The G8 states, as the economically most powerful industrialised countries, have to assume leadership in environmental protection. This was stressed by the G8 environment ministers at the end of their meeting in Kobe in Japan. The State Secretary of the Federal Environment Ministry, Matthias Machnig, who took part in the meeting, declared: "This applies to climate protection, the conservation of biological diversity and the advancement of environmentally sound waste management. We will only be able to convince the large developing countries to implement effective measures if we, the industrialised countries, lead the way by taking ambitious steps."
The environment minsters of the major newly industrialising countries (China, India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa) were also invited to the meeting of the G8 (Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, the United States, Canada, Russia, Japan). The discussions centred around the issues biodiversity, climate change and waste management. The meeting took place in preparation for the G8 summit of heads of state and government in Toyako at the beginning of July.
The environment ministers adopted the "Kobe Call for Action on Biodiversity". Meeting parallel to the UN Conference on Biological Diversity in Bonn, the G8 environment ministers agreed to improve their cooperation in the field of biological diversity. More intense cooperation will take place on the development of a global network of protected areas, the scientific basis of biodiversity conservation and the mobilisation of the private sector.
State Secretary Machnig explained: "Biological diversity, which was first put on the agenda of the heads of state and government during the German G8 Presidency last year, is now a firmly established topic in G8 circles. As regards Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) I was able to detect a convergence of positions. This could be a decisive step towards a successful conference outcome in Bonn."
This year’s G8 summit will place special emphasis on climate protection, with the G8 environment ministers paving the way for the heads of state and government in this respect as well: "Since the heads of state and government considered a 50% reduction of greenhouse gases by 2050 in Heiligendamm in July 2007, the G8 summit in Toyako will have to bring us a decisive step forward. The G8 states will have to commit themselves clearly to their leadership in global climate protection. In concrete terms this means that they have to commit themselves to medium- and long-term reduction targets and pledge financial and technical assistance to developing countries. We will only be able to adopt a comprehensive international climate regime by 2009 if we acknowledge these responsibilities."
Furthermore, the environment ministers adopted an action plan on waste management which stipulates specific measures for implementing the 3R principles (reduce, reuse, recycle). The action plans clearly spells out the contribution waste management can make to climate protection and resource conservation. It calls in particular for an increased use of waste in biogas plants.