The environment in the news monday, 26 May 2008
Associated Press: G8 ministers endorse greenhouse gas cuts
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- Reuters: G8 environment ministers call for 2050 emissions goal
Associated Press: G8 ministers endorse greenhouse gas cutsBy JOSEPH COLEMAN, Associated Press Writer 3 minutes ago KOBE, Japan - Environment chiefs from the world's top industrial countries pledged "strong political will" Monday toward cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050, declaring that developed nations should take the lead in battling global warming. The statement by ministers from the Group of Eight nations, however, stopped short of pledging firm commitments for mid-century or a midterm goal for 2020, which many countries argue are crucial to saving the planet from environmental crisis provoked by rising temperatures. Aimed at setting the stage for decisive action at the G8 summit in Toyako, Japan, in July, the joint communique also recognized rich nations' obligation to provide technology and financing to help developing countries fight global warming. "The major outcome was on climate change: we strongly expressed the will to come to agreement at Toyako so we can halve emissions by 2050," said Japanese Environment Minister Ichiro Kamoshita. "Advanced nations should show leadership to reach this goal." The statement cited the need for global gas emissions to peak within the next 10 to 20 years, and it called on developing countries with rapidly increasing greenhouse gas emissions to work to curb the rate of increase. The ministers, however, made no mention of a scientific recommendation that rich countries make reductions of between 25 percent and 40 percent by 2020 to avoid the worst effects of warming. European nations, the U.N. climate chief and environmentalists had clamored in Kobe for progress toward such a reduction pledge by G8 countries, arguing that failure could endanger U.N.-led talks aimed at concluding a new climate change pact by the end of 2009. "Without a mandatory midterm target for developing countries, it will be very difficult to get agreement" by that deadline, said Matthias Machnig, the delegate from Germany. Still, he conceded that ministers in Kobe had "made a step here today — a small one, but an important one." The European Union has pledged a 20 percent emissions reduction by 2020, and has offered to raise it to 30 percent if other nations sign on. The United States, however, has not committed to a midterm goal, demanding commitments from top developing countries such as China first. Japan has also not yet set a 2020 target. Kamoshita and Scott Fulton, deputy assistant administrator at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, argued that it was premature for them to set midterm targets, and they said such commitments should be the result of negotiations leading to the climate pact in 2009. "At this point, I'm not sure if it's appropriate for us to cite specific figures," Fulton said. The United States is the only major industrialized country not to have ratified the Kyoto Protocol global warming pact, which commits 37 nations to cutting emissions by an average of 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. Washington has argued that the pact would hurt its economy, and is unfair because it does not obligate developing nations to also cut emissions. During a news conference after the concluding meeting of ministers from the G8 nations — the U.S., Britain, Japan, Germany, Italy, Canada, Russia and France — divisions were apparent between Germany and the United States. Machnig forcefully described Germany's commitment to cutting gases by 40 percent by 2020, several times turning in Fulton's direction as he spoke. Fulton, who also called for commitments from heavily polluting emerging economies, defended U.S. action on climate change, citing billions of dollars spent on research into global warming and other anti-warming steps. "We've not been sitting on our hands by any means," he said. Back to Menu ________________________________________________________________________ Reuters: G8 environment ministers call for 2050 emissions goalSun May 25, 2008 11:43pm EDT KOBE, Japan (Reuters) - Environment ministers from the Group of Eight rich nations on Monday urged their leaders to set a global target to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 when they meet for a summit in July. The G8 agreed last year in Germany to consider halving global emissions by mid-century, a proposal favored by Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada but opposed by the United States and Russia. Environment ministers and representatives from the G8 were joined by major emerging economies such as China in western Japan to try to build momentum for talks on climate change, a key agenda for the summit in the northern Japanese resort of Toyako. "On climate change, we strongly expressed the will to try to come to an agreement at the Toyako summit so we can have a target of at least halving emissions by 2050," Japanese Environment Minister Ichiro Kamoshita told a news conference, wrapping up three days of talks. "To halve emissions, advanced countries should exercise leadership to achieve major cuts." Delegates also called for rich countries to set mid-term targets, in a nod to developing countries at the meeting who called for the G8 to do more to reduce their emissions and help poorer nations with clean technologies. "As for mid-term targets, it is necessary to set effective targets and advanced countries should lead the way," Kamoshita said, adding that developing countries with rapidly increasing emissions also needed to curtail the rate of increase. (Reporting by Linda Sieg, Chisa Fujioka; editing by Sophie Hardach)
JAPAN: May 26, 2008 KOBE, Japan - Big emerging countries urged rich nations on Sunday to set ambitious mid-term targets for reducing greenhouse gases, as both sides stressed the need for funds to help developing countries limit their emissions. Ministers and representatives from the Group of Eight advanced nations and major emerging countries are gathered in western Japan to try to build momentum for UN-led climate change talks, a key topic for a July leaders' summit. At least one delegate, though, was pessimistic over prospects for any breakthroughs in time for the July 7-9 summit in Hokkaido, northern Japan, where G8 leaders will be joined by big emerging economies such as China for climate change talks. "I think it is difficult. We have not enough time," Mexican Environment Minister Juan Rafael Elvira Quesada told reporters. "But climate change is not waiting for any of us." G8 leaders agreed last year in Germany to consider seriously a goal to halve emissions by 2050, a proposal favoured by Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada. About 190 nations have agreed to negotiate by the end of 2009 a successor treaty to the Kyoto pact, which binds 37 advanced nations to cut emissions by an average of 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12. But wide gaps exist within the G8 and between rich and poorer nations over how to share the burden for fighting climate change, blamed for droughts, rising seas and more intense storms. TARGETS, FUNDS, TECHNOLOGY Developing countries are putting priority on growth and balking at targets, while complaining that the United States, which together with China is a top emitter, is not doing enough. Indonesia's deputy environment minister told reporters that G8 countries needed to set their own mid-term targets before asking developing countries make commitments. "First, they should do a mid-term target," said Masnellyarti Hilman. "Developed countries should take the lead and give their commitment to give transfer of technology, finances and capacity building to developing countries," she added. South Africa wants the G8 to set ambitious mid-term targets to cut emissions by 25-40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and provide more funds to help developing nations adapt to climate change and limit emissions, Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said in a prepared statement. "As developing countries, we are looking at the G8 for leadership. This is a key ingredient towards building trust," he said. The European Union has said the bloc aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, but the United States says only that it will halt the growth of its emissions by 2025 and expectations are low for bold moves until a new president takes office in January 2009. Japan, seeking to show leadership as G8 summit host, urged its rich country colleagues to set bold national targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions by well over 50 percent by 2050. "It is also important for global emissions to peak out in the next 10 to 20 years to reach the long-term target, and I hope that a shared view will be come out of the (G8) summit," Japanese Environment Minister Ichiro Kamoshita added. Japan is currently debating its own national target, and domestic media have said it would announce in June a goal of reducing emissions by 60-80 percent by mid-century. Big emerging economies also want rich countries to help finance the clean energy technologies they need to cut emissions. Japan has pledged to pay $10 billion over five years to support developing countries' fight against climate change and intends to create a new multilateral fund with the United States and Britain. Now Washington and Tokyo want other donors to take part too. Mexico is pitching its own proposal for a "Green Fund", while the World Bank on Friday said that 40 developing and industrial nations would create two new investment funds to provide financing for developing countries to fight climate change. But the Bank specified no amounts and did not clarify the relationship to existing funding mechanisms. (Additional reporting by Chisa Fujioka and Risa Maeda; Editing by Alex Richardson) Story by Linda Sieg REUTERS NEWS SERVICE Back to Menu ________________________________________________________________________ Reuters: Emerging Nations Seek G8 Help For Clean Technology JAPAN: May 26, 2008 KOBE, Japan - Big emerging economies called on rich countries to help finance clean energy technologies on Saturday as a meeting of environment ministers sought to add momentum to the fight against climate change.
TECH AND FINANCE Delegates, meeting in the port city of Kobe, aim to build momentum for talks on setting long-term targets to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, an issue to be taken up at a leaders' summit in July. G8 leaders agreed last year in Germany to consider seriously a goal to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a proposal favoured by Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Japan and Canada. But developing countries, keen to put growth first, have resisted targets without the United States doing more to cut emissions. "Technology and finance should be taken up in discussions," said China's Xie Zhenhua, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission. "China's government will be responsible for its actions and we will have to face up to the challenges." Eager to show off its green credentials at the meeting, Japan has sent fuel-cell and hybrid cars to pick up delegates from the airport, and has called on participants to bring their own cups and chopsticks to cut trash. The dress code is "cool biz" -- a Japanese campaign every summer for office workers to take off jackets and ties to minimise air conditioning and reduce emissions. But most delegates declined to go casual. Japan is debating its own long-term reduction target and domestic media have urged the government to also set a mid-term goal to show Tokyo can take the lead on climate change at the G8 and in UN-led efforts for a new framework after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. About 190 nations have agreed to negotiate by the end of 2009 a successor treaty to the Kyoto pact, which binds 37 advanced nations to cut emissions by an average of 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12. But countries are divided on how to shape the new framework and Japan may see limited support this weekend for its proposal for emissions curbs for particular industries, such as steel or cement, that could be added up to a national target. Many developing nations worry that sector-based targets will throttle their energy-intensive growth. The Kobe meeting kicked off with a session on biodiversity, including steps taken so far toward a UN goal set in 2002 to slow the rate of extinctions of living species by 2010. Most experts say that target is nowhere near being met. The talks also touched on the need to protect forests to fight global warming and preserve diversity of species. (Additional reporting by Linda Sieg, Risa Maeda and Kentaro Hamada in Kobe) Story by Chisa Fujioka REUTERS NEWS SERVICE Back to Menu ________________________________________________________________________ Directory: cpi -> briefs briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news briefs -> The environment in the news Download 461.99 Kb. Share with your friends:
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