Papering over deep differences on how to set goals to combat global
warming, G8 nations meeting in Japan say they would work toward a target of at
least halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with other participants in U.N.
talks. 

TOYAKO, JAPAN (JULY 8, 2008) TV TOKYO -
Making a symbolic gesture to show their commitment to the
environment, leaders from the Group of Eight (G8) nations planted trees on
Tuesday (July 8) during a summit in northern Japan, showing their united front
on a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions. 
    The leaders agreed on a communique which said they would work with
nearly 200 states in United Nations climate change talks to adopt a goal of at
least halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
    The communique also said midterm goals would be needed to achieve the
shared goal.
    The European Union and Japan have been pressing for a G8 statement that
goes beyond a summit pledge last year to "seriously consider" a goal
of halving global carbon emissions by mid-century and refers to the need for
interim targets as well. 
    Senior officials from the G8 nations met late into the previous night
to thrash out wording that would allow US President George W. Bush to put
aside deep misgivings and sign on to a global goal of reducing greenhouse gas
emissions by the middle of the century.
    Bush is under strong pressure from Japan and Europe but says he will
not back a numerical target unless big polluters including China and India
agree to binding commitments to curb their carbon pollution.
    Though efforts to clinch a deal are said to be hampered by deep
differences within the G8,  the leaders seemed in good spirits, especially
when they waved to some women watching them from a window during the
traditional G8 "family photo".    
    French President Nicolas Sarkozy called Bush back to join him and
others to wave at the women, which he did.  
    However, when Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi tried to get
Sarkozy to join him blowing kisses to the giggling women, Sarkozy kindly
declined, leaving the Italian leader on his own. 
    Climate change has been the stickiest issue at the summit hosted
by Japan. 
    Japanese Prime Minster Yasuo Fukuda said he will call for the
cooperation of major emitters at a next day Major Economies Meeting, which
brings the G8 together with big emerging economies such as China and India.   
 
    "G8 has agreed on a shared vision of reducing global greenhouse
gas emissions by 2050 by at least 50 percent," Fukuda told reporters.

    "Needless to say, we cannot achieve the long-term goal without
contributions from other major emitters," he added.
    On Wednesday (July 9)  the G8 leaders will meet with leaders from eight
other big greenhouse gas-emitting countries, like South Korea, Australia,
India and China for the Major Economies Meeting. 
    South Korea President Lee Myung-bak was one of the first to arrive for
that expanded summit on Wednesday. 
    In sharp contrast to previous gatherings, this year's summit, in a
remote corner of Japan amid rolling hills, has seen only a couple of thousand
protesters gather and they are outnumbered by police by around 10 to one.
    Around a hundred anti-G8 protesters marched through Toyoura, a rural
town 20 kilometers west of Toyako, where the summit is being held.
    "We must abolish the G8 or we'll never stop poverty, never stop
global warming, never stop the hunger crisis, never stop the wars that G8
creates," American protester David Solnit told Reuters.  
    Protesters holding banners and puppets mocking the G8 leaders shouted,
"Don't let police pass through," while they marched across the quiet
town. 
    "I'm here because I'm worried about the issues that concern the
Earth. I'm not pleased with the people who dominate the world," said
Italian protester Iskra Coronelli. 
    In Sapporo campaigners of the international aid agency Oxfam urged the
G8 and other big greenhouse gas-emitting countries to tackle climate change.

    Oxfam insisted rich countries emit the most carbon per head and they
must cut emissions to solve the climate change. 
    But they also urged the G5 countries, including China, Brazil and India
invited to the summit, to take responsibility for climate change too.
    "Clearly the G8 are the main emitters per head in the world and we
need them to act now to tackle the climate change. When they meet the G5, we
need them to lead the way and produce a strong policy to tackle climate change
because all countries around the world and all developing countries have
agreed to play that part for tackling climate change," said Lucy
Brinicombe, an Oxfam campaigner. 
    The communique by the G8 leaders puts the focus of fighting global
warming on U.N.-led talks to create a new framework for when the Kyoto 
Protocol expires in 2012. The U.N. talks are set to conclude in Copenhagen
in December 2009. 
    Global warming ties into other big themes such as soaring food and fuel
prices being discussed at the three-day summit at a plush mountain-top hotel
on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, where 21,000 police have been
mobilised. 
    In another statement released on the second day of the summit, the
leaders expressed strong concern about sky-high food and oil prices, which
they said posed risks for a global economy under serious financial strain.

    The group also made a thinly veiled call for China to let the yuan's
tightly controlled exchange rate appreciate to help reduce global financial
imbalances. 
    The leaders also agreed to bring major oil producers and consumers
together in a new forum to discuss energy security. One diplomat said it would
also be a venue to talk about output and prices.