G8 agrees 'substantial ' cut – but no substance yet
G8 agrees to emissions cut
Thursday, 07, Jun 2007 12:00
Tony Blair has insisted the G8 summit is not just about climate change – hours before it emerged the G8 leaders had not agreed a binding commitment on emissions cuts.
German chancellor Angela Merkel announced this afternoon the G8 leaders have agreed a compromise deal on climate change.
She said there was agreement among the leaders that carbon emissions must be stopped and then substantially reduced, and Mr Blair welcomed the deal as a "major, major step forward".
However, she notably did not suggest there was any final agreement to commit to binding, substantial emissions cut.
Ms Merkel had gone into the summit pushing for a 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050, but she appeared to suggest Russia and America had resisted such moves.
Following the announcement Mr Blair said: "The important thing is we now have an agreement.
"One, that we need a new world-wide agreement on climate change. Two, that at the heart of that should be a substantial reduction in carbon emissions."
"Serious consideration" would be given to the goal of halving emissions by 2050, Mr Blair continued, with an agreement encompassing the developed and developing world.
He continued: "The possibility is here of getting a global deal on climate change, with substantial cuts in emissions, and everyone in the deal; which is the only way we're going to get the radical action on the climate that we need."
Ahead of the summit, US president George Bush insisted he would not agree to any binding cuts.
With the G8 split on emissions, Mr Blair went into the summit stressing the G8 is not just about climate change.
He said: "We have also got to focus on recommitting ourselves to the Gleneagles process on Africa, on making major steps forward there in relation to things like HIV-Aids and education.
"In addition to that of course there is the situation in Darfur where we both are anxious that there is strong action taken. And then we have also managed to have a word too about the world trade talks which we want to see reach a successful conclusion."
This morning, Mr Blair held his final face-to-face meeting with Mr Bush as prime minister.
President Bush described it as a "nostalgic" moment and thanked Mr Blair for his commitment to global issues.