ID :
9307
Tue, 06/03/2008 - 13:33
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Drafting of G8 statement on climate warming in trouble.

TOKYO, June 3 (Itar-Tass) - Contradictions between Germany and theUnited States have brought about serious problems in the efforts to fix a draft statement of the Group of Eight (G-8) on global climate warming.

Such a statement is expected to become one of the main documents of the forthcoming G-8 summit, due to take place on Hokkaido Island in July, official sources that have a direct bearing on the preparation of the meeting of the leaders of Britain, Italy, Canada, Russia, the United States, France, Germany, and Japan said here on Tuesday.

The Kyodo Tsushin news agency reported on Tuesday that Germany insists that specific obligations, expressed in figures, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that cause climate warming be included in a G-8 statement on the subject.

In particular, Germany with the backing of a number of European Union (EU) member-countries, earlier declared in favour of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25-40 percent by the year 2020.

The US opposes such an approach, alluding, in particular, to the fact that such rapidly developing countries as China and India do notparticipate in efforts to cut down emissions. The US had stated earlier that it could only put a stop to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.

During the upcoming summit, Washington, in particular, intends to hold its own conference on climate warming. It declines to assume any obligations concerning the contents of the prospective G-8 statementbefore the conference proceedings are completed. However, such an attitude gives rise to discontent in Tokyo and EU countries, which seek to fix the document as soon as possible.

The statement issued by the previous G-8 summit in the German city of Heiligendamm said about an intention of its participants thoroughly to study the question of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by half by the year 2050. Tokyo as the organiser of this year's summit would like a more specific wording be included in the summit decisions. However, it is reported that Japan does not support what it refers to as Germany's too radical demands either.


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