“G-8 Vows to Fight Climate Change, But Disagreements Pose Challenge,” Wall Street Journal

“Developing economies don't back G-8 climate goal,” Associated Press

“Germany's Merkel calls G-8 climate agreement a "major step forward,” International Herald Tribune

“G-8 Failure on Emissions Plan Threatens Climate Fight,” Bloomberg

“Division at G-8 over climate goal,” New York Times

You get the picture. Or, well, maybe you don’t. Which is the point. The picture is pretty murky and whether meaningful progress was made is open to interpretation.  But to sum up, there were two steps that merit mention.

First, the G8 leaders agreed to “the goal of achieving at least 50% reduction of global emissions by 2050.”  However, timelines, dates, and even the baseline from which to measure the 50% cut remain undefined.

Second, a declaration was signed by the so-called “major economies”, a group organized by President Bush, who together are responsible for 80% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. They include Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, UK, and US.

They acknowledged that all major emitters must commit to a global reduction goal.  
“We believe that it would be desirable for the Parties to adopt in the negotiations under the Convention a long-term global goal for reducing global emissions, taking into account the principle of equity.”

For China and India, who have stridently resisted any formal commitment to reductions, this declaration is a step forward.

Both moves should be received with optimism, but are they enough…hardly. So, for those of you who voted in this week’s Plenty Poll, which asked:

Do you think President Bush will agree to cut in half global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as is being proposed at this week’s G8 summit in Japan?

It would seem answer “C” is correct:

“Sort of – but it’ll be a watered-down compromise.”