Tokyo - Group of Eight leaders were expected to agree to
expand the use of civil nuclear power to fight climate change at the
upcoming Toyako summit July 7-9, according to Japanese media Monday.
The world's seven largest economies and Russia expect to reach a
consensus next week in Toyako, Japan, on a new initiative for the use
of nuclear power while pledging three principles of nonproliferation,
safety and nuclear security, Kyodo News Agency said citing a draft of
a post-summit statement.
The draft said: 'recognizing that ensuring safeguards (nuclear
nonproliferation), nuclear safety and nuclear security (3S) forms a
sound basis for international transparency and confidence in the
sustainable development of nuclear power, we agree on a G8 initiative
to assist countries in ensuring 3S.'
The G8 would seek cooperation from the International Atomic Energy
Agency in promoting the nuclear power and keeping the three
principles so that the nuclear energy would be restricted to the
peaceful use, the draft said.
Acknowledging that participation from emerging economies is
essential, the group was also expected to urge China, India and other
major developing nations to join global efforts to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
The draft made no mention of a Japan-proposed target to halve
greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, but showed the G8 leaders would
agree to set national goals and make action plans.
But Japan's sector-based approach was recognized as 'a useful
tool' to fight global warming.
Using energy efficiency in each sector as a yardstick, the
sectoral approach involves determining potential reduction volumes on
an industry-by-industry, area-by-area basis that would then be
tallied for a quantified national target. Areas include offices,
households and transportation.
The leaders will give a positive assessment of market-based
mechanisms such as emissions trading and carbon taxes in cutting
emissions, saying such measures 'can provide pricing signals and have
the potential to develop and deploy climate-friendly technologies in
the private sector.'
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