G-8 OKs 'substantial cuts' in carbon - Climate Change - MSNBC.com

G-8 OKs 'substantial cuts' in carbon - Climate Change - MSNBC.com: "HEILIGENDAMM, Germany - Group of Eight leaders on Thursday agreed on a plan calling for 'substantial cuts' to greenhouse gas emissions, but the compromise with President Bush left France's leader wishing a stronger stand had been taken.

The leaders failed to overcome U.S. resistance to committing to specific numerical targets to curb global warming, but did refer to the European Union goal of cutting emissions by 50 percent by 2050.

'In terms of targets, we agreed on clear language ... that recognizes that (rises in) CO2 emissions must first be stopped and then followed by substantial cuts,' German Chancellor and G-8 host Angela Merkel told reporters.

The summit text confirmed that the world's leading industrialized nations would act to stem the rise in global warming gases, followed by 'substantial' reductions — the most serious commitment to date by the United States, the world's largest carbon emitter.

Leaders also vowed to pursue a new global climate deal by 2009 that would extend and broaden the U.N.-brokered Kyoto Protocol." Read complete post here.