kutamaya

Australia's prime minister, Kevin Rudd, has acknowledged there have been no great breakthroughs on climate change at the G8 meeting in Japan.

Mr Rudd is adamant that while the meeting didn't end up with bold action it was an important step in ensuring world leaders take a lead during the climate change debate.

He says the risk is the world ends up at climate change talks in Copenhagen next year without firm direction.

Our reporter, Lyndall Curtis, says Mr Rudd has also announced that Australia will donate an extra $A50 million ($US47 million) to the World Bank to help the food security crisis in developing countries.

Mr Rudd says the Major Economies Meeting in Japan identified food security as a major emerging problem.

He says action is required to prevent social instability in countries suffering from a shortage of food.

He says those countries can also be given practical help like fertilisers and seeds.

"There is an immediate crisis to which we were alerted by the World Bank, and this requires further contribution by us, Australia, and other governments to international efforts by the World Bank now," Mr Rudd said.

EU urges global community to 'get real' on climate change

The European Union has urged the international community to "get real" on fighting climate change and recognise that all large economies have to play their part.

At the G8 summit in Japan, the group of the world's eight leading industrialised economies have agreed to a goal of cutting emissions in half by the year 2050.

They have also stressed they can't do it alone.

A Japanese government official says only Indonesia, Australia and South Korea have supported the G8's emissions target.

China and India - responsible for 25 percent of emissions - have committed to action, but have rejected the 2050 goal.

They argue that advanced countries, responsible for the bulk of historical emissions, must act first.
www.radioaustralia.net.au