PM's adviser blocks climate change on G8 agenda

Prime minister David Cameron’s advisor for Europe and global  issues Ivan Rogers has blocked moves from Germany and France to make climate change one of the G8’s major issues.

Mr Rodgers is pushing for an emphasis on trade, transparency and tax to be some of the core issues to be discussed at the meeting in Lough Erne in Northern Ireland between June 17th and 18th.

However, officials from Germany and France are thought to be disappointed about the rejection of their agenda suggestions, according to the Guardian article

Whitehall has apparently taken the view that the meeting is more likely to be successful with a limited agenda. Furthermore, given the miserable state of the economy, officials believe that focusing on financial matters is more sensible.

While the claims have not been denied, a government spokesperson told RTCC that the agenda would be finalised at a meeting of Foreign Ministers in London in April.

The spokesperson commented: "Climate change is an important issue and will continue to be down through the G8.

"The UK government is currently in discussions with G8 partners on how best to follow up these important issues and we will issue further details in due course".

They added that climate change remains one of the G8’s “legacy issues”. This means that regardless of whether it is on the agenda, it could still be discussed at some point during the meeting.

Other issues expected to be discussed at some point during the meeting include world hunger, given the Prime Minister’s recent support of the IF Campaign by leading UK NGOs.

Experts have noted that blocking climate change from the G8 agenda appears to be a strange decision given the high profile it has been given at previous meetings.

Indeed, in the prime minister’s Camp David G8 Declaration from last year, a significant proportion was devoted to setting out how the eight countries were committed to low carbon energy pathways.