Leaders of 16 countries to confer about pollution control in Jul.
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TOKYO, February 28 (Itar-Tass) — The government of Japan, which holds presidency in the Group of Eight (G-8), arranges for a conference of the leaders of 16 countries, which are reckoned the main polluters of the atmosphere with greenhouse gases, to discuss global warming during the forthcoming G-8 summit in July.
The newspaper Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported on Thursday that, along with G-8 members, the leaders of Australia, Brazil, India, Indonesia, China, Mexico, South Africa, and South Korea would participate in the conference.
It is reported that ecological problems have never been discussed in such a broad format before. The global warming theme, specifically the elaboration of an international machinery to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, was proclaimed the main subject of discussion at the upcoming summit, which is to take place on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido from July 7 to 9. According to the Japanese government’s view, the holding of a separate conference will help raise the effectiveness of discussions on the subject.
The main thing in this respect is to work out a procedure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beginning from the year 2013. The Kyoto Protocol will expire by that time. The Protocol presupposes that 37 industrially advanced countries must reduce the emissions of noxious gases by five percent of the 1990 level, on average. Differences persist among the countries concerned over the advisability of determining clear-cut goals and a timeframe connected with cuts in gas emissions in a period after 2012.
On the whole, it is expected that the leaders of more than 20 countries will gather on Hokkaido for the summit. The leaders of a number of African countries are also expected to be present there, for aid to Africa is one of the main items on the agenda.
Filed by Keenan Dixon under The Environment, Climate Change