a non binding breakthrough
July 8th 2008 23:21
Never look a gift horse in the mouth I say and yesterday at the G8 conference a breakthrough was made, albeit non-binding.
G8 nations have agreed in principle to a 50% emission reduction target by 2050. Yes this is a long term target and no it isn't binding, and it is from current levels, not 1990 levels, so where was the breakthrough? Well simply, the U.S. in the form of none other than George bush, actually conceded that we need to have some form of target, he has been moving closer to this over the last few months, but in the past it has been the U.S. refusal to agree to any form of target, binding or otherwise, that has been making Climate Change talks on an international forum a relative waste of time. Who knows, perhaps the G8 will even manage to break even on the emissions created on getting them all there in the first place.
Although this isn't a huge move forward it moves us to a much better base to proceed with talks on the next version of Kyoto later this year.
Greenpeace have taken the stance that the G8 have "failed the world again" but there is enough in this for the optimists to see we may get an outcome just about when we need it. Don't forget the U.S. election will mean a fresh stance on this view and both candidates are pro cutting emissions albeit from very different methods.
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On a political note, this now puts Brendan Nelson out of step with the WORLD, nce to have lobbyists as friends, because they are so loyal.
cheers
Louie
P.S. Hope you like the new colours, Katyzzz i got rid of the red for you.
G8 nations have agreed in principle to a 50% emission reduction target by 2050. Yes this is a long term target and no it isn't binding, and it is from current levels, not 1990 levels, so where was the breakthrough? Well simply, the U.S. in the form of none other than George bush, actually conceded that we need to have some form of target, he has been moving closer to this over the last few months, but in the past it has been the U.S. refusal to agree to any form of target, binding or otherwise, that has been making Climate Change talks on an international forum a relative waste of time. Who knows, perhaps the G8 will even manage to break even on the emissions created on getting them all there in the first place.
Although this isn't a huge move forward it moves us to a much better base to proceed with talks on the next version of Kyoto later this year.
Greenpeace have taken the stance that the G8 have "failed the world again" but there is enough in this for the optimists to see we may get an outcome just about when we need it. Don't forget the U.S. election will mean a fresh stance on this view and both candidates are pro cutting emissions albeit from very different methods.
LINK TO A STORY
THE G8 group of industrialised nations has set a goal of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 under a pact that for the first time ties the US to a global target.
The deal represents George W. Bush's first acceptance of a specifically targeted emissions reduction regime, the US having stood aloof from the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
The agreement, finalised yesterday at the G8 leaders' summit in Toyako, Japan, appeared to contradict a downbeat Kevin Rudd as he flew out for today's G8-plus-major-economies meeting. "I doubt that this meeting will achieve major breakthroughs," the Prime Minister said.
Speaking before his departure, Mr Rudd also rejected calls to delay starting an Australian emissions trading scheme beyond his proposed 2010 start-up date until all major emitting nations were locked into a new international system.
Brendan Nelson is also under pressure from within his own party to show "leadership" on an ETS, as a split emerged over his new policy of offering only conditional support.
The Opposition Leader says Australia should not endorse an ETS - even by 2012 - if the other big polluting countries do nothing. But several Liberal MPs, including Russell Trood, Petro Georgiou and Judi Moylan, have warned him not to withhold support for an ETS until international polluters take action
The deal represents George W. Bush's first acceptance of a specifically targeted emissions reduction regime, the US having stood aloof from the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
The agreement, finalised yesterday at the G8 leaders' summit in Toyako, Japan, appeared to contradict a downbeat Kevin Rudd as he flew out for today's G8-plus-major-economies meeting. "I doubt that this meeting will achieve major breakthroughs," the Prime Minister said.
Speaking before his departure, Mr Rudd also rejected calls to delay starting an Australian emissions trading scheme beyond his proposed 2010 start-up date until all major emitting nations were locked into a new international system.
Brendan Nelson is also under pressure from within his own party to show "leadership" on an ETS, as a split emerged over his new policy of offering only conditional support.
The Opposition Leader says Australia should not endorse an ETS - even by 2012 - if the other big polluting countries do nothing. But several Liberal MPs, including Russell Trood, Petro Georgiou and Judi Moylan, have warned him not to withhold support for an ETS until international polluters take action
On a political note, this now puts Brendan Nelson out of step with the WORLD, nce to have lobbyists as friends, because they are so loyal.
cheers
Louie
P.S. Hope you like the new colours, Katyzzz i got rid of the red for you.
photo courtesy of www.morguefile.com
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Comment by Chris Champion
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I guess I wasn't exactly wrong G8 chatfest under way but this is a breakthrough of sorts, especially given the lack of expectation of any sort of consensus or commitment before next year's G8 meeting, with UN involvement, in Copenhagen.
Thanks for the post - I heard it here first! And I particularly liked:
I hope you don't mind my presumption in posting a link on your blog, but it's so closely connected, and it's all in the name of broadening the debate.
Regards,
Chris
Comment by Louie
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Nelson still at it huh? Oh well, every court has its jester.
Comment by Lara M
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p/s...I like the green for the blog's 'green views'
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Comment by Louie
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and green is peaceful
Comment by Louie
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and yes the green is PEACEFUL