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World powers seek halved emissions

08/07/2008

G8 leaders have said they will seek a United Nations deal to at least halve carbon emissions by 2050.

The group of the world's eight richest countries, meeting on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, said they would seek a UN agreement with nearly 200 other states to tackle the issue.

Leaders have hailed the move, which sees G8 leaders recognising the findings of the intergovernmental panel on climate change and the resolution seen at the end of talks in Bali last year.

Immediately after announcing the 2050 target the statement adds: "This global challenge can only be met by a global response, in particular, by the contributions from all major economies, consistent with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities."

Environmentalists remain sceptical, however, while South Africa has rejected the communique because of its "regressive" nature.

Intermediate targets were mentioned in the final statement on climate change and carbon emissions but no numeral values were specified.

WWF global climate initiative director Kim Carstensen believes this represents a serious failure and reflects the "pathetic" link between rhetoric and action.

"Confirming the results of last year’s summit in Heiligendamm is hardly a remarkable outcome. 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," he said.