Prime Minister Stephen Harper agrees to G7 'decarbonization' by 2100

Prime Minister Stephen Harper hasagreed to a G7commitmentto deep cuts in carbonemissions by 2050 with an eventual stop inthe use of fossil fuelsby the end of thecentury.

• Read full text of G7 leaders' declaration
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• Analysis: How can Canada cut emissions 30% by 2030?

The call for a low-carbon footprintwill "require a transformation in our energy sectors," Harper said Monday at a news conference in Germany, following the two-day G7 summit.

"Nobody's going to start to shut down their industries or turnoff the lights," he said. "We've simply got to find a way to create lower-carbonemitting sources of energy and that work is ongoing."

RAW: Harper says G7 unanimous on environment

9 years ago

Duration 1:47

Prime Minister Stephen Harper address the G7's unanimous statement on the environment.

Canada and Japanblocked attempts at a stronger statement on binding greenhouse gasreduction targets, according to The Canadian Presssourceswho saw a workingdraft of the G7communiqu, which wasreleased today as the summit wrapped up.

Nobody's going to start to shut down their industries or turnoff the lights.-Prime Minister Stephen Harper

"We emphasize that deep cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions arerequired with adecarbonizationof the global economy over the courseof this century," the G7 leaders said in their finalcommuniqu.

"We commit to doing our part to achieve a low-carbon globaleconomy in the long-term including developing and deployinginnovative technologies striving for a transformation of the energysectors by 2050 and invite all countries to join us in thisendeavour."

German Chancellor Angela Merkelhad been pushing the G7 to endorse a pledge to reach zerocarbon emissions.

"Canada and Japan are the most concerned about this one," saidone source who was privy to discussions but would only speak on thecondition of anonymity."The two of those countries have been the most difficult onevery issue on climate."

During question period onMonday, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said the government'srole in "toning down" the communiqu leaves "Canada with an environmental black eye on the world stage."

In May, Canada committed toreducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 an ambitious goal that will rely on emission targets previouslyannounced by the provinces.

'Groundbreaking' agreement

The G7 commitment comes in the midst of aUnitedNations climate conference in Bonn, Germany, and ahead of a more major one in Paris in December that hopes tonegotiate a new, post-2020 global climate agreement.

Members of theClimate Action Network, an international coalition of more than 850 organizations,called the G7 agreement a "groundbreaking" one that will help push forward the new global agreement.

"The course is right, but more speed, ambition and specific actions are needed,"Samantha Smith, leader ofWWF'sGlobal Climate and Energy Initiative, said in a statement.

The course is right, but more speed, ambition and specific actions are needed.- Samantha Smith,WWF'sGlobal Climate and Energy Initiative

"Developing countries are ready to move fast and far on renewables, but they need finance and technology from rich countries to do it. We need to see more of these concrete commitments for immediate action."

AldenMeyer, of theUnion of Concerned Scientists, said in a statement that the agreement is a sign that "the end of the fossil fuel era is inevitable, and the dawning of the age ofrenewablesis unstoppable.

"Now G7 countries must increase the ambition of their domestic climate plans, so as to do their fair share of meeting this global goal."

Harper slams Putin at G7

The two-day G7 summit in the Bavarian alps touched on various international issues, including theglobal economic recovery, fighting terrorism and its financing, as well asthe ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

• Stephen Harper renews attack on Vladimir Putin over Ukraine
• AngelaMerkelinterview: G7 will tackle global economy

The G7 which includes the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan,the United States, the United Kingdom,as well as the president of the European Council and the president of the European Commission was formerly the G8 until Russia was suspended last year over itsinvolvement in the conflict inUkraine.

Harper describedRussianPresident VladimirPutinas a disruptive force whose former role in the organization inhibited co-operation.

"Mr.Putinmakes ithis business to be deliberately troublesome," he said.

While there may be cases in which G7countrieshave to deal with Putin"because Russia remains an important country on some issues," Harper emphasized that Putindoes not share the values of G7 members.

"The G7 is a group of countries that share fundamental values and objectives in the world.We share similar types of economies so we share similar problems. We also share similar valuesdeep, progressive and aggressive commitments towards democracy, freedom, human rights and the rule of law," he said.

"Mr. Putinfits none of these definitions."

Capturing official G7 photos

9 years ago

Duration 0:42

GoPro cameras mounted to official G7 photographer's cameras record the action during the world leaders meeting