G8 leaders turn attention to climate

RUSUTSU, Japan, July 7 (UPI) -- Members of the Group of Eight meeting in Japan address climate change and energy policy this week with an eye toward cutting emissions in half by 2050.

James Connaughton, chairman of the U.S. Council on Environmental Quality, said Monday much of the discussion will focus on commitments by emerging economies, not just the developed world.

"The growth trajectory of countries like China and India is clearly different from Europe or Canada," Connaughton said. "And so as we talk about the setting of realistic goals into the future, we have to understand the different starting points of different countries."

Connaughton noted the European Union, Canada and the United States have announced interim goals and others are ready to follow suit. He said though no specifics are expected to be announced this week, "what we really want is an agreed vision of the shape of those midterm commitments" to come out of the meetings.

The primary focus of this week's meetings will be on things the G8 itself can and should be doing, Connaughton said. Secondly, the G8 will address energy efficiency and conservation as well as develop a framework for discussions aimed at developing an international agreement on climate change by the end of next year.