Leaders of major economies will call for "deep cuts" in global emissions of greenhouse gases to fight climate change with an "aspirational long-term goal" during their July 9 meeting in Hokkaido, according to a draft of the postmeeting declaration.
The U.S.-led Major Economies Meeting on Energy Security and Climate Change (MEM), however, has yet to decide whether its statement "should refer to a particular quantitative long-term goal," such as halving global emissions by 2050, according to a copy of the draft obtained Thursday. The MEM leaders' talks will convene on the sidelines of the July 7-9 Group of Eight summit in Toyako, Hokkaido.
The 16-nation MEM involves both industrial and emerging economies, accounting for about 80 percent of the world's emissions of carbon dioxide and other global warming greenhouse gases.
In addition, representatives from the 16 MEM countries and the European Union will hold a two-day meeting starting Saturday in Seoul.
MEM is considering four options for the envisaged target — a 50 percent cut in global emissions by 2050, an unspecified cut by 2050, a 50 percent cut by 2051 or later, and a more than 50 percent cut by 2051 or later, the draft says.
The major economies were still discussing whether a base year should be identified at this time, it says.
If MEM leaders fail to produce certain outcomes, it may be difficult for the G8 leaders to agree on the proposal Japan made last year of halving global emissions by 2050.
The U.S. appears reluctant to set such a target unless it involves China, India and other emerging economies that are rapidly increasing emissions.
The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush regards the MEM process, launched last September, as the main vehicle for setting future climate change steps.