G8 climate measures fall ‘dangerously short’

The target of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 agreed by G8 leaders at their Toyako summit in Japan has been described as “pathetic” and “dangerously short of what is needed” by Kim Carstensen, Director of WWF Global Climate Initiative.

In a statement, WWF accuses G8 leaders of failing to boost international climate negotiations and criticises the lack of commitment to mid-term targets.

WWF has urged the G8 to wake up to the threat of dangerous climate change and raise the level of ambition drastically.

“Confirming the results of last year’s summit in Heiligendamm is hardly a remarkable outcome,” said Carstensen. “So little progress after a whole year of ministerial meetings and negotiations is not only a wasted opportunity, it falls dangerously short of what is needed to protect people and nature from climate change.”

The global conservation organization reminded G8 leaders that scientific evidence clearly outlines an urgent need to cut global emissions way more than 50 per cent by 2050 to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

To get there global emissions have to peak and decline in 10 to 15 years and rich nations must reduce emissions by 25-40 per cent by 2020. These crucially important necessities are not reflected in the G8 communiqué.

“The G8 are responsible for 62 per cent of the carbon dioxide accumulated in the Earth’s atmosphere, which makes them the main culprit of climate change and the biggest part of the problem,” added Carstensen.

“WWF finds it pathetic that they still duck their historic responsibility and refuse to turn from the main driver of the problem into the main driver of the solution.”