Already Weak G8 Climate Plan Deletes Research Funds, No Targets

[hatrack]

"A new draft communique on climate change for next month's Group of Eight summit in Scotland has removed plans to fund research and put into question top scientists' warnings that global warming is already under way. The text seen by Reuters, titled Gleneagles Plan of Action and dated June 14, has been watered down from a previous draft which itself had no specific targets or timetables for action.

The latest draft also explicitly endorses the use of "zero-carbon" nuclear power - another development that will dismay many environmentalists three weeks before the summit of the world's eight richest nations at Gleneagles. "The text is getting weaker and weaker. There are no targets, no timetables, no standards - and even the money is gone," a source close to the negotiations told Reuters. "You are looking at a very, very serious problem for Blair," the source added.

Prime Minister Tony Blair has pledged to put the fight against climate change at the heart of Britain's year-long presidency of the G8. He visited three G8 leaders in two days this week to drum up support for his priorities.

EDIT

An introductory paragraph has moved the statement "our world is warming" into square brackets and has given the same treatment to a statement from the world's top scientists that climate change is already under way and demands urgent action. All references in a draft dated May 3 to unspecified dollar funds for research and development into new, clean technology and fuels have been excised from the latest version. References in the May 3 draft to "setting ambitious targets and timetables" for cutting carbon emissions from buildings has completely disappeared from the June 14 text. Even a suggestion that the developed world has a duty of leadership in combatting global warming is given the square bracket brush off."

EDIT

http://seven.com.au/news/topstories/87512