The leaders of the eight major industrialised nations are meeting in Germany this week for a wide-ranging summit. Christian Aid believes it is crucial that this G8 meeting agrees to the principle of a 'stabilisation goal' for atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases, which would limit global warming to 2°C.
Such a clause must be in the final communiqué to show genuine commitment on the part of the G8 countries to reverse the global warming trend.
But to keep warming below 2 degrees, emissions in the rapidly expanding countries of India, China, South Africa and Brazil must also be capped. The rich G8 must therefore take a lead in paying for the difference in cost in these countries between dirty and clean development. This can be done through mechanisms such as carbon taxes and trading.
'If we want these countries to come on board and reduce their emissions we will have to pay for it,' said Andrew Pendleton. 'This is not aid; it is a payment to compensate them for the damage we have inflicted on the global environment. Developing countries must be allowed to develop economically and not penalised for our mistakes.'
Download our briefing paper at:
http://www.christianaid.co.uk/indepth/706G8/G8%202007%20briefing.pdf
Christian Aid has also co-authored a report with Practical Action, Oxfam and Tearfund illustrating why a 2°C global average is the maximum people in developing countries will be able to survive.
Carbon emissions in rich countries are still increasing, and this trend must be reversed rapidly and dramatically.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
