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G8 set new global warming targets G8 set new global warming targets
(about 1 hour later)
Leaders of the G8 leading industrial countries have agreed to try to limit global warming to just 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels by 2050.Leaders of the G8 leading industrial countries have agreed to try to limit global warming to just 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels by 2050.
The summit, in the earthquake-hit Italian city of L'Aquila, agreed tough new carbon emissions cuts.The summit, in the earthquake-hit Italian city of L'Aquila, agreed tough new carbon emissions cuts.
It says developed nations should cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, with the rest of the world making a 50% reduction by the same date.It says developed nations should cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, with the rest of the world making a 50% reduction by the same date.
Analysts say there is no indication of how the targets, or costs, will be met.Analysts say there is no indication of how the targets, or costs, will be met.
The summit agenda is also expected to include food security, North Korea and Iran. Also, the cut in carbon emissions is only a target and will need the co-operation of rapidly industrialising such as China and India.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was confident that other non-G8 countries would back the commitments when climate change was discussed on Thursday under the chairmanship of US President Barack Obama. The BBC's economics correspondent Andrew Walker adds that the baseline for the cuts could be later than 1990.
That could allow some countries more modest cuts, as emissions in most rose after that date.
G8 KEY ISSUES/TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY: Economy1045 GMT - leaders arrive in L'Aquila1100 GMT - first sessionG8 KEY ISSUES/TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY: Economy1045 GMT - leaders arrive in L'Aquila1100 GMT - first session
THURSDAY: Climate ChangeBrazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, Egypt join talks1230 GMT - Junior G81300 GMT - Major Economies Forum meetingFRIDAY: International Development0630 GMT - crisis' impact on Africa with African leaders attending0830 GMT - food security1100 GMT - final news conferenceG8 members: Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, US At a glance: summit agenda Mr Berlusconi's G8 Party Chaos and caring amid the politicsTHURSDAY: Climate ChangeBrazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, Egypt join talks1230 GMT - Junior G81300 GMT - Major Economies Forum meetingFRIDAY: International Development0630 GMT - crisis' impact on Africa with African leaders attending0830 GMT - food security1100 GMT - final news conferenceG8 members: Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, US At a glance: summit agenda Mr Berlusconi's G8 Party Chaos and caring amid the politics
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was confident that non-G8 countries would back the commitments when climate change was discussed on Thursday under the chairmanship of US President Barack Obama.
Mr Brown said the G8 deal paved the way for a global agreement at the UN conference in Copenhagen in December.Mr Brown said the G8 deal paved the way for a global agreement at the UN conference in Copenhagen in December.
"These are long term commitments," he said. "I hope tomorrow when we meet other countries we'll follow that through and this is a very significant development, the first time it's ever been done". "I hope tomorrow when we meet other countries we'll follow that through and this is a very significant development, the first time it's ever been done," he said.
On the global economy, an official communique said the G8 noted "some signs of stabilisation" but that the outlook remained uncertain, with "significant risks". The summit agenda also includes the global economic downturn, food security, North Korea and Iran.
The G8 - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK and the US - are joined at the summit by leaders or representatives from the G5 group of emerging economies - Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.
Chinese president Hu Jintao flew back to Beijing amid continuing unrest in the western region of Xinjiang.
On the global economy, an official statement noted "some signs of stabilisation" but that the outlook remained uncertain, with "significant risks".
"We will take, individually and collectively, the necessary steps to return the global economy to a strong, stable and sustainable growth path," the statement said."We will take, individually and collectively, the necessary steps to return the global economy to a strong, stable and sustainable growth path," the statement said.
Mr Brown said G8 leaders recognised that the path out of recession was not yet secure, citing the recent rise in oil prices to $75 a barrel and fears of rising unemployment.Mr Brown said G8 leaders recognised that the path out of recession was not yet secure, citing the recent rise in oil prices to $75 a barrel and fears of rising unemployment.
Earthquake zone
The area where the three-day summit is being held is still suffering aftershocks from the April quake and an evacuation plan is in place in case a serious tremor should hit.The area where the three-day summit is being held is still suffering aftershocks from the April quake and an evacuation plan is in place in case a serious tremor should hit.
Security is also tight and at least 36 protesters have already been arrested.
President Obama arrived on Wednesday, as did Gordon Brown and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev flew in fresh from talks with Mr Obama in Moscow in which the two agreed a framework for new nuclear weapons cuts.
The leaders of France, Canada and Japan are also attending, along with EU representatives.
HAVE YOUR SAYWe have all of the technology available to make this happen tomorrow - these are realistic goals, the bigger question is will it be enough to save the human raceDan, Los Angeles, US Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYWe have all of the technology available to make this happen tomorrow - these are realistic goals, the bigger question is will it be enough to save the human raceDan, Los Angeles, US Send us your comments
But Hu Jintao, China's president, cancelled plans to attend, instead flying back to Beijing amid continuing unrest in China's western region of Xinjiang. International issues like the Iranian election aftermath, the Middle East, nuclear weapons and terrorism will also feature in talks.
International political issues like the Iranian election aftermath, the Middle East, nuclear weapons and terrorism will also feature in talks. African leaders will join the summit on Friday to push for a new initiative to fund farming in the developing world and tackle global hunger.
African leaders will join the three-day summit on Friday to push for a new initiative to fund farming in the developing world and tackle global hunger. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi moved the summit from Sardinia to L'Aquila to show solidarity with the victims of April's earthquake.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi moved the summit to L'Aquila to show solidarity with the victims of April's earthquake. He took Mrs Merkel on a tour of Onna, a village almost flattened by the quake, and later Mr Obama was given a tour of L'Aquila to survey the damage.
He took Mrs Merkel on a tour of Onna, a nearby village almost flattened by the quake, and later Mr Obama was given a tour of L'Aquila to survey the earthquake damage. On Wednesday, dozens of protesters occupied four coal power plants in different regions of Italy, demanding tougher measures in fighting climate change, Greenpeace said.
On Wednesday, dozens of protesters occupied four coal power plants in different regions of Italy, demanding tougher measures from G8 leaders in fighting climate change, Greenpeace said.
In Rome on Tuesday police said they had arrested 36 people after masked protesters blocked roads, threw objects and set fire to tyres.In Rome on Tuesday police said they had arrested 36 people after masked protesters blocked roads, threw objects and set fire to tyres.
The BBC's Bridget Kendall, in L'Aquila, says the big question hovering over the summit is whether the whole concept of G8 has been outdated and if a bigger gathering - a G20 - is needed to tackle today's problems. The BBC's Bridget Kendall in L'Aquila says the big question hovering over the summit is whether the whole concept of G8 has been outdated and if a bigger gathering - a G20 - is needed to tackle today's problems.
For G8 to remain relevant, its leaders need to come up with concrete progress, our correspondent says.