Earth Equity News

After Applause Dies Down, Global Warming Talks Leave Few Concrete Goals. By Andrew C. Revkin, NYTimes, July 10, 2008. "Nearly everyone had something to cheer about on Wednesday after the major industrial powers and a big group of emerging nations pledged to pursue 'deep cuts' in emissions of heat-trapping gases in coming decades. President Bush, who had insisted that any commitment to combat global warming must involve growing economies as well as the rich nations, recruited China and India to the table and received rare accolades from some environmentalists for doing so. The developing countries received a promise that the rich countries would take the lead in curbing emissions. And environmentalists said the agreements renewed chances of reviving two ailing climate pacts, the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. But behind the congratulatory speeches on Wednesday, some experts said, was a more sobering reality. The documents issued by the participating countries had very few of the concrete goals needed to keep greenhouse gases from growing at their torrid pace, they said. The statement issued by the industrialized Group of 8 pledged to 'move toward a carbon-free society' by seeking to cut worldwide emissions of heat-trapping gases in half by 2050. But the statement did not say whether that baseline would be emissions at 1990 levels, or the less ambitious baseline of current levels, already 25 percent higher. Mentions of mandatory restrictions on emissions were carefully framed. Caps or taxes were endorsed where 'national circumstances' made those acceptable. The statement urged nations to set 'midterm, aspirational goals for energy efficiency.'"