Bush Calls G8 Talks "Very Productive"

Photograph of some of the G8 leaders--from left, President George W. Bush, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President of the European Union Jose Manuel Durao Barroso--from the AP

Yesterday, President Bush discussed the end of the G8 talks held in Tokayo, Japan, saying they were "very productive." Specifically, he felt they "made progress, significant progress, toward a comprehensive approach" on climate change.

The leaders, which represent Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, and U.S., as well as the European Union, had agreed to cut greenhouse emissions by 50%, in an attempt to "move toward a carbon-free society." The Washington Post notes this was the first time Bush "agreed..to join other major industrialized countries in setting a goal to reduce emissions."

However, environmentalists do not believe is enough. And China and India aren't signing on: The NY Times reports the two countries "are holding out until rich nations like the United States take more aggressive steps to cut pollution over the next decade." The Times of London has analysis, finding that the Group of Eight "sidestepped" the issue. And the G8 also supported sanctions against Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe.