Climate change unity deal lacks details
Wednesday, 09 Jul 2008 09:30
Climate change deal agreed between developed and developing countries
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Developing and developed countries have agreed to tackle climate change, but analysts say the lack of specific details undermines progress made at the G8 summit.
The G8 group of the world's richest nations was joined on the final day of its summit by a number of developing nations, including Brazil, India, South
Africa and South Korea, as well as the
European Union.
A joint statement reiterates the G8 goal of cutting carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2050. It says "both developed and developing" countries "commit to combat climate change in accordance with our common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities".
Commentators say the lack of interim goals for the 2050 target, with neither a timescale nor specific figures identified, mean the agreement lacks substance.
The separate UN framework convention on climate change, which saw agreement reached in Bali last year, is ongoing.
"WWF finds it pathetic that they still duck their historic responsibility and refuse to turn from the main driver of the problem into the main driver of the solution," the environmental group's global climate initiative director Kim Carstensen said.