U.S. Joins G-8 Plan To Halve Emissions

2050 Pledge Marks Shift on Issue for Bush President Bush attends the Group of Eight (G-8) meeting in Japan, where North Korea's nuclear weapons program, soaring oil and food prices, and climate change top the agenda. Washington Post Staff Writer Wednesday, July 9, 2008; Page A01 RUSUTSU, Japan, July 9 -- The United States for the first time joined the major industrialized countries Tuesday in committing to try to halve greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050. President Bush immediately began promoting the plan with skeptical developing country leaders who would be crucial to its success. After months of negotiations, Bush agreed, along with other leaders of the Group of Eight countries gathered here, to a joint communique that declares the countries will "consider and adopt" reductions of at least 50 percent as part of a new U.N.... [read full story]