Leaders of the world's most polluting nations at the Italy G8 summit agreed a common goal on curbing global warming—but not on what measures to take to get there. Summit leaders agreed in principle that global temperature rise should be no more than 2 degrees C. by 2050. But there were no interim targets and or timetables. This is true both of July 8 G8 declaration and the following day's resolution by the Major Economies Forum (MEF), the 17 countries that emit 80% of the world's greenhouse gases. Details on how to reach the 2-degree cap are expected to be hashed out at the December UN climate summit in Copenhagen, where a new treaty is expected to replace the Kyoto Protocol. (European Voice, July 10)

The global financial crisis has pushed the ranks of the hungry to a record 1 billion people, a milestone that poses a threat to peace and security, UN officials said June 19 in Rome. Due to war, drought, high food prices and poverty, hunger now affects one in six people, according to an estimate by the Food and Agriculture Organization. There are 100 million more hungry people now than last year, the agency said. It defines hunger as the consumption of fewer than 1,800 calories a day. (AP, June 19)

A WHO study finds (unsurprisingly) that non-motorists disproportionately bear the brunt of traffic fatalities. Car accidents are the 10th leading cause of death in the world, and are on track to become the fifth leading cause by 2030. And the Washington Post (June 17) headlines the story "Fewer Cars, More Traffic Fatalities"—as if the problem were too few cars!

The governments of many developed countries will in effect boycott a conference the United Nations is holding in New York June 24-26 to discuss the impact of the global financial crisis on developing countries. The developed countries object to efforts by the General Assembly president—Father Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, who was foreign minister for Nicaragua's leftist government in the 1980s—to have the conference discuss reforming such bodies as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). "You can't have a few calling the shots and others suffering the consequences of their decisions," D'Escoto said to the British daily Financial Times about the major powers. "If they were more frank, they should say might is right." His one-year term ends in September. (FT, June 7)

US automaker General Motors (GM) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection June 1. The proceedings will be handled by Judge Robert Gerber of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York—which is also overseeing the bankruptcy of rival automaker Chrysler Group. US President Barack Obama addressed concerns that the federal government's large ownership stake in GM may hinder the company's recovery saying:

President Barack Obama May 19 announced plans for national fuel efficiency requirements. The policy is aimed at increasing fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and is projected to conserve 1.8 billion barrels of oil and reduce emissions by an approximate 900 million metric tons under the life of the program.

The beginning of President Obama's extention of long-overdue public control over Detroit. Let's hope it isn't also the end. From Motor Trend, May 12:

Chrysler cleared a major hurdle in its bankruptcy restructuring last week when holdout investors gave up their quest for better compensation, but there are plenty of hurdles left. Chrysler dealers, fearful of losing their franchises, are banding together to fight back against the company's consolidation while the Automotive Task Force has slashed the company's ad budget.

Key Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee endorsed a climate bill and Republicans readied more than 400 amendments to the measure May 19. Democrats are supporting a measure that would instate a carbon-trading system, which in theory would spur development of less-polluting energy sources such as wind and solar by regulating emissions caused by energy sources such as oil and coal.