|
08.07.2005 - 09:52 CET | By Lucia Kubosova
The G8 summit of the world's most industrialised countries is set to hammer out a compromise on climate change.
The leaders will adopt the final text today, Friday (8 July), due to the delay caused by the terrorist attacks on London yesterday.
The agreement will not suggest concrete cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, because of Washington's opposition to such a provision - similar to the internationally endorsed Kyoto protocol, in force since February 2005.
But the declaration will include a paragraph on the scientific evidence of climate change and will point to it as largely a result of human activity, previously also doubted by the US, media report.
It will also refer to the urgency of tackling the problem, while pointing out there are several ways to do so - not only by cutting emissions, but also with new technological solutions on "green" energy sources, such as wind or solar power.
Britain, France, Germany and Canada had been pressing for a stronger text, aiming to put pressure on the White House, because of its isolated position, but both sides are reported to have moved from their initial stance.
Some environmental lobbies suggest the G8 agreement will not prove crucial for tackling the contentious issue, as it does not include any concrete enforcing instruments.
Others argue it is still better to have a weak declaration of this kind, rather than nothing but the Kyoto protocol, which has been rejected by the US.
The final G8 text is to pave the way for a post-Kyoto framework for climate change, that would involve all the leading industrialised countries.
(EUObserver)
|