Heiligendamm, Germany (Platts)--7Jun2007

German Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday said the leaders of the G8
nations meeting in Heiligendamm, Germany, had reached what she called a "very
successful" deal to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

     "We consider it a very good progress to halve greenhouse emissions by
2050," Merkel said.

     "By the end of the year the environmental ministers of all participating
countries will be able to start with the necessary work," she said.
     Merkel said all the participating countries were committed to using the
United Nations as the forum to reach a new global warming pact to succeed the
Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012.