BrazilLuiz Inacio Lula Da Silva
IndiaManmohan Singh
MexicoFelipe Calderon
ChinaHu Jintao
South AfricaThabo Mbeki
Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Harper, 49, has headed a minority Conservative government since 2006. An economist with his power base in the oil-rich western province of Alberta, Harper says it is not possible for Canada to meet its Kyoto Protocol targets for greenhouse gas emission cuts, an issue before the G8 leaders.
Instead, he has proposed a plan for "intensity-based" caps allowing industries to cut a percentage of their emission increases without cutting emissions overall.
Harper is seen as a close ally of US President George W Bush and has emphasized tax cuts as the best response to a slowing economy while calling for more transparency in global oil markets to allow supply and demand to determine prices. (Source: Agencies)
President Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy, a right-wing former interior minister who became president in May 2007, made his name as a hard-liner fighting illegal immigration and crime.
Sarkozy has championed France's integration with NATO, has defended EU farm subsidies, and shared a warm personal bond with Bush. Campaigning rockers Bono and Bob Geldof have challenged Sarkozy to increase aid to Africa, saying France was failing to live up to commitments made at the 2005 G8 summit. (Source: Agencies)
Chancellor Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel, 53, who was born in the ex-communist East Germany, became the country's first woman chancellor following a narrow election win in 2005.
Merkel, who came to power promising far-reaching reforms of the tax system and labor market, went on to preside over two years of robust growth and sinking unemployment, but now faces rising pressure from a slowing economy.
Bush counts Merkel, a pro-American conservative, as one of his closest allies in Europe and the German chancellor has worked as a mediator between Washington and Moscow on US plans to deploy a missile shield in central Europe. (Source: Agencies)
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
Silvio Berlusconi, 71, made his fortune during a property boom in Milan in the 1960s and was Italy's richest man when he entered politics in 1994, promoting a "you can be rich like me" message.
In April 2008, he won a third-term beating a center-left coalition led by Romano Prodi. A staunch ally of Washington in its "war on terrorism," Berlusconi combines the smooth talk of the business tycoon with a common touch, and has vowed to push through economic reforms.
Berlusconi last month unveiled tough measures aimed at fighting illegal immigration, but critics say the move risks felling xenophobia and racism. (Source: Agencies)
Prime Minister YASUO FUKUDA
Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has quashed expectations that leaders at July's Group of Eight (G8) summit would reach agreement on medium-term goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Although, Japan has made climate change a priority, wide gaps exist within the G8 and between rich and poor nations over how to share the burden of fighting global warming.
An agreement on midterm emissions cuts was instead the "main challenge" for UN-organized climate talks that are set to wrap up at the end of next year, Fukuda had said. (Source: Agencies)
President Dmitry Medvedev
New Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will be a centre of attention at the G8 summit 2008 as the other leaders try to discern his views.
Medvedev, a diminutive, softly-spoken former corporate lawyer graduated from St Petersburg University in 1987. Fellow G8 leaders will be assessing the new division of power between him and Vladimir Putin, his mentor and predecessor as president.
Medvedev, 42, has repeatedly said he stands for continuity in policy. Like Putin, Medvedev has also said he would not be driven off course by foreign criticism of Russian policies. Russia has locked horns with the West by opposing NATO's eastward expansion, independence for Kosovo and US plans for a missile shield in Europe.
The new Russian president has rated unstable financial markets, terrorism and international crime as universal dangers to be tackled through coordinated action at a European and G8 level. (Source: Agencies)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is facing crisis after crisis since taking over from Tony Blair over a year ago. Brown's Labour Party faces a risk of defeat in an election that must be held by May 2010.
Brown's popularity is going down and so is Britain's economy, which is on course for its weakest showing in 16 years. His reputation for economic competence has steadily eroded after serious problems in the British banking sector.
The British prime minister had earlier warned that the world faced a "great oil shock" that could only be addressed by urgent action on a global scale.
Brown said that the creation of global strategy should top the economic agenda at July's G8 summit in Japan. (Source: Agencies)
President George W Bush
US President George W Bush will attend his last G8 summit as his public approval ratings are at an all time low following the unpopularity of Iraq war and sagging economy. He leaves the White House in January after two terms as president.
The United States is blocking a G8 agreement on targets for cutting climate-warming carbon emissions because it wants major emerging economies like China to get on board in a new climate change agreement.
Bush wants to make the Major Emitters Group he set up in 2007 to be the main forum for climate action, taking the initiative away from the G8. (Source: Agencies)
President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has urged developing countries, including his own, to join rich nations in setting targets to reduce emissions blamed for global warming.
Many nations in the developing bloc say wealthy countries are historically responsible for global warming and should take the lead in reducing emissions.
In the interview, Lula called for Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who will chair the G8 summit, to take the lead in ensuring that poor countries are not treated unfairly in a climate deal.
The Brazilian president also said that his country plans to host an international conference in November 2008 on use of biofuels, inviting world leaders, researchers and corporate executives. (Source: Agencies)
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that climate change was a challenge that could be overcome only through global, collaborative and cooperative efforts.
Singh said that India is prepared to play its role as a responsible member of the international community and make its own contribution. India has also unveiled its 'Climate action plan' to approach the climate issues.
The top priority in Singh's G8 visit would include the topics like adjustments required in financial structures, energy security and the high food prices. (Source: Agencies)
President Felipe Calderon
Mexican President Felipe Calderon has criticised the agricultural subsidies by industrialised nations. Calderon has proposed for the creation of a global Green Fund which he intends to take to G8 leaders.
The fund would require $1 billion to help less developed nations combat the effects of climate change, particularly heavy rains and extreme drought.
The proposal acknowledges the fact that many developing nations do not make significant emissions of greenhouse gases and yet suffer most from the destruction associated with climate change. (Source: Agencies)
President Hu Jintao
Chinese President Hu Jintao urged developed and developing countries to work on common policies and cooperation to address the global challenges such as climate change and food security.
President Hu Jintao will discuss a series of issues like climate change, food, energy, economy and development. (Source: Agencies)
South Africa, THABO MBEKI:
South African President Thabo Mbeki would like to use the G8 Summit as a platform to reaffirm the African Action Plan Programme.
The Action Plan, adopted in Canada in 2002, commits each of the G8 countries to establishing enhanced partnerships with African countries that have demonstrated a commitment to development.
Mbeki said that there must be a basic programme and follow up on the whole African Action Plan Programme, not particular items within the action programme.
Mbeki also said that the G8, at its summit in Gleanagles, Scotland, in 2005 pledged to increase official development assistance (ODA) to Africa by $25 billion annually by 2010.(Source: Agencies)
Top Story
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday night after a three-day visit to Japan.
- G8 voices concern over Iran, N KoreaThe leaders of G8 countries on Wednesday voiced "serious concern" over Iran's nuclear programme, asked North Korea to abandon its atomic weapons and sought the immediate release of Myanmar's political detainees, including Aung San Suu Kyi.
- Manmohan rejects Bush's contention on climate change equationIndian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday rejected US President George Bush's contention that countries like India and China should accept the same emission reduction goals as developed nations, saying "we cannot for the present even consider quantitative restrictions on our emissions".
- G8 marathon talks take toll on smile diplomacyIt's not only the leaders who feel the strain at marathon talks on solving some of the world's most pressing problems.As a summit of the Group of Eight rich nations entered a third day on Wednesday, the legions of security guards, smiling hotel staff, interpreters and journalists were also feeling the strain.
Go Green
1
- The culture of stiff collar and smart suits in summer might be over at the United Nations as it ratchets up thermostat on weeks days and completely shuts down the air-conditioning during weekends.
- Scientists have turned the ash waste from coal-fired power stations into a global environmental solution, which promises to slash emissions in the carbon-hungry construction sector by at least 20 per cent.
- Honda's new zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell car rolled off a Japanese production line on Monday. The FCX Clarity runs on hydrogen and electricity, emitting only water and none of the gases believed to induce global warming.
2
- Calling upon people to save planet Earth by giving up non- vegetarian food, members of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals held a demonstration in Bhopal on Wednesday.
- Like charity, the battle against global warming should also begin at home, according to a new study.The study set out to establish that going green, recycling items of daily use and reducing your carbon footprint would be easier if a household's environmental impact is monitored.
- Norwegians will soon be able to help save the planet from global warming by savouring a glass of Bordeaux, a wine importer said on Wednesday.
3
- Technology needs to gear up to enable the US to meet 25 percent of its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2025 - what is known as its "25-by-25" goal.
- Australian engineers are working on transparent solar cells that will act as energy generators in houses, even as they cut down carbon emissions by 50 per cent.
- Flip through a travel brochure, and you're likely to see pictures of sun and sand in Southeast Asia, of luxury lodges in the Serengeti, of scuba diving in the bejewelled coral reefs of the Caribbean, but what the brochure won't reveal is the environmental cost of your trip.
Themes
Environment and Climate Change
With the growing threat of failed states and/or terrorists getting their hands on weapons of mass destruction, nuclear non-proliferation is one of the key issues on the agenda of the 2008 G8 summit in Hokkaido.
