JAPAN: Leaders of G5 say they will demand international reform to solve the food and energy crisis

Record ID: 465120

  • Title: JAPAN: Leaders of G5 say they will demand international reform to solve the food and energy crisis
  • Date: 8th July 2008
  • Summary: (BN08) SAPPORO, JAPAN (JULY 8, 2008) (REUTERS) BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT LULA DA SILVA AND MEXICO PRESIDENT FELIPE CALDERON WALKING IN, FOLLOWED BY INDIAN PRIME MINISTER MANMOHAN SINGH, CHINESE PRESIDENT HU JINTAO AND SOUTH AFRICAN THABO MBEKI WALKING
  • Embargoed: 23rd July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Economic News
  • Reuters ID: LVA130L8833DP3S0N2LUWON0QZQQ
  • Story Text: The Group of Five (G5) nations made up of Brazil, Mexico, China, India and South Africa, meet on the sidelines of the Group of Eight (G8) summit in northern Japan.
    Leaders of Brazil, Mexico, China, India and South Africa met in a Sapporo hotel on Tuesday (July 8) ahead of their meeting with the Group of Eight (G8) leaders on Wednesday (July 9).
    The five, also called the Group of Five, discussed issues from soaring food and fuel prices to African poverty and global warming.
    South African Environment Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk rejected a G8 statement on climate change earlier on Tuesday (July 8) that set a 'vision' but no firm targets to achieve big cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.
    Van Schalkwyk said a long-term goal "must be underpinned by ambitious mid-term targets and action," adding that the goals should be "based on an equitable burden-sharing paradigm".
    The G8 leaders agreed on a communiqué on Tuesday (July 8), which said they would work with nearly 200 states in the United Nations climate change talks to adopt a goal of at least halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
    The communiqué also said mid-term goals would be needed to achieve the mission.
    The European Union and Japan have been pressing for a G8 statement that goes beyond a summit pledge made last year to "seriously consider" a goal of halving global carbon emissions by mid-century and refers to the need for interim targets as well.
    In sharp contrast to previous gatherings, this year's summit, in a remote corner of Japan amid rolling hills, has seen only a couple of thousand protesters gather, who are outnumbered by police by 10 to one.
    About 100 anti-summit protesters marched through the streets of Sapporo, the capital of Japan's Northernmost island of Hokkaido where the G8 meetings are being held.
    The protesters, wearing helmets with "anti-war" written on them, chanted their slogans criticising not only G8 countries but also China.
    But the peaceful march attracted far fewer demonstrators than the weekend protests, when almost 2,000 people marched though the streets and four men were arrested.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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