World stands as one over global warming

Source: Agencies  |   2008-7-10  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

President Hu Jintao meets French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy on the sidelines of the G8 summit in Japan yesterday. Sarkozy told Hu that he would attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. Hu noted the recent strained relations between the two countries, but said traditionally friendly ties "deserve to be treasured." He called Sarkozy's decision to attend the Olympics a "correct" one and wished French athletes good luck for the Games. More in photo gallery

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TOP economies and developing countries joined hands in the fight against climate change yesterday, vowing support for United Nations-led global-warming talks at the conclusion of a keynote summit.

On the final day of a three-day Group of Eight summit in Toyako, Japan, a group of 16 countries and the European Union said they would set medium and long-term goals to reduce greenhouse gases to save the planet from the worst effects of global warming.

However, they did not agree on specific targets or a time frame.

The accord came at the end of a summit dominated by concerns over climate change.

On Tuesday, the G8 nations - the US, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Canada and Russia - embraced the goal of halving global emissions by 2050 as part of a larger deal to be brokered by the UN by the end of next year.

The G8 discussed climate change with China, India, South Africa, Mexico and Brazil. Those countries were later joined by Australia, South Korea and Indonesia in a so-called Major Economies Meeting.

The G8 discussed rising oil prices and their effect on the global economy, development aid and the food crisis hitting Africa, South Asia and other poorer regions.

G8 nations called for expanded oil production and investment to boost supplies, while endorsing greater energy efficiency. But it was climate that held the spotlight at the summit.

Chinese President Hu Jintao insisted at the Major Economies Meeting that wealthy nations must take the lead in reducing emissions, and provide finance to help developing nations' efforts to control emissions.

Hu said China took a responsible attitude toward climate change.

"China is willing, along with the international community, to make unceasing efforts to help the world advance toward harmonious, clean and sustainable development," the president said.

Hu said China would make its own efforts to address climate change.