Al Gore criticises G8 climate change agreement

G8 leaders have come in for trenchant criticism from former US vice president Al Gore, a dedicated campaigner on global climate change whose 2006 global warming documentary won an Oscar.

Terming the agreement struck last week "a disgrace disguised as an achievement", he said their efforts on curbing greenhouse gases were as the leaders at last week''s G8 summit in Germany had not risen to the challenge to respond to a "planetary emergency".

G8 leaders agreed to pursue "substantial" reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, but stopped short of German chancellor Angela Merkel''s expectations of concrete numerical commitments on emission reductions that include her key aim to cut gases by 50 per cent by 2050, drawing praise from the former VP.

The G8 will negotiate a new global climate pact that would extend and broaden the Kyoto Protocol beyond 2012.

"The eight most powerful nations gathered and were unable to do anything except to say ''We had good conversations and we agreed that we will have more conversations, and we will even have conversations about the possibility of doing something in the future on a voluntary basis, perhaps.''"

Gore is spearheading efforts to enlist music stars to back his crusade with ''Live Earth'' concerts on 7 July, which will be held in numerous cities around the world.