Merkel won't compromise with Bush on climate, doesn't see G8 deal

Europe News

Jun 2, 2007, 11:27 GMT

Berlin - Germany is not prepared to budge on the goal of limiting global warming, Chancellor Angela Merkel says in an interview published Saturday, adding she does not expect agreement with the United States on climate change at this week's G8 summit. There would be no compromise on the European Union goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to two Celsius degrees by 2050, Merkel told Der Spiegel news magazine, days before she hosts the G8 gathering in Heiligendamm. 'If the US does not move, probably the others will wait. I do not expect a solution this week,' the chancellor said. Merkel flatly rejected the possibility of accepting a four-degree rise, as opposed to the two degrees outlined by the recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 'That would be exactly what I would call a dirty compromise. We have to orientate ourselves to the findings of the scientists and not soften them,' she said. Compromises could be found on the measures to be taken, 'but I cannot negotiate on the two degrees,' she said. Merkel said officials were wrestling with the issue of climate change, which she has put at the top of the G8 agenda, 'right up to the last minute.' 'You can take it from me that I will not allow the scientifically based findings, such as those of the IPCC report of the United Nations, to be watered down,' she said. The IPCC issued its third report in May, outlining how global warming could be contained to between 2.0 and 2.8 Celsius degrees, as long as measures were taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Referring to US policy to rely on technological innovation to curb emissions and a new initiative from President George W Bush to draw up a scheme involving only a group of 10 to 15 major emitters, Merkel said she backed definite targets. Proceeding through the UN was 'non-negotiable,' she added. 'We Europeans find it more convincing, as a motor of change, to agree on ambitious goals at an international level and to implement our measures accordingly,' the chancellor said. On Thursday Bush outlined a plan to limit emissions within a group countries, including the industrialized world and rapidly growing large economies like India and China. Merkel did not reject Bush's initiative. 'We are not at the end of talks. I am confident that we will see movement in the negotiations,' she said, but she acknowledged that some themes on the agenda for discussion would not be mentioned in the final G8 document when the summit ends on Friday. A senior US official said Merkel had been 'positive' about Bush's initiative, when the two leaders discussed climate change in a video conference Friday. Bush's initiative in effect rebuffed EU calls, led by Merkel, for a G8 commitment to cut global greenhouse gas emissions to 50 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050. Merkel has made clear that the EU wanted a UN-led process to replace the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions, which the US has not ratified, when it runs out in 2012. © 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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i'm impressed...Jun 2nd, 2007 - 12:17:52

good for merkel!

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rajeshJun 2nd, 2007 - 12:25:18

gr8 3 cheers to Merkel...
hope she can put sense into bush

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AmericanJun 2nd, 2007 - 12:44:28

For the next elections I will vote for the candidate who puts the fight against global warming at the top of his or her agenda. If there is no such candidate then I won't vote. I am really sick of looking around at all of these pigs who leave their Suburban running for a half hour as they shop for groceries just so they can return to their car in comfort. I see this and other disgusting behaviors every single day in this country full of pigs. We need a president who can impress our citizens with the sense of urgency that this issue demands.

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merkel schmerkelJun 2nd, 2007 - 12:56:12

she's so completely irrelevant, this story doesn't even matter.

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liesJun 2nd, 2007 - 12:59:54

Global warming is such a fraud. There is no such thing. The so-called scientists are in bed with grant money, so they have to keep beating the same drum.

Reality is that we are merely going through a standard cycle of the earth temps. When they naturally go back down, the moronic global warming conspirators will do the 'I told you so' dance, even though they had nothing to do with the change in temp.

Get a grip people. Global warming is a scam.

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AmericanJun 2nd, 2007 - 13:01:37

Yes it does matter. Every person who makes an effort to clean up the environment makes a difference. This person happens to lead an entire nation in such efforts. Your perspective is exactly the problem!!

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VivienneJun 2nd, 2007 - 13:03:12

Bush is nothing more than an oil company hack. We just have to count down to the magic day when he will be out of office and we can have some real progress on reversing global warming. Merkel is right to move on without him.

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lies?Jun 2nd, 2007 - 13:03:45

Global warming is a fraud? Hmmmm....I wonder if I should believe idiots like yourself or 2000 of the worlds top scientists. Tough decision....

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Not lies!Jun 2nd, 2007 - 13:06:26

Have you ever seen the chart that shows these historical climactic variations? If you have then you should certainly know that this is far beyond a typical cycle. You need to educate yourself before you speak!

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real gem from belgiumJun 2nd, 2007 - 13:35:37

Dr Griffin told the program: 'I have no doubt that a trend of global warming exists. I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with.

'To assume that it is a problem is to assume that the state of Earth's climate today is the optimal climate, the best climate that we could have or ever have had and that we need to take steps to make sure that it doesn't change.

'I guess I would ask which human beings - where and when - are to be accorded the privilege of deciding that this particular climate that we have right here today, right now is the best climate for all other human beings. I think that's a rather arrogant position for people to take.'

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Merkel won't compromise with Bush on climate, doesn't see G8 deal

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