Source: Xinhua

04-27-2009 10:38

ROME, April 24 (Xinhua) -- The Group of Eight (G8) environment ministers agreed on Friday to a series of measures on climate change, biodiversity, and the "green economy" at their final meeting in the Sicilian city of Siracusa, paving the way for approval by leaders at the annual G8 summit in July.

Green technologies have become a hot commodity for investors hoping to cash in on the need for the world to cut emissions of carbon dioxide, one of the main greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.(File photo)

Italian Environment Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo, who hosted the meeting, said she was "extremely satisfied" with the outcome of the three-day meeting from Wednesday to Friday.

"We have defined in a clear and frank manner the principles on which the heads of state will have to spend time at July's G8 (summit)," she said.

Prestigiacomo said ministers had agreed on the need for "urgentactions" on climate change and had set out five issues to be thrashed out by G8 leaders: short and mid-term targets, long-term targets, comparison of efforts between countries, financing and international governance.

The meeting was designed to forge consensus for a global deal on climate change in the post-Kyoto era.

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