The Group of Eight leaders began a three-day summit in Hokkaido, northern Japan, on Monday. Last year they committed at Heiligendamm, Germany, to "consider seriously" halving greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050. Some countries would like to see this become an agreement.
China and India, who will take part in climate-change meetings at the summit, have argued that they cannot be expected to cut emissions before they have industrialised. India said it would tell the G8 summit that a meaningful global deal to fight climate change will only be possible if it is linked to food and energy security. Rich nations say such a stand will make a pact difficult.
Japan, meanwhile, said it will not negotiate new targets on CO2 emissions until it sees what the new US president has to offer on climate change.
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