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| World powers accept warming limit | World powers accept warming limit |
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| Developed and developing nations have agreed that global temperatures should not rise more than 2C above 1900 levels, a G8 summit declaration says. | Developed and developing nations have agreed that global temperatures should not rise more than 2C above 1900 levels, a G8 summit declaration says. |
| That is the level above which, the UN says, the Earth's climate system would become dangerously unstable. | That is the level above which, the UN says, the Earth's climate system would become dangerously unstable. |
| US President Barack Obama said the countries had made important strides in dealing with climate change. | |
| But the G8 failed to persuade developing countries to accept targets of cutting emissions by 50% by 2050. | |
| On Wednesday, the G8 agreed its own members would work towards 80% cuts by the same date. | |
| UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said the G8 had not done enough and should also set 2020 targets. | |
| He said that while the G8's Wednesday agreement was welcome, its leaders also needed to establish a strong and ambitious mid-term target for emissions cuts. | |
| See how global temperatures have risen | See how global temperatures have risen |
| The second day of the summit, in the Italian city of L'Aquila, opened its discussions to take in the so-called G5 nations - Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. Egypt is a special invitee. | The second day of the summit, in the Italian city of L'Aquila, opened its discussions to take in the so-called G5 nations - Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. Egypt is a special invitee. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
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| Significant step | Significant step |
| The latest declaration was issued by the Major Economies Forum, of 16 developed and developing nations - the G8, G5, Australia, South Korea and Indonesia - plus the European Union. | The latest declaration was issued by the Major Economies Forum, of 16 developed and developing nations - the G8, G5, Australia, South Korea and Indonesia - plus the European Union. |
| Climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time - the science is clear and conclusive and the impacts can no longer be ignored. US President Barack Obama | |
| "We recognise the scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2C," it said. | "We recognise the scientific view that the increase in global average temperature above pre-industrial levels ought not to exceed 2C," it said. |
| It added that the economies would work towards a global goal for substantially reducing emissions by 2050 between now and December, when the UN holds talks in Copenhagen on a successor to the Kyoto treaty. | It added that the economies would work towards a global goal for substantially reducing emissions by 2050 between now and December, when the UN holds talks in Copenhagen on a successor to the Kyoto treaty. |
| President Obama, who chaired the meeting, said the countries had had a candid and open discussion about the growing threat of climate change and what must be done both individually and collectively to address it. | |
| "I believe we've made some important strides forward as we move towards Copenhagen," he said. | |
| "I don't think I have to emphasise that climate change is one of the defining challenges of our time. The science is clear and conclusive and the impacts can no longer be ignored." | |
| 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 Climate change around the world Climate targets: Global pledges | |
| BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin says the declaration is a significant step, with all big countries rich and poor agreeing there is a scientific limit on the amount we should warm the climate. | BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin says the declaration is a significant step, with all big countries rich and poor agreeing there is a scientific limit on the amount we should warm the climate. |
| But there is still a huge way to go, he says, as developing nations like India will not sign up to any 2050 targets unless rich nations show more determination and offer more cash. | But there is still a huge way to go, he says, as developing nations like India will not sign up to any 2050 targets unless rich nations show more determination and offer more cash. |
| 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. |
| Return | Return |