The annual G8 Heads of State Summit in Gleneagles, Scotland will focus on two themes - climate change and Africa.

On climate change, there is a serious risk that the US President will prevent the Summit from agreeing to realistic and timely actions, and that the rest of the G8 will let him.

Tony Blair, the UK prime minister and Chair of the G8 Summit, and the other six countries at the Summit must defend and push the climate agenda forward, disregarding President Bush’s stance. Despite bi-partisan and business support it is highly unlikely that Bush will change his stance on climate change but instead be successful at watering down G8 initiatives.

What the Summit should decide:

Recognise that overall global warming must be kept below 2 degrees Celsius. Unless the global temperature increase is kept well below an average rise of 2 degrees Celsius in comparison with pre-industrial levels, climate change will bring devastating impacts such as more frequent and extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts and floods which will have dramatic impacts on people and nature.

Reduce C02 emissions. G8 countries produce over 65% of global GDP and emit 47% of global CO2 emissions. In order to effectively cut CO2 emissions, the countries need to confirm their targets for emission reductions, and create an ambitious policy framework to ensure much deeper reductions in the short, medium and long-term.

Launch a Clean Energy Initiative. Renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures are the most effective way of cutting C02 emissions and keeping the global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius, but have been ignored in the G8. Additional funds and political will should ensure that these technologies are commercialized immediately.

Original press release: The G8 and Climate Change - What The Leaders Must Do (WWF)