Quickly, G8 Backtracks From Climate Goals

July 9, 2009

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Oh, what a difference a day makes. Less than 24 hours removed from lofty goals, including 50 percent global cuts in carbon emissions by 2050, the G8 has backtracked, and now has agreed simply to “substantially reduce carbon emissions” by 2050, reports The Guardian UK.

And G8 nations themselves are now no longer willing to cut emissions 80 percent by 2050.

In another blow to worldwide climate negotiations, the G8 draft declaration does not point to any midterm goals for 2020 or 2025, instead using vague language indicating the goal will be regularly reviewed.

Yvo de Boer, the U.N.’s top climate change official, called the new draft a “careful but useful step forward toward Copenhagen,” Reuters reports.

While developing nations have been publicly reticent to comply with any G8 goal to halve emissions by 2050, De Boer said he understood their reasoning. He likened asking poor nations to set carbon cut targets before rich nations come up with funding plans and goals to “jumping out of a plane and being assured that you are going to get a parachute on the way down.”

In the draft, the G8 did decide to retain language about avoiding a 2 degree celcius worldwide temperature rise at all costs.

G8 nations in the draft indicate they will work together in months leading to the UN Copenhagen conference in December “to identify a global goal for substantially reducing global emissions by 2050.”

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Stay competitive through sustainability.

Find out how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Reader Comments

If the rest of the developed world need any advice on how to advance climate change goals without federal guidance, we Americans have many years of grassroots experience and would be glad to help…

Daniel Henderson | July 10th, 2009

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader