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Blair Pitches Global Climate Pact

Warns change will be irreversible if something isn't done now

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 14, 2008 3:44 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Former British prime minister Tony Blair will seek to privately broker a new international agreement to cut carbon emissions by 50% before 2050 that would include China, India and the US, reports the Guardian. Blair has been working on the project with climate change experts since he left office last summer. He's convinced global warming is the biggest threat the world faces and that action must be taken in the next two years or it will be too late to reverse the problem.

His effort is backed by the UN, Europe and the White House. "A true and proper global deal needs to include America and China," he said. "This is extremely urgent. If we do not take substantial action, then by 2020 we will be thinking seriously about adaptation rather than prevention." Blair plans to unveil his initiative this weekend at a G20 meeting in Japan.

Former British prime minister Tony Blair is leading a campaign for a global treaty to cut carbon emisions by 50% before 2050 before climate change becomes irreversible.
Former British prime minister Tony Blair is leading a campaign for a global treaty to cut carbon emisions by 50% before 2050 before climate change becomes irreversible.   (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
A factory's chimney emits smoke in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China, one of the world's leading producers of greenhouse gases. Former British prime minister Tony Blair is leading a campaign for a global treaty to cut carbon emissions.
A factory's chimney emits smoke in Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China, one of the world's leading producers of greenhouse gases. Former British prime minister Tony Blair is leading a campaign for a global...   (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
A passenger airliner flies past smoke generated by a coal power station in Beijing. Former British prime minister Tony Blair is leading a campaign for a global treaty to cut carbon emisions.
A passenger airliner flies past smoke generated by a coal power station in Beijing. Former British prime minister Tony Blair is leading a campaign for a global treaty to cut carbon emisions.   (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)
Former British prime minister Tony Blair is leading a campaign for a global treaty to cut carbon emisions before climate change becomes irreversible.
Former British prime minister Tony Blair is leading a campaign for a global treaty to cut carbon emisions before climate change becomes irreversible.   (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
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After world peace, Tony Blair's next mission is to save the planet
Times (UK)

Deal has to be 'politically doable'
Guardian (UK)

World • Green • Money

 
China • climate change • Tony Blair • India • global warming • G8 summit • Yasuo Fukuda • USA • Kyoto treaty • G20 • Climate Change Group • industrialized nations • carbon emissions

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