Europe News
Hopes of climate deal at Heiligendamm evaporate
Jun 6, 2007, 13:20 GMT
German Chancellor Angel Merkel (L) chats with US President George W. Bush prior to the opening of the G8 summit in Heiligendamm, Germany, 06 June 2007. EPA/PEER GRIMM
Heiligendamm/Rostock, Germany - The final faint hopes of an agreement on definite measures to curb climate change at the G8 summit in Heiligendamm were evaporating, both the US and the German delegations indicated Wednesday.
US President George W Bush's chief environmental adviser, James Connaughton, said there would be no commitment on fixed global targets, whether on reducing greenhouse gas emissions or on setting an upper limit for global warming.
Each country had to set its own targets, Connaughton said. This was not only Washington's view but also that of Japan and Canada.
The German delegation indicated the matter was now out of the hands of the sherpas trying to hammer out a deal before the leaders sit down to talks.
Chancellor Angela Merkel was taking personal control of the issue, which she as host has put at the top of the agenda, a source close to the talks said.
Connaughton, nevertheless, stressed that considerable progress had been made on the issue.
Merkel had firmly committed herself to fixed targets on reducing carbon dioxide emissions and to restricting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius by 2050 in interviews given before the summit.
The chancellor made clear she would not enter into 'murky compromises' and added, 'I cannot negotiate on the 2 degrees.'
Writing in a Berlin newspaper Wednesday, Merkel said she was aiming at Heiligendamm to give impetus to global climate protection talks.
The German government is pushing for clear targets to be hammered out at the UN climate change conference in Bali in December.
In the new US initiative, put forward by Bush last month, the emphasis is rather on achieving agreement on curbing greenhouse gas emissions among the world's 15 main polluters, including the rapidly growing emerging economies of India and China.
Merkel is to sit down to bilateral talks with Bush, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other G8 leaders later Wednesday. The summit kicks off with a dinner Wednesday, and the main talks start Thursday.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
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I feel like I am in minority here. I hate everything about Bush, but in this case I might agree with him. A radical decrease in CO2 might not be possible without serious cost to the economy. It will also not be possible unless China and India agree to curb their emittions (although they have a valid point that a vast majority of human produced CO2 in the air is of US and Europe's making, especially if looked per capita). Cost of under-action might be hight (even to US with possible droughts in South-West), but it's probably unavoidable.
Have you mental midgets ever given any thought that if something isn't done about the environment, you won't have ANY economy to worry about? This unabashed crap about 'hurting the economy' is just an excuse to do nothing except continue the rampant consumption and waste that is so near and dear to the american heart. Get a brain and then learn how to use it. Learn how to think, not follow the pablum that is spoon fed to you by your republicunt 'leaders.'
The Dinosaurs are still with us - americans have the same mentality and willwreck the planet if not curbed
SP4---this is as much of a 'story' as the WMD story and you guys have continued to push that one. It is nice to know that the neo-cons are at least consistent with their lying.
Bush once again proves he is an idiot. He has never cared about the environment, and then just before this meeting he acts like he is concerned. But only if he is in charge.
How about we try to do something about atmospheric water vapor while we're at it? Without question, it is the most prevelant greenhouse gas on Earth! Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor are equally harmless/harmful to humans.
Human beings are arrogant in their belief that we can control nature...in particular climate. We cannot even successfully 'seed' clouds on a wide-scale to cause rain.
Has human 'consumption' caused a rise in atmospheric CO2? Undoubtedly, but our existance has ALSO 'polluted' the atmosphere with other 'ignored' greenhouse gases such as water vapor, etc. With that said, is CO2 the main cause of the 'global warming' craze? Not likely.
Also, are we assuming the climate of Earth say 100 years ago was the 'optimum' climate, so we need to control mother nature and keep it that way? Is the sun currently very active?
Here's my opinion...for what it's worth. 'Global Warming' is occurring. No doubt. I believe it's not only the result of ALL greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, but also and natural Sun/Earth cycle. Is it something humans can control? Absolutely not. Even if everybody/everything on Earth minimized CO2 production to simple respiration, it would not change the other things happening behind the scenes to direct us through this warming cycle.
Bush approval ratings are at historical lows for any modern era president so I think we Americans do in fact 'get it' when it comes to many of the issues of which we stand accused of being clueless.
Perhaps a better understanding of our political process would be of benefit to those of you who think we're all a bunch of clueless cave men over here. Once we elect a president, our political process limits the impact individual citizens can have on the decisions made by that individual. We can express our disfavor but the President is largely outside our direct influence. Moderation of presidential power is the responsibility of the Congress and we we did return control of Congress to the democrats; regrettably, their use of that power to date has been ineffectual. Nevertheless, that was a significant political shift in this country. The presidential elections --- while too far away for the preferences of many --- will continue to reflect the viewpoint of most Americans that the Bush policies do not meet with their approval.
look back 100 years, see the warming trend and blame the US. Look back 10,000 years, see the cyclic warming and cooling patterns, then shut the heck up.
All you pseudo-scientists are anti US and are simply trying to scare folks.
The idiots are all around us driving SUVs, but the real culprit is human greed. Bush is only the mouthpiece of the American vote to do nothing about this. They are waiting for a law to be passed to outlaw excessive pollution, but they dont realize that they are voting to keep that law from passing everytime they hold the gas pump in their hand and pay $100 dollars to fill their tanks.
What does Bush actually know about anything?
He is just interested in finishing off the work that his father didnt, eg: the gulf war, even though with all those innocent lives lost through this dreadful pointless war that has now been proven that there NEVER ANY WMDS in the first place.
WHY HAS HE NEVER BEEN QUESTIONED OVER THIS MATTER??? WHY????
He is the biggest terrorist and has killed more innocent people than saddam hussein by authorising this invasion for no proved reason at all.
This needs addressing, how can this man lead the USA??
For 1 more time---don't you know that the term neeo-con is an arab insult and a codeword for Jew??
Are you Arab or just a Anti-semite?
Mr. Holden by grandma's pajamas.
Sadam killed over 1 million Kurds alone with poison gas, besides the hundreds of thousands in other parts of the country that were not Sunni.
Just exactly what do you call that gas except WMD????
If you are going to post this type of stuff , please do not pretend to have a English or American name--you only insult yourself
.
I have been following this Global Warming thing from day one and there is one thing that I have noticed. In the early years many scientists, politicians etc denyed that it existed. When the evidence became overwhelming they switched their ideas and started to blame it on the Suns activity and water vapour.
If the Sun and water vapour are proved to be non-starters I am convinced that some other demon will be found and in the meantime things will get hotter and hotter.
I am a climatologist, although my expertise is not in the global warming thing. I agree, to a point with what Mark posted earlier. There is no doubt amongst any true expert in climatology that water vapor and solar activity has contributed to the current warming trend. But also carbon dioxide emissions have contributed to the warming also. Carbon dioxide alone with it's measured increases could not be blamed for the current warming trend. And carbon dioxide emission cuts alone will not stop the warming trend. These are facts. People, please do more research on your own...yes, global warming has potentially catostrophic consequences, but putting a cap on emissions is not the answer. Not saying we should not cap pollutants...we should, but it's not the answer.
Now, along my line of specialty, how about we cause a few volcanic eruptions? That would cool the Earth for a long time. For instance, when Mount Pinatubo erupted, the average Earthly temperature was reduced by 0.6C for three years...mainly attributed to the eruption.
If the reason should turn out to be that there are simply too many people in this world, who do you blame, and what do you do? Right now we think consumer choices are making the difference. That's nothing compared to curbing population growth or even the more unthinkable. As it stands, those who are in charge are simply turning up their air conditioning, which makes the problem seem less real while further aggrivating the situation.
The idea of cooling the Earth by artificially provoking volcanic erruptions and suspending volcanic soot in the upper atmosphere would cause huge famine as you probably know. The more humans mess with nature the more they need to mess with nature. The system is too complex to assume we can fix it. There are just some issues that we need to accept, such that real estate will become a booming business.
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SP4: GoodJun 6th, 2007 - 13:56:08
Bush correctly understands this con job of biblical proportions. All it does is fill pockets of lawyers and will triple our utility rates with no real benefits.
Another stellar reason why I've learned to like this guy.
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