（゜Д゜;）英字新聞
Finding G-8 consensus tough, but necessary
The Group of Eight major countries cannot write a prescription for the world's big problems on their own. Instead they must unite in trying to build cooperative relations with emerging economies and developing countries to tackle global challenges.
Leaders of 22 countries, including G-8 nations, emerging economies such as China and India, and those from Africa, will gather at the G-8 summit meeting that kicks off in Toyakocho, Hokkaido, on Monday.
On global warming--the central theme of the three-day meeting--attention is to focus on setting a universal long-term target for curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
The big question is whether the world's 16 largest greenhouse gas emitters, including China and India, can reach agreement on a target "to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050." These 16 nations emit 80 percent of the world's greenhouse gases.
But China and India are reluctant to see a concrete target for greenhouse gas emissions reduction incorporated in a summit declaration, apparently wary of being straddled with obligations for cutting emissions.
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Differing approaches to cuts
The European Union is insisting that the leading industrialized countries cut emissions by 60 to 80 percent from the 1990 level by 2050.
The United States, meanwhile, opposes setting targets for major countries. And the U.S. argument that such a target is unworkable without agreement from China, which is said to have become the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter, and India, does seem reasonable.
Last year, G-8 leaders agreed to seriously consider reducing the world's greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2050. This year's summit is aimed at expanding on this consensus to have emerging countries commit to a long-term target. But with leading emitters staking out different positions, it will undoubtedly be difficult for Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, as host country leader, to manage the meeting.
Fukuda has previously said it is necessary to set country-by-country emissions targets in the post-Kyoto Protocol framework for 2013 and after. While trying to gain acceptance of this principle among major emitters, the upcoming summit also should be used to try to encourage discussions of the issue at the United Nations.
To ensure the establishment of fair emission targets, it is also necessary to obtain from each country support for a sectoral approach, which would involve determining potential reduction volumes under a sector-based approach.
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Other issues need tackling
Tackling surging food and crude oil prices also will be an important issue on the agenda at the summit. The dramatic rise in prices of food and crude oil are the result of a number of factors, including growing demand associated with economic growth in emerging countries, an inflow of speculative funds and increasing production of biofuels.
In addition, North Korean and Iranian nuclear development is a pressing threat. To prevent the international coalition on these matters from weakening, the G-8 countries need to press Pyongyang to abolish its nuclear program and work toward resolving the abduction issue.
The summit meeting is a precious opportunity for Japan to see its interests reflected in the decision-making of the international community. It will also be a test of Fukuda's leadership skills.
