. | . |
Poor countries should set climate targets: Brazil leader
Tokyo (AFP) July 2, 2008 Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has urged developing countries, including his own, to join rich nations in setting targets to reduce emissions blamed for global warming. "All participants, including our country, should set a reduction target in accordance with their own emissions of greenhouse gases," Lula said in an interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper published Wednesday. While he did not specify Brazil's own goal, he said the world should be able to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 60-80 percent from current levels by 2050. Lula made the remarks ahead of his visit to Japan to attend a session on climate change with leaders of the Group of Eight wealthy nations on the sidelines of their annual summit. International negotiations on a new climate treaty, which would cover the period after the Kyoto Protocol's obligations end in 2012, have been bogged down by disagreements between developing nations and rich states. The United States, the main rich nation to shun Kyoto, argues that any future treaty must involve rapidly growing emerging nations including China and India. Many nations in the developing bloc say wealthy countries are historically responsible for global warming and should take the lead in reducing emissions. In the interview, Lula called for Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who will chair the summit, to take the lead in ensuring that poor countries are not treated unfairly in a climate deal. The Brazilian president also said his country plans to host an international conference in November on use of biofuel, inviting world leaders, researchers and corporate executives. Brazil is the world's leading producer of ethanol, which is hailed by advocates for reducing emissions caused by fossil fuels. But critics say ethanol's popularity has exacerbated a crisis of spiralling food prices by stepping up demand for edible crops. "When I speak about biofuels, I am not only considering the benefit to Brazil alone," Lula told the newspaper. "I am considering producing bio-ethanol in Central and South America as well as in Africa and Asia in cooperation with developed countries such as Japan and Britain." Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Climate Science News - Modeling, Mitigation Adaptation
New Report Available On Ecosystems And Climate Change Washington DC (SPX) Jul 02, 2008 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a report that can help reduce the potential impact of climate change on estuaries, forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and other sensitive ecosystems. The report, entitled Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate-Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources, identifies strategies to protect the environment as these changes occur. |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |