"We are...committed to taking strong and early action to tackle climate change in order to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system," the leaders said in a declaration "Growth and Responsibility in the World Economy" published on the official G8 Summit 2007 website.
The participants of the current G8 summit in Heiligendamm in northern Germany, pledged to consider seriously the decisions made by the EU, Canada and Japan to cut global emissions by half by the mid-century. The G-8 is Germany, the United States, Russia, Britain, Italy, France, Canada and Japan.
"We commit to achieving these goals and invite the major emerging economies to join us in this endeavor," the declaration said.
At the same time, the G8 leaders agreed that new approaches to global warming, involving developing countries, were necessary to fight climate change effectively.
"Against this background, we invite notably the emerging economies to address the increase in their emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of their economic development," the document said.
G8 representatives already met with the officials from Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa in Berlin on 4 May 4, 2007 to work out long-term strategies to address the challenge of climate change.
"We will continue to meet with high representatives of these and other major energy
consuming and greenhouse gas emitting countries to consider the necessary components
for successfully combating climate change," the declaration said.
According to the document, the U.S offered to host climate talks within the U.N. framework later this year.
Washington is still opposing mandatory emission cuts and says progress on climate change can be achieved by reducing dependence on fossil fuels, which are considered the major cause of global warming.
