In 2005, in Gleneagles, Scotland, G8 nations committed to "act with resolve and urgency" to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Leaders also committed to "work with developing countries on building capacity to help them improve their resilience and integrate adaptation goals into sustainable development strategies." 1 Five years later, climate change is dangerously near irreversible tipping points, and the intensifying impacts of climate change are threatening the lives of vulnerable people across the globe. Meaningful action by G8 and G20 leaders has never been more urgent.

Recommendations

InterAction’s G8/G20 NGO Coordination Group urges the U.S. government to take a strong leadership role at the June 2010 G8 Muskoka Summit and G20 Toronto Summit. We request that the following recommendations be included in the respective communiqués.

1. G20 countries must raise the level of ambition on their mitigation targets to ensure that the increase in global temperatures stay as far below 2° Celsius as possible.

2. The G20 countries must commit to innovative mechanisms to generate substantial new and additional public funding to support developing countries to adapt to the impacts of climate change, transition to clean energy economies and reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation. The vast majority of this funding must be directed through a funding mechanism under the authority of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (UNFCCC - COP).

3. The G20 countries need to advance global plans for expanding the diffusion and deployment of clean energy technologies.