Tiempo Climate Newswatch

The annual summit of the Group of Eight (G8) is scheduled for June 6-8th, with the climate issue high on the agenda. Germany, holder of the G8 presidency, would like the meeting to agree targets and timetables for deep emissions reductions. "It is important that the G8 develops a common understanding how climate change can be tackled and what agreements can be made for the period beyond 2012," G8 president Angela Merkel told the German parliament.

The United States is firmly opposed. "We have tried to 'tread lightly' but there is only so far we can go given our fundamental opposition to the German position," says the United States in comments on the draft communique seen by Reuters. "The treatment of climate change runs counter to our overall position and crosses multiple 'red lines' in terms of what we simply cannot agree to." According to Greenpeace director John Sauven, "this shows more clearly than ever that, despite his protestations to the contrary, Tony Blair's efforts to persuade George Bush of the importance of tackling climate change have singularly failed." In the run-up to the summit, Japan has proposed a global target of halving greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as part of its Cool Earth 50 strategy. It has also promised support for developing countries committed to halting global warming through a new form of financial aid.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is developing a Disaster Risk Reduction Action Plan that will reduce the loss of lives, livelihoods and property related to meteorological, hydrological and climate-related hazards around the world. The Plan will pay particular attention to developing countries, Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.

There is concern that many vulnerable countries do not have the capacity to develop and issue warnings and do not possess the infrastructure required to ensure that warnings are disseminated and properly understood. The Plan will focus on modernizing National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs), as required, and strengthening national operational early warning systems with a multi-hazard approach, capacities for hazard analysis and risk assessment and cooperation of NMHSs with civil protection and disaster risk management agencies. "A critical aspect of our approach is to ensure that capacities are sustained and improved after a project has ended," said WMO secretary-general Michel Jarraud.

Amphibian species are disappearing from the Costa Rican jungle as a result of global warming, according to Alvaro Herrero of the National Biodiversity Institute. "It is believed climate change is raising temperatures, allowing a skin fungus to enter the places where the amphibians resided," he said. Monkey populations have fallen by 30 per cent in recent years reports Alfo Piva, executive director of the National Biodiversity Institute.

Costa Rica aims to be the first nation to offset all its carbon, bringing net emissions to zero by 2030. "We think we can get there first," said environment minister Roberto Dobles. The critical component of the government's strategy is compensation paid to landowners who grow trees to capture carbon and protect watersheds. There will also be payments to protect wildlife habitats and scenic beauty. The programme is funded by a 3.5 percent tax on gasoline and by loans and grants. "The fact that Costa Rica has applied [payments] on a national scale is what's innovative," said Esteban Brenes of WWF.