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G-8: "C&C - on the table" Aubrey Meyer Jul 08, 2008 07:53 PDT Adam Morton The AGE [Australia daily] July 9, 2008 “Let's not get carried away” http://www.theage.com.au/national/lets-not-get-carried-away-20080708-3c34.html ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ “One approach on the table is contraction and convergence — rich countries contracting their emissions quickly, while developing countries are given some room to grow on condition they make cuts later.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE world's richest nations agreeing that global greenhouse emissions should be cut in half by 2050 is a step forward, no question. But its importance should not be overstated: no one has signed on to a new binding commitment. In reality, it is little more than an understanding that something needs doing. Polls suggest a majority of people in many developed countries could have told their leaders that some time ago. The climate change section of the summit seems a case of lowering expectations and meeting them. Despite last year's G8 summit pledging to seriously consider a 50% cut, climate envoys went out of the way in the lead-up to the Hokkaido meeting to say no agreement was likely. That immediately swept the tough 2020 target that lobbyists and climate scientists were calling for off the table. US President George Bush consistently argued that the G8 was not the forum to strike a climate deal. He prefers the major economies meetings that include developing polluters China, India and Brazil — countries that, along with Australia, will be present for expanded discussions today. The agreement is a win for Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who all but staked his future on convincing the G8 to agree to something — "in any form" — on climate change. It could even be spun as good news for Kevin Rudd as he prepares to introduce carbon trading — an indication the developed world, including the US, is ready to act. But let's not get carried away. The real negotiations are being held back until next January, once there is a new leader in the White House. Even then, a binding post-Kyoto deal that spells out how the world can get to the 50% reduction target seems a long way off. One approach on the table is contraction and convergence — rich countries contracting their emissions quickly, while developing countries are given some room to grow on condition they make cuts later. Whichever approach ends up being taken, negotiations have barely begun on the road to a new global treaty, due at a UN meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009. Aubrey Meyer GCI 37 Ravenswood Road LONDON E17 9LY Ph 0208 520 4742