A Slow Thaw in Climate Talks: G8 and MEF Outcomes
Climate change topped the agenda when heads of states met in Italy this week. There were no fireworks, but some important progress was made.

With less than six months left before global climate change talks culminate in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 2009, the G8 and MEF summits represented important milestones to catalyze international cooperation. The world’s richest countries and the 16 major economies responsible for 80% of greenhouse gas emissions (including China and India), participated in the summits.

The main outcomes are summarized below, along with an analysis of key issues still to be resolved in order to achieve success in Copenhagen.

While the G8 has addressed climate change in past years, its statements on the subject have remained general and demonstrated limited ambition. This year’s statement therefore represented significant progress, with members:

1. Endorsing a global emissions reduction goal of 50% by 2050.
2. Supporting, for the first time, a specific emissions reduction goal for the developed countries most responsible for climate change. The target agreed was a reduction "in aggregate, by 80% or more by 2050, compared to 1990 or more recent years." Left open was which baseline year individual countries will adhere to (and therefore how sharp their emission reductions will need to be).
3. Embracing, for the first time, a limit on committing to limit global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels - the ceiling scientists believe is necessary to avoid catastrophic climate change impacts.