G8 falls short on delivering real climate action
17 Jul 2006
St Petersburg, Russia - Although climate change remains at the head of state level, the G8 has fallen short on delivering serious action on climate protection in its final communique from St Petersburg, says WWF. The global conservation organisation calls on Germany to deliver a serious climate and energy plan when it holds the next G8 heads of State summit next year.
However, WWF is pleased to see that renewable energy and energy efficiency measures are off the sidelines and are now seen as a central part of the G8's strategy to meet long term energy demands.
"Climate change has stayed at the heads of State level, and that's where it belongs," says Jennifer Morgan, Director of WWF's Global Climate Change Program. "But there is still a gap between the scale of the problem and the solutions being offered."
WWF welcomes the G8's reference to the Kyoto Protocol and the essential role of carbon markets. The inclusion of a large section on energy efficiency and energy saving is also a positive development.
"Saving energy is the best solution to both climate change and increasing energy security. While St Petersburg gives energy efficiency more importance it still lacks a serious initiative with money and mandatory policies," added Morgan.
Chancellor Merkel's call for deeper targets in the next phase of Kyoto negotiations for all G8 countries can be applauded. WWF now calls on countries for concrete proposals on more ambitious targets for cutting emissions at the Nairobi climate negotiations in November.
"We are counting on Chancellor Merkel to move the world forward on tackling climate change with innovative and creative solutions next year," said Morgan. "As a former environment minister that negotiated the Kyoto protocol, and a physicist, she understands that there is no time to waste."
