Environment ministers from the world’s richest nations and a clutch of fast-growing economies including India and China kicked off talks today to try to inject fresh momentum into efforts to tackle climate change.
Japan, home to the landmark Kyoto Protocol, hopes to use its chairmanship of the Group of Eight industrialised nations to give clearer direction to drafting a post-Kyoto treaty by the end of 2009.
During three days of meetings in Kobe between the ministers, Japan hopes to shape the course of negotiations on a new climate treaty on curbing global warming, eyeing a breakthrough when it hosts the July 7-9 G8 summit.
Ministers and officials from the G8 nations along with countries including Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Australia, South Korea and South Africa have gathered here to try and pave the way to an agreement.
"We would like to send a message encouraging developing countries to easily tackle climate change," Japan’s Environment Minister Ichiro Kamoshita told reporters.
"We also want to clarify G8 countries’ stance on climate change during the environmental ministers’ meeting," Kamoshita said.
Ahead of the meeting, international aid group Oxfam voiced concern that political momentum to tackle climate change appears to be flagging under Japan’s leadership.
"The endless debate about ‘considering’ reducing emissions is long gone. We need carbon cuts and we need this to happen now," Oxfam campaigner Takumo Yamada said in a statement.Courtsey : DD NEWS