Thu Jun 14, 2007
G8 agreement on climate change a "disgrace": Al Gore
MILAN (Reuters) - Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore denounced a deal by
world leaders on curbing greenhouse gases as "a disgrace disguised as an
achievement," saying on Thursday the agreement struck last week was
insufficient.
The dedicated climate crusader, whose 2006 global warming do***entary won
an Oscar, said leaders at last week's G8 summit in Germany had not risen
to the challenge to respond to what he calls a "planetary emergency."
G8 leaders agreed to pursue "substantial" reductions in greenhouse gas
emissions, stopping short of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's hopes for
concrete numerical commitments on emission reductions, including her key
aim to cut gases by 50 percent by 2050.
They said they would negotiate a new global climate pact that would extend
and broaden the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012.
"It was a disgrace disguised as an achievement," Gore said at an event in
Milan, where he praised Merkel for her efforts.
"The eight most powerful nations gathered and were unable to do anything
except to say 'We had good conversations and we agreed that we will have
more conversations, and we will even have conversations about the
possibility of doing something in the future on a voluntary basis
perhaps."'
The former U.S. Democratic presidential candidate is spearheading efforts
to get the world of pop music to back his crusade with the Live Earth
concerts on July 7, which will be held in numerous cities around the
world.
Gore served as Democrat President Bill Clinton's vice president and
narrowly lost the 2000 election to George W. Bush.
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If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention
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