G8: BETTER THAN NOTHING?

If anybody wants to know why people ridicule political leaders, send them this story.

G8: Energy Efficiency Key To Climate
June 8, 2007 (UPI)

WHO
The G8 leaders:
Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper; France, President Nikolas Sarkozy; Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel; Italy, Prime Minister Romano Prodi; Japan, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe; Russia, President Vladimir Putin; United Kingdom, Prime Minister Tony Blair; United States, President George W. Bush
the only leaders at the G8 summit (click to enlarge)

WHAT
The G8 leaders agreed: Efficiency is the key to stopping global warming. No, this is not the beginning of a Jon Stewart routine, this is the UPI report.

WHEN
June 7 G8 statement.

WHERE
Heiligendamm, Germany

WHY
Provisions of the G8 agreement:
- The need to seriously consider cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in half by 2050. (This provision is reported to have been urged on Bush by Merkel.)
- There is a need to hold post-Kyoto talks under UN auspices.
- There is a strong need for energy efficiency measures.

- Pledges to promote: “…economic incentives and sound fiscal policies, minimum standards for energy efficiency, sound and ambitious energy performance labelling, information campaigns aimed at consumers and industry that enhance national awareness, sector-based voluntary commitments agreed with industry, investment in research and development and guidelines for public procurement."
- Urges emerging economies like China, India and Brazil follow the policies
- Highlights the need to reduce deforestation and emissions through market incentives and renewable energy.

QUOTES
G8 Agreement text: "The global potential for saving energy is huge…According to the International Energy Agency, successfully implemented energy efficiency policies could contribute to 80 percent of avoided greenhouse gases while substantially increasing security of supply."