The gap between rich and poor on the contentious issue of climate change goals was glaring and wider than ever.
The takeaway from the G8/G5 outreach summit in L’Aquila is mixed. The gap between rich and poor on the contentious issue of climate change goals was glaring and wider than ever. But for the first time, emerging economies, which comprise the G5, sat at the high table of international decision-making as equal partners.
It was clear at the end of three days of intensive negotiation, especially on climate change, that while a consensus on critical challenges remains elusive, industrialised nations are grudgingly making room for other voices. They have begun to understand that they no longer exercise monopoly over the fate of the world, something that has been brought home strongly by the global financial crisis under which they are reeling today.
The changing equations were evident in many ways. G8 and G5 countries issued a joint declaration for the first time at the end of the outreach summit. There was no agreement on climate change goals, but the G8 was unable to push the G5 into accepting their terms to reduce carbon emissions. The G5 wrested a significant concession from the west in getting the G8 to reject protectionism and agree to expand international investment.
The L’Aquila summit saw the widest consultations so far at a G8 gathering.
Egypt was brought in as a new invitee and there is talk of replacing the G8/G5 configuration with a G14 format. Several international organisations participated in discussions on a range of subjects and Africa too found a place through its representative Libya, which heads the Africa Union.
The quest to find solutions to international problems has to be a global effort and the L’Aquila summit is another milestone in getting there. Prime minister Manmohan Singh repeatedly stressed the point and it must be tremendously satisfying for him that the G5 put up a strong show of unity to echo him.
Decisions on resolving the international financial crisis have been deferred to the Pittsburgh summit of the G20 in September and on climate change to the Copenhagen meet in December. But L’Aquila was an important stop on the way. It has set the tone for discussions by emphasising the concept of inclusive dialogue.
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