G8 climate change deal stumbles at first hurdle - Times Online

Hopes of a deal on climate change at the G8 summit were today hanging by a thread.

As world leaders assembled for the Group of Eight industrialised nations meeting, which opens today in central Italy, it emerged that negotiations had failed to reach agreement on halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Summit negotiators, who do the hard bargaining before the heads of state arrive to complete the agreements, had been blocked, reportedly by representatives from China and India. In talks that continued late last night the delegations are understood to have prevented any mention of the target in the draft communiqué, insisting that the developed economies should promise to cut their own emissions sharply by 2020 before asking developing nations to commit to a long term target.

The breakdown in negotiations has undermined President Obama's chances of producing a diplomatic coup when he and Mr Berlusconi chair talks on climate change at a meeting of the 17-nation Major Economies Forum tomorrow.
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A helicopter carrying the US President and his wife Michelle touched down at an airforce base near Rome this morning after a flight from Moscow, where Mr Obama had held two days of talks with Russian leaders.

[European Dreamin'] - WSJ.com

L'AQUILA, Italy (Dow Jones)--The European Union Wednesday reaffirmed its desire to see global emissions cut by 50% by 2050, with developed economies making the biggest effort.

Speaking to the press ahead of a meeting of leaders from the Group of Eight that will discuss progress on a new climate change treaty, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said developed economies should cut their emissions by 80%, but said developed economies must also join the effort.