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G8 aims to halve greenhouse gases G8 aims to halve greenhouse gases
(29 minutes later)
World leaders say they will aim to set a global target of cutting carbon emissions by at least 50% by 2050 in an effort to tackle global warming.World leaders say they will aim to set a global target of cutting carbon emissions by at least 50% by 2050 in an effort to tackle global warming.
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who is hosting a summit of the Group of Eight most industrialised nations, made the announcement after all-night talks.
It strengthens last year's G8 pledge to "seriously consider" the cuts.It strengthens last year's G8 pledge to "seriously consider" the cuts.
But the US has refused to set any interim targets for cutting emissions - and environmentalists have criticised the progress at talks as "pathetic".
The leaders have also expressed serious concerns about the threat posed to the global economy by soaring oil prices.The leaders have also expressed serious concerns about the threat posed to the global economy by soaring oil prices.
The price of crude oil has doubled since the last G8 summit, with highs of more than $146 (£72) a barrel.The price of crude oil has doubled since the last G8 summit, with highs of more than $146 (£72) a barrel.
In their annual assessment of the global economy, the leaders said they remained positive about the long-term resilience of their economies, so long as countries resisted the introduction of trade barriers.In their annual assessment of the global economy, the leaders said they remained positive about the long-term resilience of their economies, so long as countries resisted the introduction of trade barriers.
The BBC's Bridget Kendall, who is at the summit, says no explanation was offered for the underlying causes of high oil and food prices, nor concrete solutions given on how to lower them.The BBC's Bridget Kendall, who is at the summit, says no explanation was offered for the underlying causes of high oil and food prices, nor concrete solutions given on how to lower them.
The G8 has also issued statements on several key issues: class="bulletList"> The G8 has also issued statements on several key issues:
    class="bulletList">
  • Aid and development: Commitment to fulfil pledge to raise annual aid levels by $50bn by 2010, of which $25bn is intended for Africa
  • Global food prices: Call for countries with sufficient food stocks to release reserves to others struggling to cope with rising costs
  • Biofuels: Pledge to ensure biofuel policies are compatible with food security
  • Aid and development: Commitment to fulfil pledge to raise annual aid levels by $50bn by 2010, of which $25bn is intended for Africa
  • Global food prices: Call for countries with sufficient food stocks to release reserves to others struggling to cope with rising costs
  • Biofuels: Pledge to ensure biofuel policies are compatible with food security
  • Global economy: Despite serious concerns of further risks, globalisation is a positive force that offers great opportunities
    • 'Progress''Progress'
    The summit is taking place in Toyako, on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.The summit is taking place in Toyako, on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.
    Leaders from the G8 nations - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States - are being joined by counterparts from some 15 other countries.Leaders from the G8 nations - Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States - are being joined by counterparts from some 15 other countries.
    Failure to set climate world alightG8 summit: The key issuesJapanese island locks down class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7493342.stm">In pictures: G8 protests Failure to set climate world alightG8 summit: The key issuesJapanese island locks down
    The G8 statement repeats the leaders' common vision to reach the target of cutting emissions by at least 50% by 2050 - but adds that they hope to bring on board the nearly 200 other UN member states who have signed up to the climate change convention.The G8 statement repeats the leaders' common vision to reach the target of cutting emissions by at least 50% by 2050 - but adds that they hope to bring on board the nearly 200 other UN member states who have signed up to the climate change convention.
    It also acknowledges that to make progress, G8 countries have to take the lead through ambitious interim goals and national plans to achieve their aim.It also acknowledges that to make progress, G8 countries have to take the lead through ambitious interim goals and national plans to achieve their aim.
    The document also meets US concern that real progress only makes sense if it is global. The document also meets US concern that real progress only makes sense if it is global. An unnamed US official said the agreement represented "substantial progress".
    Climate change has been one of the stickiest issues tackled by the G8 leaders, with divisions over what targets should be set and what would be expected of developing countries.Climate change has been one of the stickiest issues tackled by the G8 leaders, with divisions over what targets should be set and what would be expected of developing countries.
    The statement leaves many ends untied, correspondents say.
    The EU wanted the G8 to confirm that the 50% cut would be measured from 1990 levels of CO2 - the baseline agreed under the Kyoto climate protocol.
    But a start date was omitted from the document, and when the question was raised in a press conference Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said the cuts would be measured from 2000 levels - which would make the target much easier.
    'No guarantees''No guarantees'
    An unnamed US official said the agreement represented "substantial progress".
    The BBC website's environment correspondent, Richard Black, says the US has moved a certain amount by agreeing that a long-term concrete target is desirable.The BBC website's environment correspondent, Richard Black, says the US has moved a certain amount by agreeing that a long-term concrete target is desirable.
    While the statement may appear as a movement forward, we are concerned that it may, in effect, be a regression from what is required to... meeting the challenges of climate change Marthinus van SchalkwykSouth African Environment Minister While the statement may appear as a movement forward, we are concerned that it may, in effect, be a regression from what is required to... meeting the challenges of climate change Marthinus van SchalkwykSouth African Environment Minister class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7494949.stm">Reaction to G8 statement class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7493342.stm">In pictures: G8 protests
    But, he says, the deal shows much less ambition than many climate scientists and environmental groups would want, in particular by avoiding setting short-term targets.But, he says, the deal shows much less ambition than many climate scientists and environmental groups would want, in particular by avoiding setting short-term targets.
    The statement also implies that G8 members will adopt the 50% figure only if major developing economies agree to some concrete action, and it is by no means certain that they will, our correspondent says.The statement also implies that G8 members will adopt the 50% figure only if major developing economies agree to some concrete action, and it is by no means certain that they will, our correspondent says.
    Other big polluters, including China and India, will join the meeting on Wednesday. Japan's prime minister said he would press them to co-operate.Other big polluters, including China and India, will join the meeting on Wednesday. Japan's prime minister said he would press them to co-operate.
    South African Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk rejected the deal, which he said set a "vision" but no firm targets to achieve sufficient cuts in carbon emissions.South African Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk rejected the deal, which he said set a "vision" but no firm targets to achieve sufficient cuts in carbon emissions.
    He said: "While the statement may appear as a movement forward, we are concerned that it may, in effect, be a regression from what is required to... meeting the challenges of climate change."He said: "While the statement may appear as a movement forward, we are concerned that it may, in effect, be a regression from what is required to... meeting the challenges of climate change."
    Summit sidelinesSummit sidelines
    The global environmental group WWF said the target date of 2050 was insufficient and the lack of progress "pathetic".The global environmental group WWF said the target date of 2050 was insufficient and the lack of progress "pathetic".
    One lobby group present in Hokkaido, Tear Fund, said the announcement was disappointing. One lobby group present in Hokkaido, Tear Fund, said the announcement was disappointing. READ THE STATEMENT class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/08_07_08_climatechange.pdf">Environment and Climate Change [71.85KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader href="http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html">Download the reader here
    The summit is also expected to release a statement on the elections in Zimbabwe, which President George W Bush on Monday described as a sham.The summit is also expected to release a statement on the elections in Zimbabwe, which President George W Bush on Monday described as a sham.
    In their first face-to-face meeting, on the summit's sidelines, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told Britain's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, that he wanted to normalise ties, which are at their lowest ebb since the Cold War.In their first face-to-face meeting, on the summit's sidelines, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told Britain's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, that he wanted to normalise ties, which are at their lowest ebb since the Cold War.
    The meeting came as a senior British security official told the BBC that there were "very strong indications" that the poisoning in London two years ago of the former Russian intelligence officer, Alexander Litvinenko, was backed by the state.The meeting came as a senior British security official told the BBC that there were "very strong indications" that the poisoning in London two years ago of the former Russian intelligence officer, Alexander Litvinenko, was backed by the state.
    Relations between the two countries soured after Russia refused to extradite former KGB agent, Andrei Lugovoi, whom Britain accuses of carrying out the poisoning.Relations between the two countries soured after Russia refused to extradite former KGB agent, Andrei Lugovoi, whom Britain accuses of carrying out the poisoning.