Greenpeace called on the Group of Eight industrialized nations to adopt binding targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a day after United Nations Secretary- General Ban Ki-Moon said the group should discuss ``concrete measures'' to address climate change at its meeting next week.
Greenpeace wants the G-8 to commit to cutting emissions by at least 30 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 and by as much as 90 percent by 2050, according to a statement on its Web site.
``Renewables and increased efficiency are key to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, not the false and misleading claims of 'clean' coal or expensive and dangerous nuclear power,'' Greenpeace said in the statement.
Emission reductions are crucial to avoid the worst effects of climate change, including rising sea levels and increased droughts, the UN and the International Energy Agency have said. G-8 environment ministers pledged to cut emissions by half by 2050 in a statement after talks in Japan on May 26.
The proposals, including funding plans, are in a draft agreement approved at a June 23 conference in Seoul by delegates from 16 countries that account for about 80 percent of the greenhouse gases released worldwide. They didn't agree on specific limits on emissions.
Ban told diplomats at a breakfast seminar in Seoul yesterday that G-8 leaders have a ``historical responsibility'' to support carbon emission targets when they meet in Hokkaido, Japan, for three days from July 7. Ban will attend the summit as an observer.
Japan must commit to a 25 percent to 40 percent reduction in its emissions by 2020 ``to be a credible summit host,'' Greenpeace said in the statement.
No `Concrete Promises'
``I don't think we will hear any concrete promises, especially from the U.S.,'' said Mauricio Bermudez, a senior analyst at Point Carbon in London, in an interview in Spanish with Bloomberg television yesterday.
Leaders of the world's richest nations must also increase investment in developing ``climate change-resilient farming'' to ensure food security, Greenpeace said.
The Group of Eight includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Iran says its nuclear stance unchanged
Iran said on Saturday its nuclear stance had not changed and it was ready to hold talks with world major powers over its disputed nuclear programme based on international regulations.
"Iran's stance has not changed (on uranium enrichment) and we are ready to hold talks on the common points of the P5+1 incentives package and Iran's package," government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham told a weekly news conference.
Iran said on Friday it agreed to hold further discussions later this month about the incentives package offered by six world powers aimed at resolving a stand-off over its disputed nuclear ambitions, but has so far rejected their demand to suspend uranium enrichment.
There has been no word on the content of Iran's reply, submitted to European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, to the offer of talks on economic and other benefits if it in return halts nuclear work the West suspects is aimed at making bombs.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili told Solana on Friday Tehran had prepared its response with a "constructive and creative outlook".
The offer of trade and other incentives proposed by the United States, China, Russia, Germany, Britain and France was presented to Iran by Solana last month.
Iran has put forward its own package of proposals aimed at resolving the row and has said it was encouraged by common points between the two separate proposals.
The six powers have told Iran that formal negotiations on the offer, which includes help to develop a civilian nuclear programme, can start as soon as it suspends uranium enrichment.
But analysts and diplomats say it is uncertain whether Iran might accept a "freeze-for-freeze" idea to get preparatory talks going.
Such a step would involve Tehran freezing expansion of nuclear enrichment in return for world powers halting moves to add to three rounds of U.N. sanctions already imposed.
Enriched uranium can be used as fuel for power plants but also, if refined much more, provide material for nuclear bombs.
Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, says its nuclear programme is solely aimed at generating electricity so that it can sell more of its oil and gas.
"Iran's stance has not changed (on uranium enrichment) and we are ready to hold talks on the common points of the P5+1 incentives package and Iran's package," government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham told a weekly news conference.
Iran said on Friday it agreed to hold further discussions later this month about the incentives package offered by six world powers aimed at resolving a stand-off over its disputed nuclear ambitions, but has so far rejected their demand to suspend uranium enrichment.
There has been no word on the content of Iran's reply, submitted to European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, to the offer of talks on economic and other benefits if it in return halts nuclear work the West suspects is aimed at making bombs.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili told Solana on Friday Tehran had prepared its response with a "constructive and creative outlook".
The offer of trade and other incentives proposed by the United States, China, Russia, Germany, Britain and France was presented to Iran by Solana last month.
Iran has put forward its own package of proposals aimed at resolving the row and has said it was encouraged by common points between the two separate proposals.
The six powers have told Iran that formal negotiations on the offer, which includes help to develop a civilian nuclear programme, can start as soon as it suspends uranium enrichment.
But analysts and diplomats say it is uncertain whether Iran might accept a "freeze-for-freeze" idea to get preparatory talks going.
Such a step would involve Tehran freezing expansion of nuclear enrichment in return for world powers halting moves to add to three rounds of U.N. sanctions already imposed.
Enriched uranium can be used as fuel for power plants but also, if refined much more, provide material for nuclear bombs.
Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil exporter, says its nuclear programme is solely aimed at generating electricity so that it can sell more of its oil and gas.
Samajwadi Party backs government over nuclear deal
The Samajwadi Party (SP) said on Saturday it backed the government over a controversial nuclear energy agreement with the United States, easing concerns the pact could trigger early elections.
"The deal is in the interest of the nation, we should have come out in support of the deal a year ago," SP leader Amar Singh told reporters in New Delhi.
Support from the SP is likely to help the Congress Party-led government secure a parliamentary majority if its communist allies carry out their threat to withdraw support in protest at the nuclear deal.
"We will not vote against the government, even if the communists and other parties do," Singh added.
"The deal is in the interest of the nation, we should have come out in support of the deal a year ago," SP leader Amar Singh told reporters in New Delhi.
Support from the SP is likely to help the Congress Party-led government secure a parliamentary majority if its communist allies carry out their threat to withdraw support in protest at the nuclear deal.
"We will not vote against the government, even if the communists and other parties do," Singh added.
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