When the leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialised nations gathered in Hokkaido (Japan) for their annual summit, the prime concern for them was to combat the challenges of global warming. Nevertheless, the hoopla created before the summit regarding the action needed by developed countries, melted in no time as the only thing that the group come out with is a statement as per which the leaders endorsed halving world emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050 but stopped short of tough, nearer-term targets.
On the final day of the summit, with an aim to bring together the world's 16 largest polluters and to come out with a concrete plan of action; leaders of both emerging economies as well as developed ones met and recognised the need for huge cuts in emission but could not agree on a quantifiable target.
Soon after the statement by G8 countries, R K Pachauri, chairman of UN Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) condemned the G8 for not doing enough to curb the greenhouse gas emissions and solve problems of global warming. It (the statement) did not indicate the baseline from which the emissions could be measured for reduction. Pachauri also said that unless the developed countries make their affirmations on deep cuts as promised in Bali roadmaps all the negotiations would be meaningless on the issue.
The developed countries especially the United States has been pushing hard for an spectrum under which emerging economies like India, China, Brazil should be forced to cut down the GHG emissions. Ironically US contributes to 21 per cent of the total GHG emission and till now has not committed itself in reducing the emission on its part. Though recently China surpassed USA in terms of GHG emissions but when it comes to per capita consumption US stands at top.
Convention, forums and meetings to tackle Global climatic changes have been going since long, but so far no potent commitment has been made by the global community.
The Kyoto Protocol with the objective of reducing greenhouse gases that cause climate change was adopted a decade back, it has been ratified by many countries including India but US has refused time and again to ratify the same.
In the year 2007, after two weeks of marathon discussions in Bali (Indonesia) the delegates agreed on both the agenda for the negotiations and set 2009 as a deadline for completing them so that a successor pact to the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions can enter into effect in 2013. Though the world leaders have termed Bali road map a significant breakthrough, it remains to be seen what milestone will it achieve in upcoming negotiations.
The issue of Climate Change has become a bone of contention between the developed and developing economies, while the developed countries have shared their pie of development, it is the turn of developing economies to eradicate poverty and enjoy the fruits of development.
This article has been submitted by Kritika Guglani for Headlines India . We cover India and every news story related to India like no other. So come and say HI to India with us. Join us on our < a href= "http://www.hiflyers.headlinesindia.com/"> HI Flyers Forum you too can be a Part of the revolution and bring a change to India.
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