US seeks G8 climate text changes

Found on BBC News on Saturday, 12 May 2007
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Washington objects to the draft's targets to keep the global temperature rise below 2C this century and halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The draft, prepared by the German G8 Presidency, says action is imperative.

Japanese news organisations recently reported that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government was also planning to push fellow G8 members for tough targets.

As well as objecting to mention of targets for global temperature rise and greenhouse gas emissions, Washington is also seeking to remove a section acknowledging that the UN is the "appropriate forum" for agreeing further action.

"It lies in the hands of Prime Minister Blair and Chancellor Merkel, whether it's all sweetness and light or whether they are prepared to stand up and say 'I'm sorry, but the rest of the world is moving in a different direction from you'," he said.

One could care less about the US if the climate would stop at its borders; but it's a global problem and increasing climate problems are obvious. That's the typical "I don't care what happens after I'm dead" talk which is especially disappointing since the US tries to play the world's big brother. The G8 needs to set hard limits and not bend over to some short-sighted politicians.