G8 outcomes

4.08.21pm GMT Tue 12th Jul 2005

I have only just had the chance to look at what the G8 actually decided. There was some great moves forward on both Making Poverty History and Climate Change, as always more could have been done.

The G8 made significant commitments to increase aid, cancelling some of the debts of some of the world's poorest countries, and saying they will apply fewer conditions to them. They also agreed to strive for access to AIDS treatment for all by 2010.

Their announcement marks a turning point in the human story, but it falls far short of the plan that would truly make poverty history. To do that, and secure a place in history, world leaders must go a lot further at 2 crucial talks later in the year - the UN Millennium Development Goals summit and World Trade Organisation talks.

On Climate Change George Bush acknowledged for the first time that humankind has had some impact. This does not sound very impressive but was quite a large move on the part of the US, hopefully this can be built on and climate change tackled.