World 'Seriously Considers' Greenhouse Gas Cuts

World leaders agreed that cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 is a worthy goal -- an agreement that represents the balance of power at the G-8 Summit. President Bush opposed mandatory limits, and any short term goals, and Europeans got a statement -- if not a commitment -- on the long term goal. Bush's nod to the Europeans came in the phrase "seriously consider." The United States will seriously consider the European goal of reducing emissions by 50 percent in the next 40-odd years. And at Bush's invitation, developing countries -- like China, India and Brazil -- will be invited to take part in the goal-making too, at the next climate summit in the U.S. Whether or not this compromise paves the way for the kind of decisive action on climate that most scientists agree is necessary remains to be seen. We can see that another chance for a firm commitment to act has come and gone, according to a story in the June 8 Christian Science Monitor.