Bush, Merkel disagree on climate 06/06/2007 00:00

6 June 2007

Heiligendamm, Germany (dpa) - Leaders from the world's key industrialized nations will vow joint action to fight poverty and HIV/AIDs, US President George W Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Wednesday.

But the US and German leaders, who met for bilateral talks ahead of the formal opening of the Group of Eight (G8) nations in Heiligendamm, admitted discord over measures to combat climate change.

"I come with a deep desire to make sure that those suffering from HIV/AIDS know that they will get help from the G8 and a deep desire to work with people around table to reduce malaria and feed the hungry," said Bush.

The US president also voiced a "strong desire" to work with G8 nations on a new agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on foreign oil supplies.

But Bush made no reference to Merkel's demands that G8 leaders commit to cutting global greenhouse gas emissions to 50 per cent below 1990 levels by 2050 and limiting the worldwide temperature rise this century to 2 degrees Celsius.

Merkel, for her part, recognized that while the US and Germany agreed on combating poverty in Africa, there were other "areas here and there" which needed further discussion.

US officials have said that the final G8 summit statement is unlikely to include any joint G8 target for slashing carbon dioxide emissions or restricting temperature increases.

Washington has said it prefers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of new technology and wants joint action on the question by the world's top polluters, including China and India.

Merkel also told reporters she wanted the G8 summit to seek ways to give globalization a "human face" and other issues to be discussed included measures to ensure the freedom of investments, a move to kick-start the Doha trade talks and ways to tackle "international conflicts."

The G8 summit, chaired by Merkel, will continue until June 8. G8 members include Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

DPA

Subject: German news