July 9, 2009
Posted: 1504 GMT

L'AQUILA, Italy - It’s a dirty little secret among the journalists here: What would we do without Silvio? His perpetual personal scandals are the only spark of this summit.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd talks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel behind U.S. President Barack Obama at the G-20 summit.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd talks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel behind U.S. President Barack Obama at the G-20 summit.

Please forgive the "watching paint dry" cliché, but that’s exactly what most of these summits are like.

The G-20 a few months ago in London was refreshingly different. But after a couple days at this Italian G-8, the cliche is back to haunt us all.

In terms of relevancy, the G-20 set a new standard in not just consensus, but practical policy. The sheer scale and scope of the crisis cut through the usual grinding negotiations and there was real action on stimulus, financial oversight, trade and more money for the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

But this summit has gone back to the same old slog, a fog of declarations and details that amount to sound and fury signifying something that won’t happen for months, even years.

The issue of climate change is a perfect example of what is sure to make this summit forgettable.

Going into the summit, environmental groups and eager policy hawks were optimistic, hoping this meeting could break new ground on climate change.

But within hours it was clear that any concrete progress would have to wait until yet another meeting at the end of the year in Copenhagen.

Greenpeace was especially critical saying it had hoped for more leadership at this summit, especially from U.S. President Barack Obama.

“I don't think President Obama has gone much further than Clinton. It's easy to compare him to Bush, who denied the science. The big problem now is President Obama actually accepts the science. He accepts this is a big problem and still he's doing very little to nothing to lead on the issue. I don't know what's worse: Not believing in it and not doing anything, or knowing how bad the problem is and not doing anything,” said Phil Radford of Greenpeace USA.

After seeing an advance copy of the declaration, it was clear it would be even more diluted than first thought.

There are no set goals for decreasing emissions, just a promise to decide on one by the end of the year.

As with so many issues on the table at this summit, and there is quite a laundry list, there is very little substantive policy development taking place and very little detail I is on offer.

Just a few years ago that might have been acceptable. Not today.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is hosting this week's G8 summit.

The pressing issues of the economy and climate change are a big talking point not just at summits but at dinner tables around the world.

Many here were hoping for more than the usual declarations and photo-ops that litter these summits.

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Filed under: G-8 • General • Italy


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Curtis   July 9th, 2009 1757 GMT

To All Tree Huggers:
Humans are not the cause of global warming. How is there global warming when we have had record low temperatures around the world? Stop the lies and get the correct facts. Global warming and cooling of our planet is a natural event that has been going on for millions of years.

Dimitris   July 9th, 2009 1825 GMT

Global warming is utterly false... 2008 was one of the coldest years in the past century. The Antarctic ice cap is growing quite rapidly, noted by Australian scientists. This year, 2009, is on track to be even colder than the former. Climate is not an issue, please do your independent research. NOT FROM MSM.

Rufus   July 10th, 2009 251 GMT

Agreed. We're all gonna roast because none of our world leaders are capable of growing a pair and tackling the issue in any real way. The economic crisis and the environmental crisis have the SAME origin. Greed. Greedy businesses and greedy governments who can't look past their wallets to the bigger picture. Only when the last tree dies, and the last river is poisoned and the last fish is caught will people realize you can't eat money.

lilavi   July 10th, 2009 1452 GMT

There are too many meetings these days with very little real progress. Sarkozy spends his time ogling women. He is a bad influence on President Obama who got photographed doing the same thing. Boys behave! How many pictures of these leaders do we need?

Dr. Virginia Lubell   July 10th, 2009 1505 GMT

Whatever Governments do not do, each of us is responsible for what we do. Each of us must reduce our waste and personal pollutants!

The other thing developed countries must do is tell the world that when the Industrial Revolution ripped through the world, no one knew the havoc it would create. We now know. Now we must all do better.

We must work all work together to change and begin re-newing our planet.

One way is to develop Victory Bonds and use the proceeds for eco-recovery. We are NOT sustainable. We must now re-new.

Andy McFeel   July 11th, 2009 1325 GMT

Hey you guys working for CNN!
Andy in Nashville just wants to say thank you for all your support!!!!

You are doing a fantastic Job!!!! We all know, some of you guys risk their lives every day, because you are passionate about and believe in what you are doing.

Thanks again for your fantastic Job and for all your support of Andreas Liekefett a. k. a. Andy McFeel, this German Tramp, who for which ever reason was / is trying to change this crazy world for the better!!!

I know we are in the same boat and I'm loving you guys for that!

Hi from nashville,

Andy McFeel

Jane   July 11th, 2009 1652 GMT

Most of the world's pollution is being caused by business. Since governments/politicians are beholden to them, why would we expect much change? The little efforts of us ordinary folks are just a drop in the bucket. Nothing significant will ever happen until the practices of Big Bidness are addressed.

Omar Haleem (OMARIUBI ;) on Youtube   July 11th, 2009 1911 GMT

I think this is a great idea, already animals have dissappeared in droves from the wild and baboon poplation has increased to dangerous levels.

G8 Summit and the proliferation of Baboon Population in Ghana

This is based on studies which have shown that the animals are going extinct at alaming rates in Ghana. Researhers have laid thereason for it on scarcity of fish..i hop that this package will includesome stimulus for the fish industries restructuring and the abolishment of wildgame hunting. Ghana is facuing a crisis due to the excessive baboon population increase, thes baboonsare teling a tale of human cruelty and greed, the eflect the behaiour of us humans who go out in goups and hunt down theirchildren..the baboons are attacking human settlements and are killing ifestock in th same way we go into the wild and hunt in groups. It's a fitting tribute to this man's good sense that he left the g8 baboons and went to a place where they are a true threat to the existence of both man and wildlife.

corey   July 16th, 2009 823 GMT

I for one am tired of all these so called "believers" of global warming,next thing you know theyll be trying to convince us the earth is round.

change begins on the individual level.

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