The new Syracuse Charter can be read at:
http://www.g8.utoronto.ca/environment/env090424-biodiversity.pdf
G8 And Poor Nations Vow To Tackle Species Loss Author: Daniel
Flynn and Massimiliano di Giorgio SYRACUSE - Environment
ministers from major rich and developing nations signed a deal
on Friday to try to slow species loss, but failed to make
progress in crucial climate change talks despite US pledges of
commitment. Almost every country in the world in 2002 agreed to
a "significant reduction" in the rate of biodiversity loss by
2010, but scientists say extinctions are gathering pace. The
Group of Eight (G8) industrial countries and major developing
economies, meeting on the island of Sicily, signed a charter
pledging to tackle deforestation, trade in illegal wildlife, and
to boost research into the rate of species loss. "We set
objectives on biodiversity for 2010 ... but unfortunately we
have all recognised they have not been met," said Italian
Environment Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo, who hosted the summ