Legislators from twenty of the world's major countries have agreed in outline a new framework which could allow further progress to halt global greenhouse gas emissions. The agreement is not yet binding, but will be considered by the G8 leaders when they meet in June 2007.
The need for international commitments beyond the Kyoto targets up to 2012 is increasingly urgent, but it now seems the logjam may have been broken, with United States political opinion finally starting to shift and also major developing economies such as China and Brazil willing to discuss limits on future emissions.
One of the most difficult points which G8 leaders will consider is what level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere they can commit to as a ceiling. Friends of the Earth's position is that keeping below 450 ppm (parts per million) is essential to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Recent measurements have shown the concentration of carbon dioxide to have risen to 390 ppm from 388 ppm over the last year.
Read More (Inter Press Service): Lawmakers See New Urgency in Warming Debate
Read More (Yahoo News): Global lawmakers seek new climate accord