Big Emerging Nations Demand G8 Greenhouse Gas Cuts
JAPAN: July 9, 2008
SAPPORO, Japan - Five big emerging economies on Tuesday staked out tough
positions on greenhouse gas emissions and food security, ahead of talks on
climate change with rich countries in the Group of Eight.
In a statement, the five nations urged the G8 countries to shoulder their
own responsibilities on climate change by reducing their greenhouse gas
emissions by 80-95 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.
Mexico, Brazil, China, India and South Africa also urged all developed
countries to commit themselves to absolute emission reductions based on a
medium-term target of a 25-40 percent cut below 1990 levels by 2020.
Negotiations for reductions of greenhouse gas emissions must take "into
account historical responsibility and respective capacities as a fair and
just approach", the five countries said in a joint declaration.
"We also urge the international community, especially developed countries,
to promote sustainable consumption patterns and lifestyles responsive to
mitigation requirements."
The five set out their position during a meeting prior to joining the G8 for
discussions on Wednesday, the final day of the rich countries' annual summit
on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.
Earlier, G8 leaders said they would work with nearly 200 states in United
Nations climate change talks to adopt a goal of at least halving greenhouse
gas emissions by 2050. The G8 also said mid-term goals would be needed to
achieve that target, without specifying a numerical goal.
But the South African environment minister said the G8 goal was an "empty
slogan", while the five said developed countries must "take the lead in
achieving ambitious and absolute greenhouse gas emissions reductions".
The five said rich countries should spend 0.5 percent of their gross
domestic product on helping developing countries to adapt to climate change,
and fulfil commitments to allocate 0.7 percent of gross national product to
aid.
FOOD AND ENERGY
The five leaders, whose nations together account for 42 percent of the
world's population, also sounded the alarm on rising food prices but
rejected the idea that their rapidly growing economies were the cause.
"The steep rise in food prices raises the risk of stagflation overtaking the
global economy," Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is also an
economist, told reporters.
Developing countries were not to blame for soaring food prices, which have
"added to the difficulties of the global poverty reduction efforts and
affected regional stability", Chinese President Hu Jintao said in a speech
to fellow heads of state.
"It is worth noting that until recently, there has been an argument
stressing the so-called 'responsibility of big developing countries', an
argument which blames the development of big developing countries for the
worldwide food price rise," Hu said.
"This is not a responsible attitude."
Instead, Mexican President Felipe Calderon said the world needs an answer to
the "financial speculation which has relevance to increases in food and
energy prices".
Nonetheless, the five countries took a measured stance on biofuels, which
some protesters congregating in Hokkaido blame for the rise in food prices.
China and South Africa already discourage using pricey corn for ethanol, but
Brazil is the world's top exporter of ethanol, which it makes from sugar
cane.
They called for public policies on biofuels that "contribute to sustainable
development" and "do not threaten food security". (Editing by David Fogarty)
Story by Lucy Hornby
REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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