US Trying To Weaken G8 Climate Change Communique



The administration of President George W. Bush is hostile to imposed reductions on carbon emissions, arguing that privately funded technology will more efficiently halt global warming.

by Staff Writers



London (AFP) May 17, 2007



The United States is attempting to weaken parts of a proposed G8 communique on the threat posed by climate change, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. It said that the United States objected to all references to a scientific prediction that "beyond a temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius, risks from climate change will be largely unmanageable."

The United States was also opposed to references to a need for a successor to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, as well as any mention of the United Nations.

G8 leaders are due to meet in Germany on June 6-8.

The Financial Times also said Washington had tried to weaken the draft document in relation to an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report released earlier this year.

US officials were also trying to replace a paragraph stating G8 leaders were "deeply concerned about the latest scientific findings confirmed by the IPCC" with: "We take note of the recent assessment of the IPCC that warming of the climate system is occurring."

The administration of President George W. Bush is hostile to imposed reductions on carbon emissions, arguing that privately funded technology will more efficiently halt global warming.

Source: Agence France-Presse