G-8 nations support action against global warming

Sapporo, July 9 : Leaders of the Group of Eight nations on Wednesday, July 9 supported a shared vision for long-term cooperative action, including emission reductions, that assures growth, prosperity, and other aspects of sustainable development.

Leaders acknowledged the fact that each country would have to contribute to reduce carbon emissions in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. But no specific agreements were announced. India and China reportedly dismissed the rich nations' target of halving emissions by 2050. Leaders from the eight emerging economies held talks with the Group of Eight rich nations on the final day of the summit here.

The leaders described climate change as one of the great global challenges and said they confronted the interlinked challenges of sustainable development, including energy, food security and human health.

They pledged, "Our contribution and cooperation are rooted in the objective, provisions, and principles of the Convention."

"We recognize that tackling climate change will require greater mobilization of financial resources, both domestically and internationally," they added.

On Tuesday, the G-8 group, which includes the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia agreed to halve harmful emissions by 2050.

But emerging countries and environmentalists criticised the announcement.

Earlier, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W Bush discussed a nuclear deal, which has been stalled for the past three years, but no final announcement was made on it.

ANI