G8 to announce biofuels plan for the developing world
The long-awaited G8 Summit of industrialised nations [BBC in-depth] [official website] being hosted by Russia later this week will announce a major plan for the creation of a biofuels industry in the developing world - Brazil's national news agency, the Agencia Estado, tells us.
This year's G8 Summit, focusing on energy among other issues, has invited key leaders from some of the most important developing countries as observers, including China's President Hu Jintau, Indian PM Manmohan Singh, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and Thabo Mkebi, South African president. The heads of the UN's energy agencies (IEA and IAEA) will attend the summit as well.
The idea comes from President Lula and President Chirac, who recently signed a bioenergy cooperation agreement which focuses on helping the poor South to become a biofuels production zone (earlier post). Chancellor Merkel whose country hosted a Brazil-Germany Bioenergy Summit last week, favors the idea as well.
And PM Tony Blair, whose G8 Summit last year focused on Africa's development but which failed to live up to its promises according to critics, is now joining the push for this new deal.
In principle, we are cautious about anything that is announced at G8 Summits, especially when they deal with development issues. Because in the past, those promises and plans often have proved to be nothing more than marketing stunts (see the Gleneagles Summit about Africa). But the fact that such a plan is announced at least indicates that the option of helping the South become a bioenergy production zone, is being taken seriously by "world leaders". Moreover, the presence at the Summit of the five observers from the developing world makes the idea more credible.
Details will no doubt be coming in when the G8 Summit starts, and we will be closely monitoring these developments. Check back soon for more news from the G8 Summit.
This year's G8 Summit, focusing on energy among other issues, has invited key leaders from some of the most important developing countries as observers, including China's President Hu Jintau, Indian PM Manmohan Singh, Brazilian President Lula da Silva, and Thabo Mkebi, South African president. The heads of the UN's energy agencies (IEA and IAEA) will attend the summit as well.
The idea comes from President Lula and President Chirac, who recently signed a bioenergy cooperation agreement which focuses on helping the poor South to become a biofuels production zone (earlier post). Chancellor Merkel whose country hosted a Brazil-Germany Bioenergy Summit last week, favors the idea as well.
And PM Tony Blair, whose G8 Summit last year focused on Africa's development but which failed to live up to its promises according to critics, is now joining the push for this new deal.
In principle, we are cautious about anything that is announced at G8 Summits, especially when they deal with development issues. Because in the past, those promises and plans often have proved to be nothing more than marketing stunts (see the Gleneagles Summit about Africa). But the fact that such a plan is announced at least indicates that the option of helping the South become a bioenergy production zone, is being taken seriously by "world leaders". Moreover, the presence at the Summit of the five observers from the developing world makes the idea more credible.
Details will no doubt be coming in when the G8 Summit starts, and we will be closely monitoring these developments. Check back soon for more news from the G8 Summit.
- Discuss global problems and the biofuels plan at the Civil G8 website.
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