TAG | G-8 to cut emissions, environmentalists aren’t happy |
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| by William Atkins | |
| Wednesday, 09 July 2008 | |
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Page 2 of 3 At the same time, environmental critics of the plan say that the G-8 group did not bother to commit to any short-term targets such as goals to reduce the continuing increase in surface temperature around the world. They stated that the agreement only addresses “total world emissions” rather than “world greenhouse emissions by country.” They also argue that a 50% reduction is too small of a reduction by 2050; that a base year (such as 1990, as reported below) needs to be set from which emissions would be cut; and that a mid-term goal in the year 2020 needs to be set. Antonio Hill, representative for Oxfam International, stated, “At this rate, by 2050 the world will be cooked and the G-8 leaders will be long forgotten.” [CNN: “Environmentalists dismiss G-8 emissions target"] Hill added, “The G-8’s endorsement of a tepid 50 by 50 climate goal leaves us with a 50-50 chance of a climate meltdown. Rather than a breakthrough, the G-8's announcement on 2050 is another stalling tactic.” [CNN: “Environmentalists dismiss G-8 emissions target”] Marthinus van Schalkwvk, minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism for South Africa, said, "To be meaningful and credible, a long term goal must have a base year, it must be underpinned by ambitious midterm targets and actions.” [CNN: Environmentalists dismiss G-8 emissions target"] He called the G-8 agreement an "empty slogan.” [Reuters: “Big emerging nations demand G8 greenhouse gas cuts”] Generally, Kim Carstensen, director of the WWF Global Climate Initiative, stated, "So little progress after a whole year of minister meetings and negotiations is not only a wasted opportunity, it falls dangerously short of what is needed to protect people and nature from climate change.” [CNN: “G-8 vows to halve emissions by 2050”] On the country level, for instance, Japan has set a national goal of reducing emissions by 60 to 80% by 2050 but has not set any mid-term goals. Also, European Union countries have agreed to reduce emissions by 25 to 40% by 2020. Although mid-term goals were not set by the G-8, prime minister Yasuo Fukuda of Japan, stated, "The G-8 will implement aggressive midterm total emission reduction targets on a country-by-country basis.” [CNN: “G-8 vows to halve emissions by 2050”] Statements by a group of five emerging countries, who met with the G-8 Summit participants, with respect to goals they would like the G-8 countries to implement are included on page three. |
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