This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/5398784.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Climate costs top summit's agenda Climate costs top summit's agenda
(about 2 hours later)
Energy and environment ministers from the world's top 20 polluting nations are meeting in Mexico to consider the economic impact of climate change.Energy and environment ministers from the world's top 20 polluting nations are meeting in Mexico to consider the economic impact of climate change.
Former World Bank chief economist Sir Nicholas Stern will outline the initial findings of his review into the issue. Former World Bank chief economist Sir Nicholas Stern presented the initial findings of his review into the issue.
Sir Nicholas is expected to say rich nations must cut emissions immediately, and help developing nations adapt. Sir Nicholas was expected to say that rich nations had to cut emissions, and help developing nations adapt.
The two-day gathering hopes to reach agreement on ways to meet future energy demands while cutting emissions.The two-day gathering hopes to reach agreement on ways to meet future energy demands while cutting emissions.
The meeting in Monterrey is the latest round of talks on the G8 Gleneagles Summit's climate action plan.The meeting in Monterrey is the latest round of talks on the G8 Gleneagles Summit's climate action plan.
As well as ministers from G8 nations, representatives from China, India, Brazil, and South Africa are also attending the event, which is being hosted by the Mexican government.As well as ministers from G8 nations, representatives from China, India, Brazil, and South Africa are also attending the event, which is being hosted by the Mexican government.
Organisers hope the meeting will be able to make progress on a number of issues, including:Organisers hope the meeting will be able to make progress on a number of issues, including:
  • economic challenges of tackling climate change
  • alternative low-carbon technologies
  • level of investment from public and private sectors
  • "road map" for a low-carbon future
  • economic challenges of tackling climate change
  • alternative low-carbon technologies
  • level of investment from public and private sectors
  • "road map" for a low-carbon future
'Time to act''Time to act'
The first issue on the agenda will be the economic impact of climate change. Sir Nicholas Stern will present initial findings from a review he was asked to produce by the UK government. The first issue on the closed meeting's agenda was the economic impact of climate change. Sir Nicholas Stern presented the initial findings from a review he was asked to produce by the UK government.
BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin, reporting from Monterrey, outlines what Sir Nicholas is expected to say. BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin, reporting from Monterrey, outlined what Sir Nicholas was expected to say.
"He will be saying that rich nations need to do far more to help poorer countries adapt to the consequences of climate change that inevitably will happen - but we need to invest now.""He will be saying that rich nations need to do far more to help poorer countries adapt to the consequences of climate change that inevitably will happen - but we need to invest now."
Later on Tuesday, the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Claude Mandil, will present the findings of extensive research carried out by the agency. Claude Mandil, head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), presented the findings of extensive research carried out by the agency.
Mr Mandil is expected to say that the technologies to cut emissions already exist. Mr Mandil told the BBC that the technologies needed to cut emissions for the forseeable future already exist.
However, he will warn the ministers that investment in new low-carbon technologies is needed now; otherwise a fresh generation of inefficient, carbon intensive power stations will be locked into the global energy mix. However, he warned that investment in new low-carbon technologies was needed now; otherwise a fresh generation of inefficient, carbon intensive power stations would become locked into the global energy mix.
But he said that he was not optimistic that there was a political will to deliver the necessary support, and that there was "a huge gap between words and deeds".
Costing the EarthCosting the Earth
The Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development was created by the UK when it held the presidency of the G8 in 2005.The Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Change, Clean Energy and Sustainable Development was created by the UK when it held the presidency of the G8 in 2005.
One of the dialogue's aims was to attempt to reach an informal agreement between industrialised and developing nations on a long-term strategy to cut emissions.One of the dialogue's aims was to attempt to reach an informal agreement between industrialised and developing nations on a long-term strategy to cut emissions.
How the greenhouse effect works Send us your commentsHow the greenhouse effect works Send us your comments
The world's biggest polluter, the US, has not ratified the UN's Kyoto Protocol - the international agreement on reducing nations' greenhouse gas emissions.The world's biggest polluter, the US, has not ratified the UN's Kyoto Protocol - the international agreement on reducing nations' greenhouse gas emissions.
President Bush rejected it, saying it would harm the US economy and fail to deliver any meaningful reductions.President Bush rejected it, saying it would harm the US economy and fail to deliver any meaningful reductions.
Emerging economies, led by China, argued that if the world's richest nation was not part of the Kyoto targets, it was unfair to expect developing nations to be subject to legally binding limits.Emerging economies, led by China, argued that if the world's richest nation was not part of the Kyoto targets, it was unfair to expect developing nations to be subject to legally binding limits.
Campaigners hope the Sir Nicholas' findings will help deliver a consensus among the big polluters.Campaigners hope the Sir Nicholas' findings will help deliver a consensus among the big polluters.
"We are urging the G8 not to miss another opportunity to take action in favour of the poorest people of the world, who are already struggling to cope with the effects of climate change," said Rachel Roach, a climate change policy adviser for the aid charity Tearfund."We are urging the G8 not to miss another opportunity to take action in favour of the poorest people of the world, who are already struggling to cope with the effects of climate change," said Rachel Roach, a climate change policy adviser for the aid charity Tearfund.
But she added: "Unfortunately, it may well be that this week's meeting is another case of lots of talk but little action."But she added: "Unfortunately, it may well be that this week's meeting is another case of lots of talk but little action."
UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, addressing the UN General Assembly last month, said the Stern review would show that it was time to act.UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, addressing the UN General Assembly last month, said the Stern review would show that it was time to act.
She said: "While it will not cost the Earth to solve climate change, it will cost the Earth - literally and financially - if we don't."She said: "While it will not cost the Earth to solve climate change, it will cost the Earth - literally and financially - if we don't."