Science in the News, June 2007 -- The Group of Eight (G8) members Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States together represent about 65% of the world economy. The group meets annually to discuss issues of mutual concern. This year German Chancellor Angela Merkel is hosting the annual summit June 6-8 in Heiligedamm, Germany, with an agenda focused on combating climate change.
With the Kyoto Protocol set to expire in 2012, G8 countries are discussing new goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In February, the G8 along with the leaders from Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa (collectively called the G8+5) met to discuss climate change and agreed that developing nations will have to play a role in cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The nations also agreed that there should be a global system to ?cap and trade? greenhouse gas emissions.
Leading up to the annual G8 Summit in June, the German Chancellor called for a plan that would cut greenhouse gas emissions to 50% below 1990 levels by 2050. Her plan is garnering support from other EU and G8 nations. In a change of position for the administration, President Bush stated that he would like to gather the 15 major emitters of greenhouse gases together to set an ?aspirational? goal for reducing greenhouse gases worldwide, with each participating country setting their own national goals and plans for achieving the targeted reductions. Unlike Chancellor Merkel's plan, the U.S. plan does not concretely outline any mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The administration's new stance on climate change was well received by fellow G8 members. However, some members of Congress and environmentalists in the United States were disappointed that the administration's proposal does not call for mandatory cuts or penalties for non-compliance. Rather, the U.S. plan emphasizes emission trading, increasing fuel efficiency, and technological innovation as the means for reducing emissions.
G8 Summit 2007 Heiligendamm The official site of the June 2007 G8 Summit contains information about G8 member countries and the Summit agenda.