Climate Change, World Trade At Forefront Of Day Two Of G8 Summit

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (center) hosts a round table meeting of the G8, G5 and Egypt at the G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, 09 Jul 2009Climate change and trade figure prominently on this second day of theG8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy as leaders of the world's most powerfuleconomies expand talks to take in counterparts and representatives ofmajor emerging economies.

Summit host, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi welcomed world leaders for a second day of discussions in L'Aquila.

Theagenda items are much the same - the global economic crisis, theenvironment, climate change and trade. But, Thursday's talks wereexpanded from the G8 group to include the so-called G5 nations of majoremerging economies - China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Mexico. But others were invited to the table as well, along with internationalorganizations.  

On climate change, G8 leaders agreed Wednesdayon new targets to limit greenhouse gas emissions and try to limitglobal warming to just two degrees centigrade above pre-industriallevels.

In announcing that decision, Prime Minister Berlusconispoke of the need to bring other countries into the process, especiallyIndia, China and Brazil.

It would be counterproductive, Mr.Berlusconi said, if the United States, Europe, Canada and Japanimplement strategies to cut emissions if other countries do not.

G8leaders have said the group wants to be inclusive and bring othernations into discussions on global issues. The move is also widelyseen as an increasing understanding that while G8 members may be theworld's most powerful nations, they cannot solve issues such as theglobal economic crisis or climate change without the help of others.