Berlusconi Govt. Suddenly Cancels G-8 Summit Science Prep Meeting - No Science Input Possible

[hatrack]

The Italian government has caught scientists off-guard by unexpectedly, and mysteriously, cancelling the G8 science and technology meeting planned for next week.

The meeting was planned for 25-28 June. It would have brought together science ministers of the rich G8 nations to discuss issues of long-term and global concern, such as how to monitor climate change, maintain environment-friendly energy supplies and how to deal with the ageing society. It was one of nine ministerial meetings to prepare for the main G8 summit, this year under Italian presidency, in L'Aquila in July. The summit is now left without a formal mechanism for introducing science input.

"We were surprised and disappointed by the cancellation," says James Wilsdon, director of the science policy for Britain's Royal Society. The society is one of 13 national academies — including one from each of the G8 countries, plus one each from South Africa, India, Mexico, China and Brazil — that had prepared a joint statement on climate and energy policy to funnel through the meeting. The meeting was particularly important, he said, given the United Nations decision-making climate summit in Copenhagen in December.

Loss of credibility

The Italian government gave no clear reason for the cancellation, and it is the first time a planned ministerial meeting has been cancelled in advance of a G8 summit. Italian newspapers have said that government officials are referring variously to concerns about security, and failure to complete translation of relevant preparatory documents.

EDIT

http://www.nature.com/news/2009/090617/full/news.2009.579.html

[RandomThoughts]

1. There must have been some disagreement that would be

more embarrassing then a cancellation.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Maybe one his young girlfriends is late.

:shrug:

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Troubling......