Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, known for his international role as a Middle East envoy, is now focusing on addressing climate change by proposing a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. Blair recently traveled to Tokyo to introduce a climate change initiative and announced plans to visit China and India to discuss his proposals with the two largest developing economies. He emphasized the need for a new global agreement that includes significant emission reductions, acknowledging the challenge of determining the specifics of such a deal. During an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Blair stated that he intends to suggest cutting emissions by half by the year 2050. He emphasized the urgency of this goal, stating that it must be a key element of any global agreement. Blair also stressed the importance of involving both America and China in this agreement. Blair's spokesperson, Matthew Doyle, stated that Blair's efforts to propose a 50 percent cut in greenhouse gases had the support of the United States and European Union, although they had not officially agreed to it yet. Doyle mentioned that Blair had discussed the project with U.S. President George W. Bush, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Blair emphasized the urgency of reaching an agreement on curbing greenhouse gases within two years, warning that without substantial action, by 2020 the focus would shift to adaptation rather than prevention. He also noted that simply telling people not to consume would not lead to progress, as the Chinese and Indian governments were committed to growing their economies. He stated that they have a large population of extremely poor individuals who are poised to industrialize and improve their living conditions, which is a positive development. Since stepping down as prime minister after a decade in office, Blair has been working as an envoy for the Quartet, promoting economic growth for Palestinians. Despite some criticism for taking on profitable business ventures, he has also been involved in helping Zurich Financial Services develop insurance products to address the impacts of global warming.