Britain and other wealthy nations have dropped their support for strict
targets for carbon dioxide emissions, to be discussed at the Earth Summit
next year (see ‘Strong words to save the planet’, this issue).
The Department of the Environment says France, Canada, Japan and Denmark
have all switched to the ‘pledge and review’ proposal which obliges countries
only to make attempts to reduce carbon dioxide levels.
Although the proposal does not commit nations to binding targets, the
US, the chief objector to targets, has yet to agree to the formula. The
move weakens attempts to establish a common position for European Community
countries.
