Originally published on the CGS blog on June 7, 2007.
This afternoon, G8 leaders reached a compromise on climate change. The agreement comes after weeks of tension between the U.S. and European members of the G8 over establishing goals for international action to combat global warming.
Yesterday, President Bush made it clear that the U.S. would not reconsider its opposition to including a concrete global emissions target in the G8 communique.
What’s in the Agreement : The leaders of the G8 countries
agree that there is a need to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions
agree that there is a need for a global goal for emissions reductions
are committed to working within the framework of the United Nations to achieve a post-Kyoto agreement by 2009
agree to keep in mind the target proposed by the EU, Canada and Japan of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 when negotiating global emissions goals
What’s Not in the Agreement:
No concrete targets for reducing greenhouse gas pollution
No concrete targets for increasing energy efficiency (The EU has proposed embracing a 20% improvement in energy efficiency)
Tony Blair and Angela Merkel, both welcomed the agreement. I’ll let Tony Blair sum it up:
“The important thing is we now have an agreement – one; that we need a new worldwide agreement on climate change,” he said.
This is groundbreaking? That we now have an agreement that we need an agreement? Unfortunately, it is. Until today, the Bush administration has categorically refused to consider participation in a post-Kyoto climate agreement. Bush statement earlier today that: “The U.S. will be actively involved — if not taking the lead — in a post-Kyoto framework” represents a relatively giant step forward.
But I for one am not ready to break open the party poppers and green confetti. I’m deeply concerned that the bar for political progress on global warming is still being set so low. I’m delighted (and relieved) to hear President Bush committing to work within the UN framework to come up with a new climate agreement. This is an important step forward. But in terms of actual commitments, actual tons of greenhouse gases being taken out of the atmosphere… today’s agreement to agree means nothing.
Okay – It’s worth lighting one or two celebratory sparklers – after all how many times has President Bush said the word UN in a positive context over the past seven years? But tomorrow I’m getting back to the hard work of raising that bar – I hope you will be too.
Check out this Guide to the G8 to see what’s on tomorrow’s agenda
