G8 climate pact: the missing text

Here, according to Reuters, are the paragraphs that the US wants removed. I’ve added a few thoughts on each section. Please contribute yours in the comments below…

Energy Security and Climate Change:

“Climate change is speeding up and will seriously damage our common natural environment and severely weaken global economy with implications for international security. We underline that tackling climate change is an imperative not a choice. We firmly agree that resolute and concerted international action is urgently needed in order to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and sustain our common basis of living.

“To this end we will, in the face of the UN Climate Change Conference at the end of this year, send a clear message on the further development of the international regime to combat climate change.”

If true, this is perhaps the most worrying of all the deletions. It suggests that the US is not yet prepared to collaborate when the UN attempts to officially launch negotiations for the next Kyoto protocol in December

New Scientist