G8 Leaders Agree to Climate Change Goal

At Summit in Italy, World Leaders Call for Keeping Temperatures from Rising More Than 2 Degrees Celsuis

(CBS/ AP)  Updated 3:21 p.m. ET

President Barack Obama joined other leaders of the industrialized world Wednesday in backing new targets for battling global warming. But the wealthy nations were unable to persuade leaders of developing countries to commit to reductions of their own, and their cooperation is critical to avoiding the worst effects of climate change.

White House officials confirmed that Obama agreed to language supporting a goal of keeping the world's average temperature from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

The agreement by the Group of Eight industrialized nations, meeting in Italy, marks a significant step in efforts to limit greenhouse gases blamed for the world's rising temperature. The G-8 previously had not been able to agree on that temperature limit as a political goal.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called it a "historic agreement" and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it was "a clear step forward."

"After a long struggle, all of the G-8 nations have finally accepted the 2 degree goal. From the United States of America to Japan and Europe, everyone will work on this goal," Merkel told reporters.

It remains only a target, however, and it is far from clear that it will be met, especially as China, India and other rapidly industrializing nations generate and consume more energy from coal and other sources.

Climate change experts say the 2-degree threshold wouldn't eliminate the risk of runaway climate change but would reduce it. Even a slight increase in average temperatures could wreak havoc on farmers around the globe, as seasons shift, crops fail and storms and droughts ravage fields, scientists say.

The G-8 leaders also agreed to a goal of having industrialized nations reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. It would be part of a worldwide goal of a 50 percent cut in such gases from all nations, rich and poor.

James Connaughton, the chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality under President George W. Bush, said the G8 agreement goes a step further than a deal struck at a meeting last year in Japan by assigning a specific goal to industrialized nations. Developing countries back then balked at agreeing to a 50 percent worldwide reduction come 2050.

"This would appear to be a good-faith attempt to assure the developing countries that the developed countries will bear a greater proportion of the task," Connaughton said in an interview with The Associated Press.

White House adviser Mike Froman said the administration supports the new nonbinding goals. He said the starting point for the targeted reduction could be as early as 1990.

However, the two goals will not be included in a declaration from a broader group that includes poor and developing nations that are wary about the potential impact of such reductions on emerging economies, Froman said. Administration officials said they were hopeful of bringing along the developing nations in coming months.

Opponents say such sharp reductions in carbon emissions would hamper businesses and industries.

The Department of Energy in 2008 completed a study for the Bush White House in 2008 that showed if industrialized countries slashed their emissions by 80 percent, that would require developing countries to cut their future emissions by 65 percent to meet the worldwide target.

G-8 leaders also agreed that the global economy is too shaky to begin rolling back massive fiscal stimulus plans right now, according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press. (Read more on the economic statements from the summit)

The leaders said in the draft that they "note some signs of stabilization" but continued to stress the difficult outlook instead of concerns over debt and high spending.

"The economic situation remains uncertain and significant risks remain to economic and financial stability," the draft read. "We will take, individually and collectively, the necessary steps to return the global economy to a strong, stable and sustainable growth path."

The leaders did commit to prepare exit strategies from the "unprecedented and concerted action" that has been taken to boost growth through government spending, low interest rates, and expansive monetary policy. Germany, worried about running up crippling debt, has pressed for spending restraint, while other major economies like Britain, Japan and the United States can't rule out the need to pump in more money.

The measures include continuing the countries' stimulus packages while keeping inflation under control, a particular German concern, while also ensuring that banks have enough cash to keep lending.

In the meantime, the nations will prepare exit strategies, with the help of the International Monetary Fund, which will vary from country to country as the measures themselves have, the draft said.

The summit is being held in the central Italian city L'Aquila after a devastating earthquake in April killed almost 300 people and drove thousands from their homes. Berlusconi moved the summit in a show of support, reports CBS News senior White House correspondent Bill Plante. There are still regular aftershocks - and with the leaders of almost 40 nations staying, there's an emergency plan to airlift them out in case there's another serious quake.

Over dinner, they planned to turn their attention to world security issues ranging from Iran to North Korea.

Italian host Premier Silvio Berlusconi, welcomed the leaders, many of whom arrived at the summit in electric cars bearing their nation's flag. Mr. Obama strolled into the summit site for the first G-8 meeting of his presidency.

The abrupt return home of Chinese President Hu Jintao after ethnic tensions soared in China's western Xingjiang territory could weaken trust-building discussions on making further progress on climate change.

China is among five developing market economies - along with Brazil, India, Mexico and South Africa - who are participating in the summit for the fifth straight year, joining the talks on Thursday to discuss bringing them on board, aid and development. Also joining are nine African nations and a forum on climate change.

The summit also will include a discussion on ways to expand the Group of Eight even further amid growing sentiment that world's most-industrialized nations can no longer claim leadership on the global political and economic agenda.

Mr. Obama signed an $787 billion economic stimulus bill in February, but experts say only about 15 percent of that has made its way into the economy so far - creating a debate between the wait-and-see camp and economists who urge another stimulus, arguing the recession proved to be deeper and more devastating than originally believed.

The document also calls for a rapid conclusion to the stalled Doha trade round, but failed to set a deadline. G-8 leaders will discuss this with other leaders tomorrow, the statement said.

The G8 draft statement on the economy calls for an "enhanced global framework for financial regulation" and to address flaws in the current system to help prevent future economic crises, but fails to make any concrete proposals. Leaders say they will address issues such as executive pay, definition of capital, risk management and the regulation of hedge funds and credit rating agencies.

[Joe_NY_15]

If you think about it, Man is naturally occurring on earth, so anything we do, could be considered "natural".

When Bears tear down a tree, it's considered "natural" even though destruction of a tree is occurring.....the same could be considered of man....for some reason, Man has been considered an Alien on our own planet.....just something to ponder

[nazdackster]

2°C, that much? WOW!

Thank GOODNESS, now we don?t need to do anything about CO2. I was really worried about Cap & Trade, but I guess I was getting all worked up over nothing. Seems like every recent paper I?ve read about feedback puts climate sensitivity at between 0.4°C and 0.6°C now that the majority of water vapor feedback has been shown to be absent, and now that we have reasonably good measures of negative feedbacks from clouds. So we should be able to double CO2 4 times. What a relief. I?m not looking forward to using a machete to get to my SUV every morning though, but I think I can "hack it".

Now can we get them to set the lower limit to -2°C? This would be most helpful as it?s July and I still haven?t put my long johns away. I?m sure ±2°C is most acceptable to all of us voters out here, so let?s just do that OK? I didn?t realize it was all going to be this easy! THANKS!

[whitemale08]

This Global Warmer garbage is the biggest scam since the Y-2K tech bubble of the 1990's and the worthless derivatives and credit-default swaps bubble of the 2000's.

The BIG FAILED ZOMBIE BANKS cannot make money off our consumption anymore so they want to change our everyday civil behaviour into luxury.

That's the bottom-line folks, it's a sham for Goldman Sucks and JP Morgan.

[Joe_NY_15]

Cap and Trade = new Tax Revenue-Stream Scheme

[horse3farm]

Just look at that picture of all the leaders. Hussein Obama is such an actor, he's waving to the air. He's a dismal leader and smiling all the way on his journey to take us to hell.

[debinok1]

If Humans are responsible for Global Warming by way of the CO2 we release, then why in the 3 days following 9/11(nofly zone) did the temperature go up 1C, but CO2 dropped. If we take what we already know, CO2 went down, temperature went up. Then it stands to reason that if we take more CO2 out of the atmosphere the temperature will continue to increase. Since we already now that it made a difference in 3 days, this could be easily proven at length by grounding all planes for 1 month. If it follows the course of 9/11 and temperature goes up as CO2 levels fall, GW caused by CO2 is disproven. If it does not follow the 9/11 course and temperatures fall as CO2 falls then GW caused by CO2 is proven correct. This is a simple way to prove/disprove GW caused by CO2, based of previous findings. So why wont these scientists do the actual study? Because their models are more reliable and their science is "proven".

[ubrew12]

It dropped? How much?

[debinok1]

The articles are almost impossible to find now, but if I remember correctly it was 3 to 5% depending on the reading station.

[speakinup22]

"Just about everybody, Liberal and Conservative, accepts the science of AGW. - ubrew12 July 8, 2009 12:11 PM PDT

Un-huh, and most realize that it has happened off and on since around the time dinosaurs roamed the earth.

I'm all for keeping the air clean, but I don't buy Mr Gore's BS for one second, nor does the scientific community.

AND - even if we did decide we wanted to stop the earth from warming - there is no way to do that.

[ubrew12]

speakinup22 said: "I don't buy Mr Gore's BS for one second, nor does the scientific community. "
As I said, the majority of climate scientists support the reasoning and urgency of AGW. And that is why 70% of the American people, both liberal and Conservative, ALSO support that reasoning. You may not buy Gores BS, but your swallowing Exxons BS every day.

[ludvig1-2009]

The earth is a beaker, the oceans the water, the ice cubes the polar ice caps, the sun the bunsen burner. Recall High School Chemistry and how rapidly the water heats up when the ice is all gone. 2 degrees Celsius might be too much.

[ubrew12]

All I remember is Mrs. Burris slapping me with a ruler.

[geminispyder-2009]

"White House officials confirmed that Obama agreed to language supporting a goal of keeping the world's average temperature from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit)."

How does Obama plan to do that?

Open up the fists of mother nature?

[beaumuff]

O the potus, I would but you and the rest of the receiving end have already broke the benches down!

[beaumuff]

Why not, I won't charge you a dime to tell the temp in the Mid Alatantic is way below normal this year.Up North it is cold. Seems ole Al BS you again.But just grin and bare it when the bills come due.

[scottyusa]

Regardless of which party you are in or if you are a liberal or conservative there are believers and non believers in all. I for one am a non believer. I prefer to listen to the scientists that are contradicting climate change. For instance, the one that works for the EPA that studied the subject and has determined that the climate has actually been cooling over the last decade. That report was supressed by the believers which just makes me believe it that much more. There is a lot of money to be made and power to be gained by this and Obama's"cap and trade" power grab will be the crowning jewel. Just wait until you cannot sell your home until it is inspected by the government and brought up to California standards. That would be windows, energy use type, six inch studs in the outer walls to provide for more insulation. Half the homes in the U.S. or more will become "unsellable" because it would cost a fortune to bring it up to the standards of the nuts and fruits in California. What a hoax! I am aghast that there are so many lemmings in the world. It takes quite a bit of lunacy to think our climate can be controlled.

[beaumuff]

Well you did not read the artical Monday, when Obama and family paid for vacation rolled into the Kremlin "the clouds parted and gave way to brilliant sunshine". If he can part the clouds like they said he can add a few more degrees.

[scottyusa]

o_the_potus why don't you have another koolaid, it will help keep you awake yuk yuk

[beaumuff]

Thats the problem already, we have to many useless laws and not good laws for what should be fixed. Like crime,dope runners, illegals, this should not be a priorty of the so called G8 until they can fix the economy.

[beaumuff]

Sorry my friend, you still have the same bunch of idiots in congress since 2007,you know about when all of this started. Queen Pelosi and King Reid.

[darthcheney345]

you still have the same bunch of idiots in congress since 2007
----------------
2007 - isn't that the year the Dow reached its all time high of 14,000?

Ever since "the most ethical government ever" took over, it's been going down, down, down.

The Dow closed below 8200 today. That's lower than it opened on Jan 20.

OBAMA = One Big A** Mistake, America.

[GiveMeFreedom]

o potus - how about you breeding as a human activity to curtail. That will go along way in helping earth save herself.

[noloyalisti]

I love it. Darth Cheney is a freakin' plant. He is calling himself VP Cheney and then trying to turn everything around. It was Cheney who was Halliburton and loved everything corporate. It is the GOP who supports the wealthy aristocratic corporate order.

It is the GOP who invited the major oil companies to set energy policy and raised energy costs by killing the electric car and getting rid of alternative energy funding. And of course it was the right wing corporations that allowed us to consume 25% of the world's resources with 6% of the population.

Nice try Darth Breath.

[beaumuff]

Don't worry Darth as soon as the bills start rolling in just like they did with Jimmy Carter and get into their pocket books they will see. That is if they even work. And fear not hyper inflation and taxation is just around the corner. We will see what they say in a few months. Right now they are still loving the celebrity staus.

[beaumuff]

If your concerned, then turn off your refridge and your AC. Walk to work if you do work, and by all means unplug that PC. You sound like Make more for Gore, its ok as long as somebody else does it.

[darthcheney345]

OK, I'm noticing a pattern here.

The top headline stories ALL keep changing every hour.

And for some reason the left wing posters are always commenting on the new story first.

It's getting monotonous.

[noloyalisti]

Oh no, leftists. Socialists. Liberals. Save us from those that care about our country and others, poor and rich. Save us from compassion and education and lovers of nature and people of all colors. Help us in giving corporations all our money for invasions and occupations. And supporting the troops by bringing them home. And taxing the rich so they pay their fair share. OMG save us from the progressives.

[GiveMeFreedom]

So the liberals think they have found a way to regulate the sun spot activity which causes 95% of all climate change on earth. Oh well, keep trying liberals. Someday you will get something right and then I will stand up and applaud you. Until then keep the apologizing, keep making excuses and most of all keep the hate coming.

[beaumuff]

Nol, When Gore and the Obama practice what they preach then maybe somebody would listen. Gore uses enogh energy tofor a city block, off tax payer money, and one of the workers said last year the Whitehouse temp was 90 degrees. He said it was like living in the tropics. By the way that was paid for by the tax payers also. Wonder if Obungler kept it that hot in Chicago when the bill was in his name?

[GiveMeFreedom]

And I love you too o potus. You haters on the left are all DAISNAID.

[GiveMeFreedom]

No potus, you are full of hate. You are a typical liberal DAISNAID.

[beaumuff]

Al Gore with his "make more for Gore" tour is going to unplug one of his five heated swimming pools, so I will unplug my refridge. If he can make that much of a sacrifice so can I. If he can jump in unheated water I can take not eating.

[noloyalisti]

But you are the same tea bagger who want to tax the poor to give to the rich corporations. They don't believe in global climate change either because they don't have a brain.

Al Gore need to make money like the aristocratic corporate elite who just care about profit and polluting. That way he can keep spreading a good and important scientific message.

[noloyalisti]

Good, we need to cut energy use by the SUV driving consumerist American pigs. That's what we care about, what's on sale at the mall and what is on TV. No wonder we are fat, lazy, ignorant and surrounded by all this junk we don't even need. And support wars for the criminal big corporations. And have tea bag orgies to protest taxing the rich corporations for their fair share.

[GiveMeFreedom]

Let me see if I understand your comment. I own a Suburban. This weekend there were seven of us in it. That is 7 people. We passed a Prius with 2 people in it on the way to the beach. Let me see, 7 people in a vehicle getting around 24 mpg at the time (FlexFuel). Compared to 2 people in a Prius getting around 45 mpg at that time. So the way I see it, I was getting around double the miles per gallon per person jerk off.

[GiveMeFreedom]

o potus - you are always so happy. Great talking to you again. Always love talking to a liberal hater monger.

[darthcheney345]

BTW, how much did Bill Clinton do to stop the dramatic increase in the number of SUV's on the road on his watch?

Remember how the Hummer became a common sight on our freeways while Ford built the Excursion and it seemed like every other vehicle was some monster SUV, mostly driven by single occupants.

Now watch them say "Clinton triiied so haaaaard, but those Republican meanies stopped him.... boo hoo."

Face it - Clinton did NOTHING.

[GiveMeFreedom]

o potus - remember to take your meds tomorrow. You are one cranky person when you do not take your meds timely.

[kaylag04]

Michael Jackson and Global Warming - Celebrity & BS News.com

[speakinup22]

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha - love it.

[darthcheney345]

My vote for the best post of the day!

LOL!

[ubrew12]

And yet, here you are. Have you tried Glen Beck or Rush Limbaugh. I promise you they spend little time on either, except to put both down. You'd love it, and after a few weeks you'd be ready to vote Palin for President till hell freezed over.

[Joe_NY_15]

Call for Keeping Temperatures from Rising More Than 2 Degrees Celsuis

Check out these Liberals, they have such a all-mighty holy view of themselves, they have convinced themselves that they can actually STOP the climate from changing......stop climate change by driving a Prius

[ubrew12]

Just about everybody, Liberal and Conservative, accepts the science of AGW.

[darthcheney345]

by NEWCO123 July 8, 2009 2:28 PM PDT

Excellent post, and very amusing as well.

Good stuff! Keep it coming.

[luadda22]

o_the_potus, Technically man made global warming is a provisional hypotenuse, not a theory.

[ubrew12]

luadda22 said: "o_the_potus, Technically man made global warming is a provisional hypotenuse, not a theory."

Damn you Pythagoras!!!