Developing nations urged to halve greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050

The United Kingdom, France and Italy have called upon major developing economies such as India and China to sign up for the goal of halving the world’s greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050, from 1990 levels.

At the summit of the G8 (Group of Eight industrialized nations) held in Italy, some developed nations like the United States and Japan have asked for a more recent base year, which would make cuts of greenhouse-gas emissions less difficult.

However, the United Kingdom and France urged industrial countries to aim even higher and set a goal of 80% cuts in their emissions of greenhouse-gases by 2050.

In 2008, the Group of Eight industrialized nations – which include the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Canada, Italy and Russia –  agreed at a summit held in Japan to aim at halving emissions of greenhouse-gases worldwide by 2050 to help prevent more droughts, floods, rising sea levels, and heatwaves.

However, developing countries – including India, China and Brazil – had not signed on to an agreement to that effect, arguing that rich nations should first agree to huge, short-term targets to cut emissions. These developing countries also wanted developed nations to cut emissions by at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020.

While the United States, which has promised a New Green Deal since Barack Obama took over as President in 2009, is opposed to such enormous reductions, the United Kingdom and France have an open mind on the subject.

[via Reuters]

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