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Key climate meeting looms at G8 Key climate meeting looms at G8
(20 minutes later)
Heads of the G8 leading industrial countries are set to meet emerging nation leaders to try to push through a new deal on limiting global warming.Heads of the G8 leading industrial countries are set to meet emerging nation leaders to try to push through a new deal on limiting global warming.
US President Barack Obama will chair the key session at the G8 summit in the Italian city of L'Aquila.US President Barack Obama will chair the key session at the G8 summit in the Italian city of L'Aquila.
On Wednesday, the G8 said it had agreed new targets for limiting global warming and carbon emissions.On Wednesday, the G8 said it had agreed new targets for limiting global warming and carbon emissions.
But correspondents say emerging nations appear reluctant to sign up and tough negotiations lie ahead.But correspondents say emerging nations appear reluctant to sign up and tough negotiations lie ahead.
The second day of the summit has begun, opening up its discussions to take in the so-called G5 nations - Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. Egypt is a special invitee.
ANALYSIS Roger Harrabin, BBC News This is another example of how the politics of climate change is lagging behind the science. For the first time the G8 has accepted there are scientific limits to the amount of greenhouse gases we can emit - the Bush administration wasn't willing to accept that.ANALYSIS Roger Harrabin, BBC News This is another example of how the politics of climate change is lagging behind the science. For the first time the G8 has accepted there are scientific limits to the amount of greenhouse gases we can emit - the Bush administration wasn't willing to accept that.
But scientists insist that the rich nations should cut between 25% and 50% by 2020 to stabilise the climate - and that's a step too far for the G8.But scientists insist that the rich nations should cut between 25% and 50% by 2020 to stabilise the climate - and that's a step too far for the G8.
The rich nations will now ask the emerging economies to stem the growth of their own emissions - but India will accuse the West of failing to take the action that it knows is necessary.The rich nations will now ask the emerging economies to stem the growth of their own emissions - but India will accuse the West of failing to take the action that it knows is necessary.
The G8 leaders said on Wednesday they had agreed to try to limit global warming to just 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels.The G8 leaders said on Wednesday they had agreed to try to limit global warming to just 2C (3.6F) above pre-industrial levels.
That is the level above which, the United Nations says, the Earth's climate system would become dangerously unstable.That is the level above which, the United Nations says, the Earth's climate system would become dangerously unstable.
The G8 leaders also said rich nations should cut emissions by 80% by 2050 while the world overall should reduce them 50% by 2050.The G8 leaders also said rich nations should cut emissions by 80% by 2050 while the world overall should reduce them 50% by 2050.
But analysts say there are several questions over the announcement and no indication of how targets will be met.But analysts say there are several questions over the announcement and no indication of how targets will be met.
They say the main problem is that no interim targets have been agreed, and developing nations appear unprepared to accept big cuts to their emissions until developed nations pledge more financial assistance.They say the main problem is that no interim targets have been agreed, and developing nations appear unprepared to accept big cuts to their emissions until developed nations pledge more financial assistance.
President Obama will chair the Major Economies Forum meeting on Thursday afternoon.President Obama will chair the Major Economies Forum meeting on Thursday afternoon.
The countries represented there account for some 80% of the emissions of gases that are blamed for global warming.The countries represented there account for some 80% of the emissions of gases that are blamed for global warming.
African leadersAfrican leaders
The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins, in L'Aquila, says the talks with India and China will be difficult.The BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins, in L'Aquila, says the talks with India and China will be difficult.
G8 KEY ISSUES/TIMETABLE THURSDAY: 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 summitG8 KEY ISSUES/TIMETABLE THURSDAY: 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
China's president has headed home to deal with the ethnic violence in Xinjiang, so there are now questions whether his delegation will be more cautious.China's president has headed home to deal with the ethnic violence in Xinjiang, so there are now questions whether his delegation will be more cautious.
Our correspondent adds that India is already complaining that the G8's long-term targets for 2050 are too long-term and that G8 countries are ducking interim targets for 2020 which would make their 40-year ambitions more credible.Our correspondent adds that India is already complaining that the G8's long-term targets for 2050 are too long-term and that G8 countries are ducking interim targets for 2020 which would make their 40-year ambitions more credible.
But the summit host, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, has said a deal should be all-inclusive.But the summit host, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, has said a deal should be all-inclusive.
"It would not be productive if European countries, Japan, the United States and Canada accepted cuts that are economically damaging while more than five billion people in other countries carried on as before," he said."It would not be productive if European countries, Japan, the United States and Canada accepted cuts that are economically damaging while more than five billion people in other countries carried on as before," he said.
The major summit on climate change takes place in Copenhagen in December, when the United Nations will try to pin down commitments and conclude a new worldwide deal.The major summit on climate change takes place in Copenhagen in December, when the United Nations will try to pin down commitments and conclude a new worldwide deal.
The G8 summit began in L'Aquila on Wednesday, with the first day largely taken up with discussion of the fragile state of the global economy.The G8 summit began in L'Aquila on Wednesday, with the first day largely taken up with discussion of the fragile state of the global economy.
The leaders also issued a statement reaffirming that they were "deeply concerned" by Iran's nuclear programme and condemning North Korea's recent nuclear test and missile launches.The leaders also issued a statement reaffirming that they were "deeply concerned" by Iran's nuclear programme and condemning North Korea's recent nuclear test and missile launches.
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.