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G8 Carbon Pledge Disappoints World Environmentalists

by Amy Judd | July 8, 2009 at 05:02 pm

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The G8 carbon pledge has dissappointed world environmentalists, as the G8 delegates said they supported reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, but they did not set any short term targets for any one to meet.

Russia said that due to the economic worries, that would take priority over any emission reduction. The G8 leaders did come to an agreement that global temperatures should not rise above 2C, but didn't say how.

They have an agenda to discuss climate change, the economy and Africa, but without a strict path and plan, groups are worried they will just end up with broken promises.

Charities already seem to think that Italy cutting 56 per cent of their aid budget this year is a step backwards.

Meredith Alexander from Actionaid told Al Jazeera there was a "division in the pack", with the UK on target to meet their aid pledge, while Italy is "moving backwards".

She also critised Italy for "absconding from the debate" on aid and food security, saying it had "refused to take the kind of leadership that the G8 is expected to show".

"But [Barack] Obama has stepped in and he's stepped in on the right issue. A billion people go hungry every single day and it's absolutely time for world leaders to focus on this," she said.

Adrian Lovett from the charity Save the Children also expressed anger over Italy's cuts to aid.

"It's hard to see how that counts as leadership at a critical moment for the world's poorest people," he told Al Jazeera.

"This economic crisis means that perhaps 400,000 children could die ... because of the lack of support they'll receive while world leaders are looking elsewhere," he said.

There has been confrontations since the G8 talks started, including about 100 Greenpeace activists from around the world occupying four coal-powered stations across Italy.

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A. Tran

at 20:10 on July 8th, 2009

Nevertheless, I hope going forward, these countries will commit to some concrete programs.

Uwe Paschen

at 21:17 on July 8th, 2009

It is not only disappointing but more so alarming to see the lack of vision and logical thinking in global politics as well as domestic politics.

Bail outs and wars wound fix our problems, but innovative thinking and reforms would help.

Such as proposed in the Solar shift.

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/solar-power-restart-economy-and-create-jobs-world-wide

Amitjha

at 01:28 on July 9th, 2009

It is hoping against the hope kind of situation, when you ask for some measure from the most industrialized nations, you will get nothing but refusal.

A financial fraud can force them to gather thrice but the environmental issue will not. Hope this takes the shape of crisis and kill in masses then we will learn and act.