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G8 set new global warming targets | G8 set new global warming targets |
(about 2 hours 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 Italian city of L'Aquila, also set tough new targets for carbon emissions considered necessary to achieve the goal. | The summit, in the Italian city of L'Aquila, also set tough new targets for carbon emissions considered necessary to achieve the goal. |
Developed nations are to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, to allow a global 50% reduction by the same date. | Developed nations are to cut carbon emissions by 80% by 2050, to allow a global 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. |
Developed nations have been criticised for ducking interim goals, and difficult talks still lie ahead as negotiators try to firm up the ambitious goals, correspondents say. | Developed nations have been criticised for ducking interim goals, and difficult talks still lie ahead as negotiators try to firm up the ambitious goals, correspondents say. |
G8 KEY ISSUES/TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY: Economy1100 GMT - first sessionTHURSDAY: Climate ChangeBrazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, Egypt join talks1230 GMT - Junior G81300 GMT - Major Economies Forum meetingFRIDAY: 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 In pictures: G8 summit | G8 KEY ISSUES/TIMETABLE WEDNESDAY: Economy1100 GMT - first sessionTHURSDAY: Climate ChangeBrazil, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, Egypt join talks1230 GMT - Junior G81300 GMT - Major Economies Forum meetingFRIDAY: 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 In pictures: G8 summit |
Also, the cut in carbon emissions is only a target and will need the co-operation of rapidly industrialising such as China and India. | Also, the cut in carbon emissions is only a target and will need the co-operation of rapidly industrialising such as China and India. |
BBC economics correspondent Andrew Walker adds that the baseline for the cuts could be later than 1990. | BBC 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. | That could allow some countries more modest cuts, as emissions in most rose after that date. |
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was confident non-G8 countries would back the commitments when climate change was discussed on Thursday. | UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was confident non-G8 countries would back the commitments when climate change was discussed on Thursday. |
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. |
"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. | "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. |
Security summit | |
The summit agenda also includes the global economic downturn, food security, terrorism, and nuclear proliferation. | |
On Wednesday, the G8 leaders issued a statement reaffirming that they were "deeply concerned" by Iran's nuclear programme. | |
They also condemned North Korea's recent nuclear test and missile launches. | |
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 comments | 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 comments |
US President Barack Obama announced he would call a summit on nuclear security in Washington next March. | US President Barack Obama announced he would call a summit on nuclear security in Washington next March. |
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. | 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. | 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". | 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 | 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. |
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 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 from Sardinia 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 village almost flattened by the quake, and later Mr Obama was given a tour of L'Aquila to survey the 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 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. |