Gordon Brown Says 5 Billion Tons of Carbon Cuts Needed by 2020

Citing estimates by the government’s former chief economist, Nicholas Stern, Brown said the current world emissions of 50 billion tons need to be reduced further to rein in global warming since industrialized times.

Addressing officials in London from the world’s 17 biggest polluters, including the U.S., China and India, Brown said current emissions reduction pledges would lead to 46 billion tons to 49 billion tons of output of the gases in 2020. That means more action is needed to ensure a global agreement to be reached in Copenhagen in December is effective, he said.

“We are looking for a further 4 to 5 gigatons (billion tons),” Brown said today in a televised address. “I am convinced we can achieve this through a combination of efforts in developed countries, in developing countries and in global reductions in aviation and maritime emissions.”