Global polluters agree need for cuts in emissions - but not how or when

Larry Elliott and Patrick Wintour in Hokkaido
guardian.co.uk,
Wednesday July 9, 2008

The G8 rich western nations and leading developing countries today papered over their differences on cutting greenhouse gases as they said they shared a "joint vision" for action to combat climate change.
A meeting of 16 major economies held on the fringes of the G8's three-day summit in Hokkaido recognised the need for "deep cuts" in carbon emissions but left difficult issues unresolved.
George Bush has championed the idea of broadening talks on climate change from the G8 to other big polluting countries and has insisted that the US will only sign a replacement for the 1997 Kyoto agreement if countries like China and India are involved.
Today's talks involved the G8 plus the EU, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Mexico, Australia, China and Brazil and came after developing countries gave a cool reception to the G8's latest blueprint on tackling emissions.
The G8 yesterday called for next year's climate change conference in Copenhagen to embrace a cut of at least 50% in global emissions by 2050.China and India made it clear, however, that they were not willing to sign up to the G8's target but, according to sources at the summit, said they would be willing to take action later. They believe G8 countries should shoulder most of the burden for tackling climate change and are seeking cuts of between 80% and 90% in the west.
As a result, the statement issued today by the 16 major economies made no mention of any specific target for cutting emissions, gave no baseline date from when the cuts might begin, and made only passing reference to a mid-term target for cuts in the developed world.
President Hu of China said his country's first priority was economic development to lift people out of poverty and that its per capita emissions were low.
Jose Manuel Baroso, president of the European commission, said it was time for the world's biggest polluters to "get real" on fighting climate change and said all large economies had to play their part.
Baroso said today's meeting had allowed "a useful and wholly constructive exchange of views".
He added: "It is quite wrong to see this in terms of a confrontation between developed and developing countries. Of course we accept the lion's share of responsibility but this is a global challenge, which requires a global response."
Environmental campaigners Greenpeace described the meeting as a "real diversion from real action on climate change".