In particular the draft’s targets to keep global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius and to halve current greenhouse emissions by 2050 are objected to by Washington, according to the BBC News, who has received the revised version.

A clause saying resolute action is needed to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions is struck out by the US editors, with the intention of sending out ‘a clear message’ to the next round of UN climate talks in December.

Recommendations for setting targets for improving energy efficiency in buildings have also been deleted, as well as a call for the establishment of a global carbon market.

The draft texts are drawn up for agreement at the G8+5 meeting in Heiligendamm from 6 to 8 June 2007.

“I think the objective of the US negotiators is not just to keep the lid on and have nothing happen while President Bush is in office,” commented Philip Clapp, president of the National Environmental Trust to the BBC, “but they are trying to lay landmines under a post-Kyoto agreement after they leave office.”

The BBC talked to a spokeswoman for the Whitehouse Council on Environmental Quality who couldn’t comment on ‘ongoing private discussions’, but who said that “There is consensus that the Earth is warming and we are working with our G8 partners as well as developing nations to identify the promising new technologies that will help the world address the long term challenges of climate change.”

A spokesman for the German Chancellor’s Office (Bundes Press Amt) said that work on the drafts is ongoing and he could not comment on the BBC’s findings.

According to Philip Clapp, “it’s all in the hands of Prime Minister Blair and Chancellor Merkel, whether it’s all sweetness and light or whether they are prepared to stand up and say I’m sorry, but the rest of the world is moving in a different direction from you.”

BBC: ‘US seeks G8 climate text changes’, 14 May 2007

Website G8-Summit Heiligendamm