G8 Agreement Not So GR8
The Group of Eight leaders arrived at a half-hearted, tentative plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050, yesterday, but not everybody's jumping for joy. Critics feel that the commitment to "consider and adopt" the long-term 50 percent reduction goal wasn't the strongest. Scientists and environmentalists are disappointed that the G8 leaders didn't set a numerical target to serve as a guideline. Under the plan, countries set their own emissions targets.
Some scientists were also disappointed that no short-term goals were set. Alden Meyer, spokesman for the Union of Concerned Scientists, told Al Jazeera English, "They could have made progress here by being more specific on the near-term commitments that industrialized countries were willing to make to reduce their own emissions, but they don't have agreement on that."
The G8 leaders will present their plan to eight major developing nations, including China and India. Some leaders of rich nations, including President George W. Bush, say they will not get on board with the emissions reduction plan unless China and India do too. In turn, these emerging economies remain unconvinced that rich nations are doing their part in the fight against global warming.
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