MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Possible G8 major agreement on climate change

Climate change is expected to be the focus of Tuesday discussions at annual talks between the Group of Eight major industrialized nations currently taking place in Japan.

Observers say US President George Bush is under pressure to back an agreement on tackling climate change during the G8 summit. Mr. Bush has said countries with growing economies like India and China must be part of any effort to limit greenhouse gasses in order for a deal to work. The European Union and Japan have been pressing for a G8 statement that goes beyond the summit pledge last year to "seriously consider" a goal of halving global carbon emissions by mid-century and refers to the need for interim targets as well. Senior G8 officials met late into the night in Japan to thrash out wording that would allow President Bush to put aside deep misgivings and sign on to a long-term global goal, the EU source said, asking not to be named. Japan's Yomiuri newspaper said on Monday that the leaders' communiqué would highlight downside risks to the world economy and labels rising food and oil prices a "serious threat". German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday after a morning meeting with President Bush that she was "very satisfied" with the G8's work on the issues of climate change as well as on soaring food and oil prices, also high on the agenda. The statement on climate change is expected to highlight agreements to develop new technologies and provide funds to help poor countries limit greenhouse gas emissions. But it was Africa that dominated discussions during Monday's opening meetings on the northern island of Hokkaido. African leaders pressed the world's eight major industrialized nations to keep their pledge to boost aid to Africa to 25 billion dollars a year by 2010. They warned that soaring prices for oil and food are making poverty worse in African countries. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon backed the African leaders, noting that the problems of food, climate change and development are all interconnected. World Bank chief Robert Zoellick says it is important to have a system in place to monitor G8 nations' efforts to fulfill their aid pledges to Africa. "How we respond to this double jeopardy of soaring food and oil prices is a test of the global system's commitment to help the most vulnerable" said Zoellick. But aid groups argue only a trickle of the promised amount has made it to Africa since the pledge was made at a G8 summit in Scotland two years ago. To help cushion the blow, officials said the G8 would unveil a series of measures to help Africa, especially its farmers, and would affirm its commitment to double aid to give 50 billion US dollars extra in aid by 2010, with half to go to the world's poorest continent. The rising costs of food and oil, aid, and global warming are major issues at this week's summit in Japan. The three-day summit ends Wednesday with a Major Economies Meeting, a larger gathering comprising G 8 and includes Australia, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea and South Africa.