G8 Summit Falls Short of Expectations on Key Issues

The G8 summit in Scotland agreed on several measures to help the world's poorest countries, including doubling aid to Africa to $50 billion by 2010. However, the meeting fell short of expectations on key issues, including America's reluctance to set a timetable for increasing foreign aid and its opposition to mandatory limits on greenhouse gas emissions. The conference also failed to address the issue of agricultural subsidies that perpetuate poverty in developing nations.

Key Takeaways:

• The G8 summit agreed to double aid to Africa to $50 billion by 2010, with the current level at $25 billion.
• The conference members also agreed to cancel debts of many countries and do more to fight diseases like AIDS and malaria.
• The summit's pledge to reduce trade barriers was vague and lacked specific targets.
• The United States pledged $3 billion a year to help the Palestinians after Israel's withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank.
• The conference failed to address the issue of agricultural subsidies, which perpetuate poverty in developing nations.
• America refused to set a timetable for increasing foreign aid to 0.7 percent of national income by 2015, with current aid levels at 0.16 percent.
• The Bush administration was criticized for turning the global warming commitment into "diplomatic mush" with vague and unrealistic goals.

Statistics:

• $50 billion: the target for aid to Africa by 2010
• $25 billion: the current level of aid to Africa
• 0.7 percent: the target for foreign aid as a percentage of national income by 2015
• 0.16 percent: the current level of foreign aid as a percentage of national income
• $3 billion: the annual pledge to help the Palestinians
• 1990 levels: the goal for greenhouse gas emissions set by the Kyoto Protocol

Sources:

• The New York Times
• The Group of 8 Website (no date provided)
• The 1998 G-8 Communique (no date provided)
• The 1997 Kyoto Protocol (no date provided)