ID :
11877
Tue, 07/08/2008 - 15:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/11877
The shortlink copeid
EU unveils extra 1 billion euro farm fund for developing countries
TOYAKO, Japan, July 8 (Kyodo) - The European Union on Monday announced a fresh package worth 1 billion euro, or $1.5 billion, in aid to developing countries to support agriculture through theprovision of fertilizers and seeds to poor farmers as the developing world has grown concerned about food security.
''I am announcing today our intention to propose a new 1 billion euro facility to support agriculture in developing countries, aiming at generating a strong and rapid agricultural supply response,'' European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in unveiling the initiative at a news conference in Toyako, Hokkaido, where he is attending the Group of Eight summit.
Along with 800 million euro already raised, the European Union will funnel a total of 1.8 billion euro into the new fund for 2008 and 2009, an EU official said.
Barroso urged G-8 leaders to commit to halving global emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 2050 during the three-day summit through Wednesday to show their resolve in fighting global warming.
At last year's G-8 summit in Germany, the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States agreed to seriously consider the mid-century target proposed by then Japanese Prime Minister ShinzoAbe.
Barroso also requested that the G-8 leaders agree on the need to set a ''meaningful and ambitious'' medium-term target for developed countries, which he said would boost the credibility of the envisaged long-term target.
But he said the leaders are unlikely to agree to a concrete medium-term numerical target of 2020 or 2030.
''If in this Hokkaido summit we come up with the long-term commitment of a 50 percent reduction, a 50 percent reduction by 2050, and on the principle of the mid-term goal, I think we can speak (of it) as a success,'' Barroso said.
The EU chief said the G-8 would be ''much better positioned'' to discuss climate change issues with China, India and other emerging economies if the group agreed on the 2050 goal and showed its willingness to set medium-term targets.
However, the United States argues it is meaningless to set such a target without the involvement of China, India and other rapidly growing economies that have sharply increased their emissions.
''I (also) am realistic enough to tell you that if China and India don't share that same aspiration, we're not going to solve the problem,'' U.S. President George W. Bush said Sunday at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in Toyako.
African development and the global challenges of climate change, food security and fuel price surges are high on the agenda at this year's summit. The 27-nation European Union also takes part in the G-8 process.
''I am announcing today our intention to propose a new 1 billion euro facility to support agriculture in developing countries, aiming at generating a strong and rapid agricultural supply response,'' European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in unveiling the initiative at a news conference in Toyako, Hokkaido, where he is attending the Group of Eight summit.
Along with 800 million euro already raised, the European Union will funnel a total of 1.8 billion euro into the new fund for 2008 and 2009, an EU official said.
Barroso urged G-8 leaders to commit to halving global emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 2050 during the three-day summit through Wednesday to show their resolve in fighting global warming.
At last year's G-8 summit in Germany, the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States agreed to seriously consider the mid-century target proposed by then Japanese Prime Minister ShinzoAbe.
Barroso also requested that the G-8 leaders agree on the need to set a ''meaningful and ambitious'' medium-term target for developed countries, which he said would boost the credibility of the envisaged long-term target.
But he said the leaders are unlikely to agree to a concrete medium-term numerical target of 2020 or 2030.
''If in this Hokkaido summit we come up with the long-term commitment of a 50 percent reduction, a 50 percent reduction by 2050, and on the principle of the mid-term goal, I think we can speak (of it) as a success,'' Barroso said.
The EU chief said the G-8 would be ''much better positioned'' to discuss climate change issues with China, India and other emerging economies if the group agreed on the 2050 goal and showed its willingness to set medium-term targets.
However, the United States argues it is meaningless to set such a target without the involvement of China, India and other rapidly growing economies that have sharply increased their emissions.
''I (also) am realistic enough to tell you that if China and India don't share that same aspiration, we're not going to solve the problem,'' U.S. President George W. Bush said Sunday at a joint news conference with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in Toyako.
African development and the global challenges of climate change, food security and fuel price surges are high on the agenda at this year's summit. The 27-nation European Union also takes part in the G-8 process.
