I believe that it can be if all G8 members participating, Russia, Japan, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, the United States and Britain can work together with the WWF and other VIP environmentalist groups on how to proceed and in what timeframe. In four years, when the Kyoto Protocol ends, we must be in a position of agreement on this issue. While it is what I would consider a first step, I also consider the year 2050 as the marker for reducing carbon emissions by 50% to be much too far in the future for full and absolute compliance to occur. I believe the world would be better served if there were interim deadlines set for each phase of developement. This would create more reliable checkpoints for each country to assess their progress and use more up to date information and technology in order to reliably speed advancement. At this juncture we have nothing to lose lest we begin too late to reverse what we have perpetrated on the athmosphere. It's too late for good intentions but it may not be too late for the actions we must take in order to stay what is tantamount to global genocide by our own hand.

Its a significant step because the United States is a member of the G-8. Finally, the US has acknowledge that carbon emissions must be curbed.

In case you are unfamiliar, here is some history (clipped from the article):

"Ten years ago, the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change passed the Kyoto Protocol with the goal of limiting greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. The United States was the only one among 175 parties -- including the European Union -- to reject it."

Is this emissions agreement enough? Of course not. But every long journey begins with a single step.

I agree, at least the US is now willing to consider entering in to an agreement. The Kyoto Protocol debacle was an embarrassment to the US and it's nice to see that we're taking some steps towards lowering greenhouse gas emissions (or at least agreeing their might be a problem).

Those facts together negate any significant step towards reduced emissions.

Although having the US agree on reducing emissions is a good thing, not holding anyone accountable makes it a PR campaign.

No, because the major problem with pollution is that the developed nations are the only ones doing anything about pollution and emissions. The vast najority of the pollution and emissions come from the third world countries w/ China probably the worst offender, followed closely by India.