistic about the outcome.

"I think that it is possible that we’ll leave the summit with a commitment on the part of everyone to a substantial reduction of greenhouse gases by 2050 as a global target that is of the order of the type of figures the Europeans are talking about,” said Mr Blair.

Negotiations on climate change will continue this afternoon...

-Becca