G8 agree to emission cuts

...but only to 50% (of 1990 levels) by 2050.

This isn't enough.

We know from the Stern report that the world is going to warm up - the atmosphere has already reached carbon dioxide levels of 400 parts per million, 2DegC is going to happen.

So is 50% enough?
Well, according to the IEA greenhouse gas emission program, and if applied to the world rather than just to G8, it might be (see slide 8).

Of course it's unlikely to be applied to the world, G8 needs to reduce its emissions far futher than the rest of the world to try and persuade them to follow suit.

It is also a shame that the first target is not until 2050. Whilst having a target is important the way in which the target is reached is also important - if no interim targets are set it is likely that the emissions reductions would be put off until the last minute.
This is bad news - we will have emitted too much carbon by the time we have got to 2050.

It is, however, a start. A step in the right direction. Long may it continue.