A draft communique obtained by Reuters from the G8 summit in Toyako, Japan, shows that the rich countries are aiming to collaborate with nearly 200 states involved in UN climate change talks to establish a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2050. The communique emphasizes the necessity of mid-term goals in order to achieve the long-term target. The focus is on the UN-led talks to develop a new framework for addressing global warming after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012, with the goal of reaching an agreement at the Copenhagen conference in December 2009. Despite efforts to bridge differences within the G8, the statement is likely to fall short of satisfying those who are advocating for more specific targets. Last year, the G8 group of wealthy countries - Japan, Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Russia, and the United States - agreed to "seriously consider" the goal of cutting global emissions in half by mid-century. The European Union and Japan have been pushing for this year's summit to go further, with clear interim targets. However, US President George W Bush has stated that the US cannot commit to binding targets unless major polluters like China and India also reduce their emissions. The European Union's leadership praised the climate change agreement, calling it a "new, shared vision" that keeps negotiations on track for a global deal in 2009. European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso stated that this achievement met the EU's expectations for success at the G8 summit in northern Japan. Global warming is connected to other major issues like rising food and fuel prices, which are being discussed at a three-day meeting on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The leaders at the summit also acknowledged the uncertainty and risks facing the world economy, including the impact of high oil prices. They also hinted at the need for China to let its tightly controlled currency appreciate to help address global financial imbalances. Additionally, the G8 leaders agreed to convene a world energy forum to bring together major oil producers and consumers to discuss output and prices. The rising prices of food and oil, with oil reaching a record high of $145.85 a barrel last week, are having a significant impact on the world's impoverished population. According to a recent World Bank study, up to 105 million more people could fall below the poverty line due to the spike in food prices, including 30 million in Africa. World Bank President Robert Zoellick stated that how we address this crisis will demonstrate the global system's dedication to helping those most in need. To alleviate the effects of these price increases, the G8 plans to introduce a series of initiatives to assist Africa, particularly its farmers, and has committed to doubling aid to provide an extra $50 billion in aid by 2010, with half of that going to the poorest continent in the world. The summit concludes on Wednesday with a Major Economies Meeting involving the G8 and eight other significant countries that emit high levels of greenhouse gases, such as India, China, and Australia.