Irish environmentalists are accusing the G8 of engaging in spin rather than substance following its agreement to set a global goal of halving CO2 emissions by 2050.

Anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof insisted the G8 should by now be at the halfway stage of delivering its aid commitments for the developing world, but was in fact at just 14%.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the G8 nations must reach agreement among themselves on climate change measures and avoid taking the approach that “I will do nothing unless you do it first,” which he called a “vicious circle".

US President George Bush labelled Zimbabwe’s election a sham today as G8 leaders kicked off their annual summit.