Final day of G7 summit
G7 summit agrees to tough climate change targets.
Elmau, Germany (dpa) - The leaders of the world's advanced economies agreed Monday for the first time to binding targets to head off the threat of climate change. The Group of Seven (G7) leaders pledged to phase-out fossil fuel use over the course of the century and to hold the increase in the global average temperature below 2-degree celsius. "We see the need for the decarbonization of the world economy," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said, adding that G7 nations are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions between 40 and 70 per cent by 2050, compared to 2010 levels. Agreeing to binding targets has eluded the international community for decades, despite a scientific consensus and growing pressure on leaders from voters who want action. "There was no one country that presented a problem," Merkel said, following the two-day summit in southern Germany of the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Italy and Japan.
There were concerns ahead of the summit that Merkel might encounter resistance to her climate agenda from Canada and Japan. The climate deal brought to an end the G7's summit in the 1920's-style, five-star retreat Schloss Elmau, which is nestled in the Bavarian Alps. The summit also agreed to take tough action against Russia, among a slew of decisions that included moves to fast-track global trade talks, steps to empower women, measures to end extreme poverty by 2030, the threats posed by terrorism and refugee crises. Merkel described the summit as a success and "very productive" in her final press conference.
The G7 also expressed optimism about the outlook for the world economy, despite concerns the risks posed by the Greek crisis and slowing growth in parts of the world, notably in the China. "In some major advanced economies growth is strengthening and prospects have improved," the leaders said in their final declaration. US President Barack Obama joined Merkel in calling on cash-strapped Greece to forge ahead with reforms so as release much-needed bailout funds and avoid crashing out of the eurozone. The German and US leaders also spearheaded G7 moves threatening Russia with fresh sanctions if the situation in eastern Ukraine worsens. "If Russia, working through separatists, doubles down on aggression inside of Ukraine," then the United States and European Union will increase their sanctions, Obama said.
The G7 leaders' backing for tough action on climate is also likely to help build momentum towards a major international conference on global warming to be in Paris later this year. "For us, this is an essential commitment" said French President Francois Hollande told reporters. Both Merkel and Hollande are keen to avoid a repeat of a 2009 climate conference in Copenhagen, which ended in disarray and was seen as a setback for attempts to address global warming. "This marks a welcome return to international leadership on climate change," said Christoph Schott, from the environmental group Avaaz, referring to Merkel. With the Elmau summit having come to an end, G7 officials are already gearing up for next year's summit, which is to be held 9,000 kilometres away in the small Japanese coastal resort town of Shima.
