The eight richest industrialized nations - the G8 - gathered in L'Aquila, Italy last week to discuss among other things climate change. Unfortunately, the only news that grabbed the world's attention was a photo of who was looking at what.
It was expected that the G8 - Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States - would agree that a rise in global temperature of two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels would set off a catastrophic chain of events that would send our planet spiraling out of control ecologically speaking.
The G8 also agreed to greenhouse gas reductions that echo the recent reduction targets passed in the US Congress. The Group mandated its members to cut carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. This commitment reasserts the targets and principles set out in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and cites the statement adopted in Toyako, Japan last year.
Bob Kurz
said on July 13, 2009
I don't know about you, but I think it's ridiculous that their idea of a reasonable deadline for reducing CO2 emissions by 80% is 2050. What the hell? Can't we do better than that? Way to drag your heels G8.
Sandy Spell
said on July 13, 2009
Mark Butkus
said on July 13, 2009
I hear you. I have been following this story since Rio in 92. I was very excited then, moreso after Kyoto and then politics came into play especially here. My enthusiasm for these targets is wanting at best. On the bright side, we're going to Hell in a handbasket and we will have to take severe action before 2050.
Sandy Spell
said on July 13, 2009