So the G8 summit is over for another year. What did it achieve?
From Tearfund's point of view, talks on climate change made little significant progress.
Yes, there was a commitment to a 50 per cent cut in carbon emissions by 2050 but latest scientific research reckons this is the minimum required and 85 per cent is increasingly necessary.
Worryingly, the summit communiqué talked about stabilising greenhouse gas emissions in a timeframe compatible with `economic growth and energy security’ while making no mention of sustainability.
While recognising that climate change will hit poor countries the hardest, the G8 didn’t back this up with a plan to help and there was no acknowledgement of the scale of funding required ($50 US billion a year) to help developing countries adapt.
Speaking from the summit, Peter Grant, Tearfund's International Director, said, `The meagre progress made here simply highlights just how far there is to go if we are to have any hope of reversing the worst effects of climate change and helping developing countries adapt to its impact.'
Tearfund's International Director Peter Grant doing a media interview at the G8 summit in Japan. Picture: Tearfund
Shamefully weak
Tearfund has cautiously welcomed the G8’s re-affirmation of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.
But there are worries over financial shortfalls in G8 commitments to fulfil this and health-related Millennium Development Goals.
On the global food crisis, the G8 expressed concerns but did not announce many tangible initiatives to help.
One thing Tearfund has welcomed is the announcement of a global partnership on agriculture and food to be co-ordinated by the UN.
Lack of clean water and decent sanitation is an issue that affects billions of people and the G8 has acknowledged the need to speed up the achievement of international goals in this area.
However Tearfund believes when it comes to action, the G8 has been shamefully weak on water and sanitation.
Leaders delayed reporting on progress until next year’s summit. By then 2.4 million more children will have died as a result of poor sanitation.