G8 Summit 2009 - official website - Home The Baton Passes to Canada: The Muskoka G8 2010 Gets Off the Ground 31/12/2009 Canada's tenure of the G8 presidency is about to begin: the 2010 Summit is due to be held in Muskoka, a spectacular region of central Ontario rich in lakes, picturesque towns and villages, and beautiful natural scenery. The symbol of the Canadian G8, a pine tree with windswept branches yet whose trunk is solidly rooted in the rock, perfectly embodies the spirit of the region. All the Official Documents of the 2009 G8 Summit 31/12/2009 The official documents of the G8 Summit under Italian Presidency, which was held in L'Aquila from 8 to 10 July 2009, can be consulted in the pages of this website by clicking on "Summit Proceedings" under the "Summit" menu. The documents can be consulted and/or downloaded in Pdf format in the original English version and, where applicable, also in the Italian version.

A Year With the G8 Website: Over Half a Million Consolidated Visitors, and Millions of Hits 30/12/2009 More than 536,000 consolidated visitors, peaks running into millions of hits during the three days of the Summit in L'Aquila, over 180 news items published, 26 official documents explained and commented on, 48 HD photo galleries and 25 video galleries: these are but a few of the figures regarding our website in 2009, the year in which Italy has held the G8 duty presidency. The photo galleries and news items are the sections that have attracted the highest number of visitors. G8: A Year With Italy at the Helm 30/12/2009 A year is drawing to a close that has been marked by intense hard work on numerous issues at the heart of the international debate such as combating the worldwide economic crisis, imparting a fresh boost to international trade, fighting climate change, promoting development in the world's poorer countries, guaranteeing food safety and security, ensuring access to water, health, the struggle against terrorism, and peace and cooperation amongst peoples and nations.

Watchman Newsletter: The world's 'G' order - G5, G8, G14, G20 The world's 'G' order - G5, G8, G14, G20 The Economic Times ( Link ) (July 10, 2009) It can be termed as the new 'G' order of the world where the presence of various nations spells out their international political and economic status. The latest to join the 'G' ranks is G14 - a term used for the first time at the G8-G5 summit being held in this quake-hit Italian town, about 100 km northeast of Rome. G14 is the grouping comprising G8, G5 and Egypt. The joint declaration of the G8-G5 summit was actually that of the G14. Egypt was specially called for the summit outreach meeting between G8 and G5 and comes in Friday to make up the G14. G7, the group of the world's most wealthy and industrialized countries founded in 1975, is now better known as G8 after it included the Russian Federation a few years ago. G8's membership comprises the main industrialised countries.

It is not an international organisation, nor does it have an administrative staff with a permanent secretariat. It is a process that culminates in an annual summit at which the heads of state and government of the member countries hold talks with a view to finding solutions to the main world issues. Italy hosted the 2009 G8 summit as it holds the presidency of the grouping. G5 is the grouping of emerging economies comprising Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. Over the years, the G7/G8 duty presidencies began inviting a number of emerging countries for specific sessions of talks on an ad hoc basis, as the emerging economies' increasing weight on the world scene made it necessary to involve them in identifying solutions to major global challenges. The L'Aquila summit and its joint declaration by G8 and G5 has shown that the G5 is taken quite seriously by the world's most developed countries. A number of demands of G5 - including restructuring of international financial and other institutions, including the United Nations, keeping the interests of developing countries in mind while initiating action to overcome the global financial crisis and concerns on food security and climate change - were included in the joint document this time.

Another grouping, G20, founded in 1999, was in the news for its London summit in April this year. This one includes the developed and developing countries and is considered a broader international platform. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already expressed his reservations about these world groupings. "The unworkability of the existing structures has led to greater reliance on plurilateral groupings. Some of these, such as G7, later expanded to G8, are to be seen as a group of countries with common interest, not necessarily representative of the global community," Manmohan Singh said in a vision document that forms part of a compendium on contemporary global issues at the summit here. "The original rationale of G7 was the belief that it would evolve more effective consultation among the more powerful countries on one side of the bi-polar world of the 1970s and 1980s. Its expansion to G8 reflects the disappearance of that particular faultline by the collapse of the Soviet Union.

However, while the group includes many of the economically powerful nations, it is obviously not representative as it does not include any developing country." Though the prime minister has pointed out that these groupings do not have a special legitimacy under the UN system, he finds the G20 grouping more comprehensive of the present world order. "Unlike the G8+5, this group has a composite identity since all member countries participate on equal terms, including in the preparatory process. However, the selection of countries remains arbitrary and can be questioned as to its representativeness," he stated in the vision document on how the world needs to be governed in the 21st century. G8 summit venue shaken by tremors in L'Aquila, Italy | World news | The Guardian Close This article is 7 years old Aftershocks have rocked the Italian town of L'Aquila, where the G8 summit is due to open this week.

The tremors, which have reached 4.1 on the Richter scale, have forced the Italians to consider moving the conference and newspapers are reporting that the security concerns for leaders, including Gordon Brown and Barack Obama, could cause the summit to move to Rome In the meantime briefing papers that have gone out to all eight leaders contain a sheet of instructions in the event of an earthquake, a British diplomat confirmed. The logistical nightmare for delegates and their security as well as the charities, observers, journalists and strategists booked to attend the summit are further complications for what is becoming the most chaotic G8 ever. It is also another credibility blow to Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi , the current G8 president. His perfomances on both the world stage and in his private life have been subjected to derision. Diplomatic eyebrows were raised when Berlusconi decided to move the conference from Sardinia - where work building a G8 conference centre was way over budget - to the site of April's earthquake, which left 300 dead and 53,000 people still homeless.

Much was made of how leaders would stay in a "barracks" at L'Aquila, a police college, setting a suitably austere tone to discussions on climate change and economic disaster. Even the beds in which delegates slept would later be donated to the homeless. Guido Bertolaso, the civil protection chief, said the compound could withstand an earthquake stronger than April's 5.8 magnitude, but aftershocks this weekend are reported to have sent crockery crashing to the ground. The Italian green group Legambiente said the decision was always madness. "It's a good idea to talk about the suffering of the earthquake victims, but you don't actually have to go there to do it," said spokesman Maurizio Gubbiotti. "The homeless are already having a miserable time and this G8 will restrict their movements even more.

Is it wise to get over 3,000 people up there to the conference while aftershocks rumble on?" No matter where the summit takes place, the charity ActionAid says it needs to focus on hunger - it says $23bn (£14bn) is needed from G8 leaders to save the 25,000 people around the world who die of hunger every day. In a report "Let them eat promises", it says the factors that have pushed the hungry above one billion will worsen unless G8 leaders increase aid to agriculture in the developing world and halt global warming. Meredith Alexander of ActionAid said: "It's not often that eight people must take responsibility for the fate of one billion. Unless the G8 leaders commit to serious new money for food and farming, they will have to answer to the one billion people, and rising, who live with chronic hunger every day. "Given that the world has already spent $18 trillion propping up the global economy, we know they can afford it [the $23bn].

We are asking for peanuts from elephants." The world's 'G' order - G5, G8, G14, G20 world Updated: Jul 10, 2009 17:15 IST IANS It can be termed as the new 'G' order of the world where the presence of various nations spells out their international political and economic status. The latest to join the 'G' ranks is G14 - a term used for the first time at the G8-G5 summit being held in this quake-hit Italian town, about 100 km northeast of Rome. G14 is the grouping comprising G8, G5 and Egypt. The joint declaration of the G8-G5 summit was actually that of the G14. Egypt was specially called for the summit outreach meeting between G8 and G5 and comes in Friday to make up the G14. G7, the group of the world's most wealthy and industrialized countries founded in 1975, is now better known as G8 after it included the Russian Federation a few years ago. G8's membership comprises the main industrialised countries.

It is not an international organisation, nor does it have an administrative staff with a permanent secretariat. It is a process that culminates in an annual summit at which the heads of state and government of the member countries hold talks with a view to finding solutions to the main world issues. Italy hosted the 2009 G8 summit as it holds the presidency of the grouping. G5 is the grouping of emerging economies comprising Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa. Over the years, the G7/G8 duty presidencies began inviting a number of emerging countries for specific sessions of talks on an ad hoc basis, as the emerging economies' increasing weight on the world scene made it necessary to involve them in identifying solutions to major global challenges. The L'Aquila summit and its joint declaration by G8 and G5 has shown that the G5 is taken quite seriously by the world's most developed countries. A number of demands of G5 - including restructuring of international financial and other institutions, including the United Nations, keeping the interests of developing countries in mind while initiating action to overcome the global financial crisis and concerns on food security and climate change - were included in the joint document this time.

Another grouping, G20, founded in 1999, was in the news for its London summit in April this year. This one includes the developed and developing countries and is considered a broader international platform. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already expressed his reservations about these world groupings. "The unworkability of the existing structures has led to greater reliance on plurilateral groupings. Some of these, such as G7, later expanded to G8, are to be seen as a group of countries with common interest, not necessarily representative of the global community," Manmohan Singh said in a vision document that forms part of a compendium on contemporary global issues at the summit in L'Aquila. "The original rationale of G7 was the belief that it would evolve more effective consultation among the more powerful countries on one side of the bi-polar world of the 1970s and 1980s. Its expansion to G8 reflects the disappearance of that particular faultline by the collapse of the Soviet Union.

However, while the group includes many of the economically powerful nations, it is obviously not representative as it does not include any developing country." Though the prime minister has pointed out that these groupings do not have a special legitimacy under the UN system, he finds the G20 grouping more comprehensive of the present world order. "Unlike the G8+5, this group has a composite identity since all member countries participate on equal terms, including in the preparatory process. However, the selection of countries remains arbitrary and can be questioned as to its representativeness," he stated in the vision document on how the world needs to be governed in the 21st century. tags G8 Italy Summit: Friday (VIDEO)(SLIDESHOW) | The Huffington Post G8 Italy Summit: Friday (VIDEO)(SLIDESHOW) 08/09/2009 05:12 am ET | Updated May 25, 2011 200 Stuart Whatley Associate Editor, Project Syndicate We'll be following the Group of 8 Summit in L'Aquila here with news, photos and video. Feel free to check back at regular intervals for updates. ****** Obama meets Pope...

(10:24 A.M.): Obama end-of-summit news conference (8:30 A.M.): Obama concluded the G8 summit in L'Aquila with a news conference where he thanked his Italian hosts and reaffirmed his support of the people of L'Aquila, which was devastated by an earthquake in April of this year. Obama enumerated what he considers the most significant achievements of the summit, beginning with the G8 leaders' "widespread consensus to restore economic growth" and stability in financial markets. He touted the United States' role in leading this effort with its stimulus package and "sweeping overhaul of the regulatory system." The second item, which Obama seems to have especially dedicated himself to this week, was nuclear security. Obama issued an invitation to world leaders this week for a nuclear security summit to be held next March in Washington, DC. Earlier this week, Obama and Russian President Medvedev reached an agreement to draft a new disarmament treaty that will cap each country's deployed nuclear warheads at 1,500. Obama also, while speaking on nuclear security, addressed the ongoing tension with Iran over its own nuclear program and its brutal crackdown of protesters following the June 12 presidential election.

Third, Obama addressed climate change, which was arguably the central most focus of the summit this week. G8 leaders committed to their first ever temperature goal--which aims to keep global temperature increases below 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels. Obama also touted a general agreement among developed nations to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050. However, his remarks elided the fact that this agreement is not supported by China and India, who are the sine qua non of any meaningful climate change effort. The fourth and final achievement, which Obama has given a personal mantle, given his heritage, is food security; namely an agreement to deliver $20 billion in aid to developing nations over the next 3 years, with a focus on Africa. WATCH: Following his remarks, Obama took questions from the press. WATCH: When asked about health care reform Protesters' last hurrah (8:02 A.M.): G8 summit protesters have their last opportunity today to speak their minds, and as AP reports , they're showing up by the hundreds: Hundreds of protesters are gathering in L'Aquila to march against the Group of Eight summit held in this quake-hit central Italian town.

Anti-globalization activists carrying red communist flags and wearing "No G-8" T-shirts were bused in from across Italy to set out from the L'Aquila suburb of Paganica. Obama's first Pope meeting is today (8:00 A.M.): Obama will meet Pope Benedict XVI for the first time today. The audience is highly anticipated, especially given the criticism Obama has received from a good number of American Catholic bishops. From the AP: The White House says it expects "frank" but constructive talks in President Barack Obama's meeting Friday with Pope Benedict XVI -- two men who share similar views on helping the poor and pushing for Middle East peace but disagree on abortion and stem cell research. ... Obama's election presented a challenge for the Vatican after eight years of common ground with President George W. Bush in opposing abortion, an issue that drew them together despite the Vatican's opposition to the war in Iraq. But the Vatican has been openly interested in Obama's views and scheduled an unusual afternoon meeting to accommodate the American president at the end of his stay in Italy for a G-8 summit meeting in the earthquake-stricken city of L'Aquila and just before he leaves for Ghana.

Obama news conference soon, stay tuned (7:57 A.M.): Obama will give a Friday news conference from the summit. I'll have the video here for you as soon as it's available. Mubarak calls for debt freeze (7:53 A.M.): While G8 leaders reached an accord of $20 billion in aid to developing countries, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, at a working meeting on Friday, also called for African debts to be frozen to aid the world's poorest countries during the global recession, AFP reports: He said African borrowers should enjoy "preferential terms" and urged the West to reject protectionism in trade and to seek a way to cover the gaps that have appeared in foreign aid budgets during the global slowdown. ...

He called on them to "guarantee that the major industrialised countries' stimulus plans don't lead to protectionist policies and don't aggravate the imbalances in the international commercial system." Aid update ( 7:38 A.M.): G8 leaders have pledged to deliver $20 billion in aid over the next 3 years--$5 billion more than was originally reported--to assist poor farmers in developing countries, the Wall Street Journal reports: Leaders from the Group of Eight leading economies Friday pledged $20 billion over three years to finance agriculture projects in developing countries and help fight hunger and food price volatility. The U.S.-sponsored food security plan aims to provide poor farmers in developing countries with seeds, fertilizers and the infrastructure needed to boost food production as a long-term solution to combat hunger and spiking food prices. Slideshow (7:30 A.M.): of 18 Policemen of the Guardia di Finanzia guard as US First Lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia (not pictured) visit the Pantheon on July 9, 2009 in Rome.

Michelle Obama and her daughters visited the day before the Roman Colosseum while US President Barack Obama is attending a G8 summit in L’Aquila. Share this slide: Getty Images Africa's day (7:21 A.M.): The third and final day of the summit in L'Aquila will focus on African economies and food security, with a specific focus on the effects of the global recession. According to the summit's official website: The impact of the economic crisis on the African continent and food security are the main items on the agenda for the final day of the L'Aquila G8 Summit. Africa and the impact that the global recession is making on the continent are at the centre of the working breakfast held from 8.30 to 10.00 am and attended by the leaders of Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and the African Union Commission in addition to the G8 Heads of State and Government. The IEA, World Bank, IMF, ILO, OECD, WTO and UN representatives are also attending the breakfast.

Thursday July 9, 2009 A new tack for foreign aid (3:32 P.M.): According to G8 delegates, late on Thursday, President Obama will announce a $15 billion African aid kitty that will focus on agricultural development for poor farmers to increase crop yields, rather than just emergency aid money that usually ends up in the hands of corrupt governments, AP reports. "The figure of $15 billion has been quoted and we expect President Obama to make this announcement tomorrow and to call on other G-8 countries and emerging economies to support this initiative," said Kanayo Nwanze, president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, who is participating in G-8 talks in Italy on Friday. ... "These numbers are bouncing around. It may end up being something similar to that," [White House national security aide Denis McDonough] told reporters. "It is the kind of investment that the president promised or committed to at the G-20 in London in April, when he pledged to double (U.S.) food security funding." Clooney and Murray tour the devastation (2:20): Actors George Clooney and Bill Murray made an appearance in L'Aquila to much fanfare as they toured the quake-wrecked area.

From ANSA: Stealing world leaders' thunder, the Hollywood star toured ruins with actor buddy Bill Murray and the former leader of Italy's Democratic Party, Walter Veltroni, a personal friend and fellow campaigner for Africa. ''It's surprising to see a city that has sustained so much damage and I think (the film) is the best way to lend a hand and boost the economy,'' he said. Clooney said shooting would start at the end of September and he would have a part in the film, which he did not name. Obama's Thursday statement on climate change (2:05 P.M.): President Obama spoke today following the meeting of the Major Economic Forum to address climate change. Here is the transcript , from CQ Transcript Wires. WATCH: Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News , World News , and News about the Economy Qaddafi pitches tent on L'Aquila barracks football field (1:38 P.M.): Libya's Muammar Qaddafi, who was invited to the L'Aquila summit for his role as the chairman of the African Union, has pitched a Bedouin-style tent in the middle of the football field of the barracks where world leaders are staying, ANSA reports.

The Libyan leader's tent, which stands in the barracks' football field, is equipped with all the luxuries, including a plasma screen TV and decoder, and is being guarded by several of his female 'Amazon' bodyguards. Gaddafi will also be the best situated world leader to cope should a major earthquake hit the city, which is still experiencing tremors. Italy has prepared a G8 evacuation plan if there is a quake of 4.0 on the Richter scale or above. The National Geophysics and Volcanology Institute currently rates that risk at about 30%. It is customary for Gaddafi to pitch a tent wherever he goes. Last month Gaddafi insisted on pitching a huge tent in a Rome park during his first official visit to Italy, during which he tried the patience of the authorities by standing up MPs from Italy's Chamber of Deputies who had gathered to hear him speak. MEF adopts temperature goal (12:30 P.M.): Via ANSA, the meeting of the Major Economic Forum (MEF) led by Obama Thursday afternoon has adopted the same temperature goal as the G8 did on Wednesday--limiting the global temperature rise to 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above pre-industrial levels.

However, specific emissions standards, like yesterday, did not make it through: The leaders of Australia, Brazil, Britain, Canada, China, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the United States endorsed the two-degree deal but did not agree on greenhouse gas emission cuts. Scientists believe that two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is the point at which climate change becomes irreversible. ''We weren't able to agree on a target of a 50% reduction in global carbon emissions by 2050 or in a shorter term but the accord (to limit global warming) to two degrees Celsius is an important step forward,'' said Swedish Prime Minister and European Union duty president Fredrik Reinfeldt. Bizarro adult swim (12:15 P.M.): One interesting new tradition, hailing back to the St. Petersburg summit in 2006, is the Junior 8 (J8) , when the G8 leaders take a break from work and hand over the podium to the world's youth.

According to the L'Auila summit's official website: The Junior 8 Summit, or J8, is an annual forum involving youngsters aged 14 to 17 hailing from all over the world. Boys and girls chosen to represent G8 member States and other emerging countries (China, Brazil, India, South Africa and Mexico) and this year Egypt, address the same issues as those on the Summit agenda and draft recommendations for the leaders. The J8 had their moment this afternoon, from 2:30 to 3:00. They touched on a number of issues and issued a J8 Declaration, but focused primarily on climate change and education, specifically teachers' standards. WATCH: Responsible Leadership For A Sustainable Future (12:03 P.M.) Here is the G8 leaders declaration released after Day 1 of the summit. It covers everything from finance to stimulus to trade to global health to green recovery.

(It's 40 pages so I haven't been able to dig through it all yet, but feel free to email anything of particular note that you find.) G8 Declaration - An overview in 2 minutes (11:36 A.M.): CNN's Thursday report covers the climate change agreement from Wednesday, Obama's domestic distractions with the economy, the leaders' tour of the quake zone, and more. WATCH: Ban calls for more (10:53 A.M.): Environmental groups, who have been generally underwhelmed by the G8's declaration on climate change Wednesday, are now joined by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Ban, speaking from the sidelines of the summit, does not believe the measures agreed upon go nearly far enough, according to the AP. "The policies that they have stated so far are not enough, not sufficient enough. This is the science. We must work according to the science.

This is politically and morally imperative and a historic responsibility for the leaders for the future of humanity, even for the future of planet Earth." After India and China closed the door on a goal of halving carbon emissions by 2050, G8 leaders reached agreement on a temperature goal instead, whereby global temperatures will not be allowed to surpass 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels. Temperatures, however, are already halfway to that point. And the actual methods through which the international community will stymie the inexorable rise remain unclear. Michelle "Moved" (10:32 A.M.): Following the summit participants' tour of L'Aquila and the surrounding areas devastated by an earthquake in April, additional pledges to help rebuild are rolling in; notably, from Michelle Obama. "I'm very moved. I and my husband have been very struck by what we're seeing and we'll try to do everything possible to support you," Italy's ANSA News reports her saying. Likewise, on Wednesday, President Obama addressed the issue as well, saying, "I have followed your tragedy from the first moment.

I assure you that the United States stands ready to help Italy" Looking at photos from today and yesterday, it's easy to see how the scene could be moving. "You'll never come back from 2 - 0 down again" ~ Barack Obama (10:00 A.M.): Obama and Brazilian President Lula took a break from the serious talks Thursday morning to discuss the June 28 soccer match between the US and Brazil, ANSA news reports. Brazil came back from being down 2 to 0 to win, with the final score of 3 - 2. Palestinian Marshall Plan (9:45 A.M.): Via Italy's ANSA News, In a statement at the G8 summit in L'Aquila this week, Italian PM Berlusconi discussed one topic of Wednesday night's working dinner: the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to Berlusconi, it was agreed that an "aid committee" would be created to carry out a 'Marshall Plan' for the Palestinian territories to revive their economies--particularly in the private sector--with the eventual goal of raising per capita incomes to commensurate levels as neighboring Israel.

Malia Obama's sartorial message to world leaders (9:36 A.M.): Sarah Brown visits with African aid group (9:33 A.M.): British first lady Sarah Brown, who is providing dispatches from the summit through her blog , has her latest post. Brown met with Rome's Sant' Egidio community Wednesday night to discuss their efforts to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa: Today the 120,000 strong Sant' Egidio community across the world address new crises. With their hugely dedicated staff we talked about the work they are doing to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa aiming to offer a treatment in Mozambique and Malawi that matches the treatment you can find in Italy or the UK. In many of the poor countries I've visited, AIDS often has a female face. Pacem from Malawi has come to share with us her journey from her own HIV positive diagnosis to treatment and life now as an activist for Sant'Egidio, sharing the message of life after testing.

Herding cats (9:20 A.M.): Though the "family photos" at these summits are usually some of the most memorable, it is not always so easy to gather each world leader in the same place at the same time. This was made apparent Thursday with tardiness on the part of President Obama, but even more so, by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who was egregiously late to the photo-op at the London G20 summit in April as well, according to the Toronto Star. The rest of the summit's attendants passed the time with the usual on-camera joviality and small talk, while, according to the Star, intermittently calling out Harper's name: "Harper? Harper? Where's Harper?" Eventually Obama jogged up to fill his spot in the ranks, and was soon followed by Harper, to much applause and cheers by those patiently waiting. Iran deadline raises the stakes (8:32 A.M.) G8 leaders on Wednesday agreed to issue a joint statement of denunciation against Iran for its protest crackdown and ongoing nuclear program. According to Reuters , a September deadline has been thrown into the mix, based on statements made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy late Wednesday.

The deadline is set for the G20 summit in Pittsburgh on September 24-25, at which point "if there is no progress by then we will have to take decisions," Sarkozy says, adding that, "We made an effort to agree not to strengthen sanctions straightaway in order to bring everyone on board. The more reserved amongst us agreed that Pittsburgh was the time for decisions." An Iranian spokesman responded Thursday by rebuffing the G8's statement, saying that Iran would never back off from its nuclear ambitions by "even one step." Currency devaluation draft agreement (8:25 A.M.): G8 leaders met with leaders of the developing-nation G5 (Brazil, India, China, Mexico and South Africa), with the addition of Egypt, Thursday and have so far reached an accord on a pledge to "refrain from competitive devaluations of our currencies," Bloomberg reports. Also at issue is the centrality of the dollar as the world's de facto reserve currency. The dollar's dominance has increasingly been challenged during the global financial crisis, most especially by China, who in late June formalized its call for a new, replacement international currency.

Getty Images Italian Parliament members go on China strike (3:52 P.M.): Following dozens of environmental activists scaling the smokestacks of Italian coal-fire plants today, others stripping down on the Spanish Steps with a banner that reads "Keep climate cool", and still others blocking roads and railways to protest against globalization, the AP reports that Italian Parliament members in Rome are getting on-board the protest train: In Rome, several members of the Italian parliament said they were starting a hunger strike on Wednesday night to urge the G-8 leaders to press China to end the violence in Xinjiang region. Italian Parka-chic for G8 leaders (3:43 P.M.): From Reuters , World leaders attending the G8 summit in Italy this week will receive a gift directly from their host's heart--a Belstaff-designed, custom-fitted parka, individually signed by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi himself. Belstaff, which also kits out current film stars such as George Clooney and Brad Pitt, has produced a limited edition black parka for delegates at the summit. And there's a "parka-chic" version for the first ladies.

"Every single jacket is made to measure," Manuele Malenotti, whose Italy-based Clothing Co bought Belstaff in 2004, told Reuters. "Every single jacket is signed by (Italian Prime Minister Silvio) Berlusconi." The black, mid-length parkas, in addition to Berlusconi's John Hancock, will be adorned with an Italian flag and the G8's summit logo, and after the summit it will be on sale and available to the public, with proceeds going to the Earthquake Foundation, Reuters reports. Did Obama snub Berlusconi? (3:14 P.M.): There's been chatter Wednesday afternoon following Obama's meeting with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, who holds a mostly ceremonial position, that Obama may have taken an indirect verbal shot at Berlusconi, who is constantly mired in scandal. Obama heaped praise on Napolitano, touting his "integrity" and describing him as a "great leader"--words that have left observers guessing at Obama's real intent. From AP: It might sound like the standard compliments a visitor might make after being hosted in the splendor of Renaissance-era Quirinal Palace.

But in a country whose real leader, Premier Silvio Berlusconi, is under fire from a sex scandal, the words had a special ring. Even if Obama did not intend any snub of Berlusconi, the embattled premier has been under a barrage of attacks over his moral fitness to lead Italy and become a flashpoint for criticism of preparations for a summit of world leaders in earthquake-stricken L'Aquila. Obama presses G8 on Iran's nuclear program (2:50 P.M.): Obama seems to be leading the charge among G8 leaders for a strong statement against Iran and North Korea's nuclear ambitions; but, according to Politico , it remains unclear what further steps the group can even take that it hasn't already. WATCH: Rain on the climate change parade (2:45 P.M.): Earlier we reported on a G8 pledge to limit any increase in global temperature to 2 degrees Celsius--the group's first ever temperature goal; however, this is a G8 declaration, and thus elides the most important players in addressing climate change, namely India and China. As the Telegraph's James Kirkup reports , from L'Aquila, India and China say they will not sign any such agreement.

But the deal was marred by the failure of fast-growing Asian nations to sign up. The G8 had wanted them to agree to cut their carbon output by 50 per cent in the same time. However, the 50 per cent carbon targets faced resistance from India and China, which argued that the targets would hamper their economic growth. "For any long-term goals there have to be credible midterm goals in the range of 25-40 per cent," said Dinesh Patnaik, an Indian climate policy negotiator. Awkwardness immortalized (2:33 P.M.): Jeremy Barker at National Post has an amusing photo roundup of Berlusconi's most awkward moments at the summit thus far, here. Obama's tour with Berlusconi (2:13 P.M.): Via CNN , video of Obama touring the quake-wrecked areas around the G8 summit: WATCH: And a good report on the Berlusconi's most recent scandals, which have consistently threatened his credibility in the lead-up to the summit.

WATCH: The argument for the G8 (2:04 P.M.): Here's a BBC video from earlier today of an interview with Italian foreign ministry spokesman Maurizio Massari on what to expect. Notably, Massari rebuffs the question of whether the summit will just be a "talking shop" and insists that it is much more than that. Unlike its critics, who call for the G8's abolition and the ceasing of such summits, Massari says that there is real value in the concerted message of trust and commitment from world leaders that come from summits. WATCH: 'Sconi gaffes (1:51 P.M.): Because many of his best gaffes occur at these summits, here and here are some classic past Berlusconi statements of ill repute. Pope hosts spouses (1:37 P.M.) Sarah Brown, wife of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has her second summit blog post up. She and the spouses of other participating world leaders were hosted at the Vatican today, where they toured the basilica garden and were treated to lunch. Read the post here.

G8 promises to honor promises to Africa (1:26 P.m.) An initial report from AFP , who caught a glimpse of a forthcoming G8 statement prior to its official release, says that G8 leaders will reaffirm their pledge fill a $25 billion hole in African aid that was agreed upon at Gleneagles G8 Summit in 2005: "We underline how important it is to honour the engagments to increase aid that we made in Gleneagles." Considering that most participants called for a strengthening of African aid leading up to the summit, this announcement isn't exactly groundbreaking. Nevertheless, it is important, especially for the summit's host, Berlusconi. Prior to the summit, Berlusconi was called out by Sir Bob Geldof for Italy's deplorable record on fulfilling aid commitments. According to the Metro UK news , Italy has delivered on just 3 percent of its 2005 commitment.

G8's first ever temperature goal (1:10 P.M.): Though the summit's preliminary negotiations to halve global carbon emissions by 2050 were orginially reported to have failed, the AP is reporting that the G8 leaders have reached an accord on the group's first ever temperature goal: limiting any future global temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). According to Science Daily , 2 degrees C is perhaps the magic number, as it were: If CO2 emissions are halved by 2050 compared to 1990, global warming can be stabilised below two degrees. This is shown by two studies by a co-operation of German, Swiss and British researchers in the journal Nature. To contain global warming, and its risks and consequences, warming compared to pre-industrial times (pre 1900) should not exceed two degrees Celsius. The 2 degree C target is considered significant, but I'll wait for more from green experts to weigh in on just what this particular benchmark means. Rain on Berlusconi's parade?

(1:02 P.M.): Perhaps sullying his limelight moment as the summit's host somewhat, yet another woman has come forward with allegations that Berlusconi paid her to attend his private--and now highly scandalized--parties, the Telegraph reports: A fourth woman has come forward to claim that she was paid 1,000 euros (£870) to attend a party at one of the Italian prime minister's private homes. Maria Teresa De Nicolo, 37, said the 72-year-old premier was the "perfect host" when he danced with her after the candle-lit dinner and that contrary to reports he did not have his hands all over her "like an octopus". "I danced with the prime minister and also with some of the other men who were present," said Miss De Nicolo. The Evac Plan (12:40 P.M.): For those wondering about the safety of the summit's location--L'Aquila, which was devastated by an earthquake in April--fear not: Berlusconi says "There is no risk"...

But for those who aren't reassured by that statement, Reuters reports that there is indeed an evacuation plan in place in the unlikely event of another earthquake: Italian authorities have readied an evacuation plan for G8 leaders attending a summit in the earthquake-hit city of L'Aquila in the event of a tremor of a 4.0 magnitude or higher, a source close to organisers said. The source said the civil protection agency had prepared plans to evacuate leaders to Rome by air if needed. Summit meetings and events would then continue in the Italian capital. Though the summit was originally meant to take place on the island of La Maddalena (hence the sea turtles in the logo), Berlusconi opted to move it to the quake zone, he says, to stimulate its local economy and raise awareness of the remaining devastation from the April 6 quake. The village of Onna, just a few miles away, was the site of German Chancellor Merkel's visit. Germany announced in June that it would contribute aid to the rebuilding effort, according to the G8 website . Presumably, Berlusconi hopes to solicit other such charitable offers this week. Hate for the G8?

(12:25 P.M.): Many of the protesters in emerging photos (scroll down) wield signs calling for the G8 forum to be abolished altogether. I won't weigh in on either side, but Simon Johnson over at TNR provides an eloquent argument that will make more sense of the reasons why we see so many "No More G8" signs at these international gatherings: The L'Aquila summit seems likely to achieve nothing, i.e., nothing that could not have been agreed upon in a conference call among deputy ministers. Just because there's a communiqué does not mean it has any real content. Does this kind of expensive pageant make politicians today look important or frivolous? The Associated Press reports on the Obamas arrival: Obama, accompanied by his wife Michelle, went immediately into a meeting Wednesday morning with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano after arriving at the stately Quirinale Palace, meeting his host in a spectacular setting that included a large room with a soaring ceiling, gilded walls and doors and huge chandaliers.

Emerging from the meeting with Napolitano, Obama said he was looking forward to the G-8 talks and praised his Italian hosts for being "such good friends" of the United States over the years. He said the two countries among other things "are working hand in hand in places like Afghanistan to ensure that we're isolating extremists and strengthening the forces of moderation around the world." Obama also said he and Napolitano agreed that efforts must continue in the area of "raising standards on financial institutions" to protect against future global economic meltdowns. He also said that its crucial that world leaders work to ensure that Iran and North Korea don't "take a path" that would widen the arms race on the Korean peninsula and in the Mideast. WATCH: *** President Obama arrived in Italy Wednesday for the Group of 8 Summit in L'Aquila --the site of a devastating earthquake in April of this year--to discuss climate change, global security, the global recession and various other international issues.

The Group of 8 (G8) industrialized nations--organized by France in 1975--consists of the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia; however, G8 leaders are joined in L'Aquila by the leaders from a Group of 5 developing nations of global import that include Brazil, China, India, South Africa and Mexico, plus Egypt. According to the official website , the G8 and this smaller G5 will discuss the salient issues in individual summits Wednesday, but will merge together Thursday, along with Major Economies Forum, with aims to reach an accord on ten separate draft declarations, which have been at least partially hashed out by negotiators in the days and weeks leading up to the summit. And on the third and final day, this merger will be accompanied by representatives from African nations and international organizations to discuss Middle East issues and, notably, the renewal of international development aid to Africa. Climate change and the global economic crisis, in particular, are topping the summit's agenda. However, according to Times Online , the preliminary negotiations for halving carbon emissions by 2050 have already "failed", due to balking on the part of China and India.

In talks that continued late last night the [Chinese and Indian] delegations are understood to have prevented any mention of the target in the draft communiqué, insisting that the developed economies should promise to cut their own emissions sharply by 2020 before asking developing nations to commit to a long term target. The scheduled events for Day 1 are set to begin at 1:00 p.m. Italian time (7:00 a.m. EST) with a G8 leader working luncheon and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi introduction. The "family photo" of world leaders will be taken after this first session, according to the official schedule. Throughout Wednesday, Berlusconi will personally conduct tours of the earthquake ravaged region for each G8 leader. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has already had hers , with a visit to the especially devastated village of Onna. Germany has pledged additional contributions to the rebuilding effort. Obama is scheduled to have his tour at 11:45 EST, followed by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. My colleague Morgan Korn provides a more detailed schedule and background overview of the summit here. Get HuffPost World On Facebook and Twitter!

More: Climate change high on G8 agenda as Copenhagen Summit draws nearer Nairobi, 6 July 2009 - As momentum builds towards formulating a fair and effective climate change agreement at the Copenhagen Climate Conference later this year, leaders of the world's developed nations are poised to discuss global warming at the G8 summit in the Italian town of L'Aquila from 8 to 10 July. The G8 summit, which is the last one being held before the Copenhagen meeting in December, will see climate change and food security high on the agenda. The world's poorer nations, which contribute a marginal amount to global greenhouse gas emissions, are disproportionately affected by climate change. An Oxfam report released on 6 July says "chronic hunger may be the defining human tragedy of this century, as climate change causes growing seasons to shift, crops to fail, and storms and droughts to ravage fields".

The Oxfam report echoes UNEP's Environmental Food Crisis report released earlier this year, which notes that land degradation, erosion, drought and climate change are already causing a food crisis that has resulted in a 50-200% increase in selected commodity prices, driven 110 million people into poverty and added 44 million more to the undernourished. The UNEP report warns that delivering food security to a growing population will become ever more challenging over the next four decades unless more intelligent management of natural resources and emerging opportunities are brought to bear. Meanwhile, in an article in the official G8 magazine, UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner also flags up the key issue of chemicals and children's health, which was raised by the governments of Japan and the United States at the G8 meeting in Siracusa. The article calls for a more holistic approach to chemicals that can tackle both persistent and emerging challenges through a Global Green New Deal. As well as revving up the global economy and making it truly sustainable, green innovation would also help protect biodiversity and the health of children and adults around the planet.

For instance, the melting of the Arctic threatens sea level rise but is also triggering the re-release of many of the persistent organic pollutants and heavy metal compounds that are being urgently assessed in the new Japanese and United States children's health research. In addition, new emissions of mercury - which are also being assessed in these children's' health studies - are coming from increased coal-generation. If the world can transit to a low carbon economy, this will also cut emissions of this notorious heavy metal. There are abundant and unassailable reasons why the world needs a low carbon, resource efficient Green Economy on a planet of six billion, rising to over nine billion by 2050 - from combating climate change to achieving energy security, ensuring food supplies and generating jobs to protecting the health of the world's more than two billion children and those to be born. Italy G8 summit key to global efforts on climate change_English_Xinhua Print ROME, July 5 (Xinhua) -- With climate change high on the agenda, the Group of Eight (G8) leaders are set to meet in the quake-stricken Italian town of L'Aquila from Wednesday to Friday.

The G8 meeting comes as a deadline draws nearer for world leaders to endorse a new global warming pact at a UN climate change conference in Copenhagen in December. DECISIVE MOMENT The "Bali Roadmap," unveiled in December 2007, set a two-year deadline for a global agreement and pledged to complete a new UN climate treaty at the Copenhagen meeting to follow up on the Kyoto Protocol, which expires in 2012. However, the journey from Bali to Copenhagen has been dogged by squabbles between developed and developing nations and among developed nations themselves. At the latest UN climate change talks held in Bonn in early June, the 50-page draft for a new global warming treaty grew to more than 200 pages stuffed with rival proposals after its maiden hearing. Meanwhile, on June 27, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the "American Clean Energy and Security Act," a legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bill came as a hard-won victory for President Barack Obama, who is keen on a leading U.S. role in tackling global warming. The L'Aquila summit is the last G8 summit before the December Copenhagen meeting.

Under Obama's initiative, a major economies forum for 17 countries, which account for some 80 percent of the global emissions, is scheduled for Thursday on the sidelines of the summit. If the leading powers could sew up differences on global warming at the summit, L'Aquila will be a landmark on the road to tackle climate change. THORNY ISSUES Italy, which holds the current G8 presidency, wants the summit to agree that global greenhouse gas emissions should peak by 2020 and world temperature change should be limited to 2 Celsius degrees above pre-industrial levels. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a rise in temperatures of more than 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels would be dangerous for the delicate balance of Earth's climatic system. The two targets have been accepted by the European Union, but not by G8's non-EU members -- the United States, Russia, Canada and Japan. Meanwhile, the leading economies are using different time frames when setting cap goals: some looking to 2012, 2020 or 2050.

They are also basing emissions cuts on different baselines: some comparing to 1990 levels, others to 1997 levels or 2005 levels. In the first round of the Bonn talks in early April, the United States said it was considering cutting its emissions by 14-17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, which means the U.S. 2020 goal amounts to a merely 4 percent cut compared to 1990 levels. On June 10, the Japanese government announced a plan to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, which translates into an 8 percent cut from 1990 levels. Australia set its emission target on 5-15 percent by 2020 compared to 2000 levels, while Canada plans to cut by 20 percent by 2020 on 2006 levels.

The European Union (EU) has promised to cut emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, and by 30 percent if other rich nations follow suit. U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern said in late May that rich nations as a group are unlikely to reach the deep 2020 cuts in greenhouse gas emissions as part of a new UN climate treaty. According to the IPCC, all developed countries should cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 25-40 percent by 2020 compared to 1990 levels to tackle climate change. Another thorny issue for developed countries is how to channel money and technology to the poor to help deal with climate change, as an estimated 100 billion to 200 billion U.S. dollars will be needed to support developing countries to tackle climate change. The EU has urged the leading economies to split the bill based on their historical emissions and current wealth, but the bloc members have so far failed to agree on how to split the bill among themselves. Meanwhile, some developed countries want a new sliding scale to redefine developing nations and demand more actions by the wealthier developing countries in slowing global warming.

In April, Japan submitted a draft text of the new climate pact to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), bringing up the concept of "wealthier developing countries." In the draft document released on May 20, the UNFCCC also passed the buck to poor nations, setting emission reduction goals for developing countries by 2050. This has drawn fierce criticism from developing nations, presenting another obstacle on the way to a successful Copenhagen meeting. "The countries gathering in L'Aquila have the biggest responsibility to show leadership on climate. Without their action we cannot expect the rest of the world to move," environmental group World Wildlife Fund said Friday. Editor: Wang Guanqun G8 leaders kick off summit on economic crisis, climate change_English_Xinhua Photo Gallery>>> L'AQUILA, Italy, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized countries began their summit Wednesday, with the economic crisis and climate change at the top of their three-day agenda. The summit started with a working luncheon, with the bulk of the first-day discussion generally focusing on the troubled global economy.

The G8 leaders, from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and Canada, were expected to issue a statement on the situation of the world economy. Nearly one year after the financial crisis developed, the world economy remains in a deep recession that has not been seen since World War II. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (R) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy arrive at the main conference hall of the G8 summit in l'Aquila, Italy, July 8, 2009. Leaders of the G8 industrialized countries began their summit on Wednesday, with the world economic crisis and climate change at the top of their three-day agenda. (Xinhua/Pool) Photo Gallery>>> Thanks to massive stimulus packages put into motion by national governments, however, the G8 finance ministers agreed in June that there are signs of stabilization of their economies, which account for two thirds of the world's total output. The ministers called for appropriate exit strategies to loosen the extraordinary policy measures. Michael Froman, President Barack Obama's economic adviser, said the summit would be a time for the leaders to get together to assess the effects of the economic recovery effort and decide on additional steps.

The World Bank warned on the eve of the summit that the G8 leaders should not be overly optimistic about a global recovery. U.S. President Barack Obama (L) and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown arrive at the main conference hall of the G8 summit in l'Aquila, Italy, July 8, 2009. Leaders of the G8 industrialized countries began their summit on Wednesday, with the world economic crisis and climate change at the top of their three-day agenda. (Xinhua/Pool) Photo Gallery>>> "Yet 2009 remains a dangerous year. Recent gains could be reversed easily, and the pace of recovery in 2010 is far from certain," World Bank President Robert Zoellick said in a letter to the G8 leaders. The G8 leaders were expected to make a new push for global financial reforms in order to prevent another crisis, but Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, the host of the summit, on Friday downplayed any prospect of new rules. The summit, he said, will be just "one step" in a long process. That confirms expectations that key decisions on global financial reform are likely to be postponed until the next meeting of the G20 in the U.S.

city of Pittsburgh in September. President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso (L) and Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country is holding the rotating presidency of the European Union, attend a joint news conference in L'Aquila, Italy, July 8, 2009. The press conference prior to the G8 summit, to be held here on July 8-10, covered major topics to be discussed during the summit. (Xinhua/Zeng Yi) Photo Gallery>>> The Italian government, which holds the G8 presidency, has been particularly interested in a revamping of the global financial system and a rewriting of ground rules for world economic activities. "The main issues on the Italian presidency's agenda are a response to the global economic and financial crisis, and the restoration of grassroots confidence and a boost to growth on a more solid and balanced basis, also through the definition of new, shared ground rules for economic activities," the government said on its official summit website. On Thursday, the G8 leaders will be joined by their counterparts from the five emerging economies _ Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa _ under the so-called expanded session of "8 + 5".

Egypt was invited to this week's meetings by the Italian presidency to represent Middle East and African countries. Chinese President Hu Jintao will miss the meetings, however, because he cut short his trip and returned home Wednesday night to deal with the unrest in XinJiang, where violence erupted Sunday and left 156 people dead and more than a thousand injured. The G8 leaders will try to forge a deal on additional cuts in greenhouse gas emissions in the global fight against climate change. The summit is considered crucial for a new global pact on climate change to replace the current Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012. The world's governments meet in Copenhagen at the end of this year to wrap up the negotiations. It had been expected that leaders from the major countries could agree to an overall target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2050, with the rich nations reducing theirs by 80 percent. Differences on burden sharing, however, remain unresolved. Last-minute negotiations appear to be retreating from expectations. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh urged the industrialized countries to bear up to their "historical responsibility" on climate change before he left Tuesday for the summit.

"What we are witnessing today is the consequence of over two centuries of industrial activity and high consumption lifestyles in the developed world. They have to bear this historical responsibility," Singh said. On the final day of the summit, leaders and representatives from 40 countries were to consider food security in Africa, another issue high on the agenda. They are expected to pledge 10 to 15 billion U.S. dollars to help feed the poorest people in the developing countries, Berlusconi said Tuesday. "We hope to approve an initiative for food security in the world. We will approve about 10 to 15 billion U.S. dollars for all the people in the world who are suffering from hunger," the Italian premier said at a news conference. A draft declaration to be discussed by the leaders gave a figure of 15 billion U.S. dollars, saying that the United States is ready to give 3 to 4 billion U.S. dollars to the initiative if others contribute the rest. The G8 leaders also were expected to discuss international hot spots such as Iran and the situations in the Middle East and Afghanistan.

The summit is being held in the central Italian town of L'Aquila, which was devastated by a strong earthquake, with nearly 300 people killed and 1,500 injured. The Italian government wanted to show support for the victims by changing the summit venue to a military school in the earthquake-stricken area. A helicopter is seen flying above the makeshift media village for 2009 G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, July 7, 2009. (Xinhua/Zeng Yi) G8, G5 leaders to agree to finish Doha talks next year L'AQUILA, Italy, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) and Group of Five (G5) are expected to agree here at their summit to conclude the eight-year Doha round of trade talks next year, according to a draft communique obtained by Xinhua. "Leaders commit to reaching an ambitious and balanced conclusion to the Doha round in 2010, consistent with its mandate, building on progress already made on modalities," said the draft for Thursday's meeting of the G8 plus G5.

Full story G8 summit to pledge 10-15 billion dollars to relieve world hunger ROME, July 7 (Xinhua) -- World leaders are expected to pledge 10 to 15 billion U.S. dollars to help feed the poorest people in the developing countries at a summit this week, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Tuesday. "We hope to approve an initiative for food security in the world. We will approve about 10 to 15 billion U.S. dollars for all the people in the world who are suffering from hunger," the Italian premier told a news conference. Full story G8 summit in new push for global financial reform Security members guard on the road to the makeshift media village for 2009 G8 summit in L'Aquila, Italy, July 7, 2009. Media personnel from across the world began to swarm into the media village in L'Aquila, the quake-stricken capital of central Italy's Abruzzo region where 2009 G8 summit and other related international meetings will be held from July 8 to 10.

(Xinhua/Zeng Yi) Photo Gallery>>> L'AQUILA, Italy, July 7 (Xinhua) -- Leaders from the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized countries and emerging economies are expected to make a new push for reform of the global financial system when they meet for a summit as from Wednesday. While the venue for the summit, namely the Italian town of L'Aquila, is an earthquake-stricken area which is still under reconstruction, the global financial system and the world economy also need rebuilding amid the financial crisis. Full story 14 developing countries invited to attend G8 summit L'AQUILA, Italy, July 8 (Xinhua) -- A total of 14 developing countries have been invited to participate in the upcoming G8 summit, marking the increasing influence of developing countries on the so-called rich club. Italy wanted to make the Group of Eight (G8) more relevant by strengthening its relations with international groups, said a senior Italian diplomat.

Full story Editor: Xiong Tong Obama hopes to push through G8 climate deal | World news | The Guardian Obama hopes to push through G8 climate deal • US drops opposition to cap on temperature rise at 2C • Brown plan for $100bn aid to spread green technology This article is 7 years old Patrick Wintour Suzanne Goldenberg Barack Obama is hoping to restore momentum to the search for a global deal on climate change this year when he chairs a meeting of the major economies next week during the G8 summit in Italy. The American president is hoping that the 17-nation meeting – which will include G8 members and a range of other major economies who produce roughly 80% of world carbon emissions – will sign up to a pledge to prevent world temperatures increasing by more than 2C, the maximum thought permissible before climate change becomes irreversible. It is the first time that Obama has backed the pledge. He will also travel to Moscow ahead of the G8 to try to bind Russia to a global climate change deal. The meeting of the leading nations is being held in a former army barracks in the Italian town of L'Aquila.

The venue was switched to the town, which was shattered by an earthquake earlier this year, by the Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, and the luxuries of normal world-leader summits will be notably absent. In what could prove a pivotal meeting on Wednesday at the summit, Obama will use his prestige to pull together the developed and developing countries ahead of a make-or-break UN session in Copenhagen designed to set the future framework on climate change, post 2012. Obama is said to be willing to take the initiative by dropping long-standing US opposition to the 2C target, according to a draft communique. A UK official said: "The fact that Obama is chairing this meeting and really wants to make progress shows how far the US has travelled over the past year. We are not expecting the developing countries to sign up to targets at this summit, but we need to start making progress." In Italy , Gordon Brown is also hoping to sell his ambitious plan, unveiled last week, of a $100bn-per-annum climate change aid programme. Brown is the first world leader to put a figure on the amount of green technological aid the west might need to fund to help developing countries grow sustainably.

He is trying to break a diplomatic logjam by proposing the financing package by 2020, much of the figure coming from the private sector. He hopes the proposals will be a lure for developing countries such as India to commit themselves this year to carbon reduction targets. In a severe blow to those hoping to secure a global deal on climate change, India this week again ruled out committing itself to carbon reduction targets. India is the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gases, and its emissions are projected to treble by 2050. The UN is supposed to agree a post-2012 climate change framework in Copenhagen in December. Obama has already pledged to bring US emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020, meaning Washington will rein in emissions by about 14% from 2005 levels. Legislation was passed by Congress last week. Obama's predecessor, George Bush, acted as a brake on progress at G8 summits, first refusing to accept climate change was man made, and then objecting to specific carbon reduction targets.

Obama and Brown are also hoping to use the G8 summit in Italy to prevent western economies backsliding on their previous commitments to Africa, with the British prime minister said to be spending the weekend priming himself on the aid record of G8 member states and planning to go into the meeting to fight. Italy has one of the worst records on international aid, and is due to cut its aid budget by 56% next year. Brown is struggling to win support for a bare-minimum proposal that the G8 draw up internal rules to police how its members meet their aid commitments Italy is especially keen to keep the idea off the agenda, since it will embarrass to Berlusconi. Italy had a commitment to ensure aid represents 0.51% of gross national income by 2010. It is on course to hit 0.1%. Privately, many western diplomats are in despair at the fact the G8 this year is being hosted by the scandal-ridden Italian president. Many have questioned the continued relevance of the G8, and Berlusconi was forced to concede that his plans for new international financial rules to be agreed at the summit will represent little progress.

Britain is also looking for action at the G8 on the UN commitment to cut maternal mortality by 75% by 2015. The number of maternal deaths is stuck at 500,000 per year, suggesting there has been no progress at all since the target was set in 2000.

Question: In which Italian town was the World G8 Conference held in 2009?
Answer: L'AQUILA