Introduction

This page will serve as a space to create an analysis page for collating contacts and information around climate change. If you have anything you wish to add please add it yourself by clicking on the edit button at the bottom of the page or by emailing

doopa (at) aktivix.org

What is happening at the G8 about climate change?

A large number of non-governmental organisations and protest groups have called for a day of action against the root causes of climate change to coincide with the last day of the G8 conference. These actions, some announced long in advance, and some to be announced just a few days before are taking place because these people do not believe that the G8 leaders will take an effective stance on climate change. In the main these people and organisations believe that it is precisely the forms of government and economics that the G8 represent and propogate that are responsible for the rate of climate change that we are witnessing.

When Tony Bliar says that he believes climate change is a "serious issue" we do not believe that he and the other leaders are offering serious solutions to the problem. The spin and glossy photo-shoots will not be enough to stop climate change. Real solutions must be sought right now and they must be effective.

Kyoto and other reductions

The previous promises that have been made by successive governments have not been fulfilled, and the new guidelines of the Kyoto treaty now ratified will not be enough to stem the rising tide of climate change. Successive reports by independent international scientists have called for more reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and yet few leading governments seem willing to make the required changes.

At Kyoto the average reductions from 1990 levels of CO2 was agreed at 5.4% by 2012 with some industrialised nations actually able to increase their CO2 output levels. This is quite clearly farcical. Unless the 60% recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is met the world will not be able to stabilise the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. The agreement misses out on some of the major industrialising countries such as Brazil, China and India.

Why are the G8 responsible?

These are by far and away the largest contributors to climate change. Also through their power at the other globalisation forums such as the World Trade Organisation and the World Bank they are able to control the debate on climate change. The G8 nations consistently block attempts to reign in fossil fuel consumption. The Kyoto Protocol is another attempt by the *G*lobal 8lite to introduce market based solutions to our problems. And yet it is these very market based solutions that are causing so many of the worlds' problems. G8 policies and those of its constituent governments are responsible for generating the demand for the fossil fuel economy. By making carbon emissions come under the control of the markets they are only going to exaccerbate the problem.

Why must we take Action?

The G8 is not going to provide answers for us. The paradigm of perputual growth that lies at the heart of the neo-liberal policies of the G8 is the root cause of the unsustainable pattern of abuse of our natural resources. The paradox this creates - perpetual growth versus finite natural resources - is going to cause a catasophy. We must act now to prevent this. Only by preventing the G8 from coming together can we prevent climate meltdown.