Obama takes his seat at the summit table

THE world’s richest countries have agreed to cut their carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 as part of the fight against global warming.

The deal struck between the G8 leaders at the summit in L’Aquila, Italy, yesterday aims to limit average global temperature increases to 2C.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown said: “I think the world will recognise that we have laid the foundations for a Copenhagen deal that is ambitious, fair and effective.

“The change from where we were two, three or four years ago is very significant. The G8 countries have agreed that we will not allow temperatures to rise by more than 2C – that is a limit. We have also agreed that, as developed countries, we want to see an 80 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050.”

The next step is to secure an agreement from emerging economies to accept limits on their own fast-increasing carbon use.

"World leaders have come back down to earth. We welcome them back but why have they failed to tell us how they want to achieve what they promise"

China and India believe the lion’s share of cuts must be made by the western nations which have contributed most to global warming. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh claimed the West bore a “historical responsibility” for climate change.

The new climate change pledges received a cautious welcome from environment and development charities last night.

Kim Carstensen, leader of the WWF Global Climate Initiative, said: “World leaders have come back down to earth. We welcome them back but why have they failed to tell us how they want to achieve what they promise.

“If they don’t outline a path to reach the announced goal, the 2C statement will just join a long list of ¬broken promises.”

World leaders will meet again at the United Nations climate change summit in Copenhagen in December.