From the ArcaMax Publishing, News & Features Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/newsheadlines/s-374355-869630
RUSUTSU, Japan (UPI) -- Members of the Group of Eight meeting in Japan
address climate change and energy policy this week with an eye toward
cutting emissions in half by 2050.
James Connaughton, chairman of the U.S. Council on Environmental
Quality, said Monday much of the discussion will focus on commitments
by emerging economies, not just the developed world.
"The growth trajectory of countries like China and India is clearly
different from Europe or Canada," Connaughton said. "And so as we talk
about the setting of realistic goals into the future, we have to
understand the different starting points of different countries."
Connaughton noted the European Union, Canada and the United States
have announced interim goals and others are ready to follow suit. He
said though no specifics are expected to be announced this week, "what
we really want is an agreed vision of the shape of those midterm
commitments" to come out of the meetings.
The primary focus of this week's meetings will be on things the G8
itself can and should be doing, Connaughton said. Secondly, the G8
will address energy efficiency and conservation as well as develop a
framework for discussions aimed at developing an international
agreement on climate change by the end of next year