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Climate change a hot topic at G7 Summit: Kokotsis by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 11 | Friday, July 10, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Climate change was a hot topic at this year's G7 summit, where world leaders took a major step forward on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. That's according to Oakville's Ella Kokotsis, who was in Bavaria, Germany in early June for the 41st annual G7 summit. She was there in her role as the director of accountability for the G7 and G20 Research Groups based at the University of Toronto (UOT). The organization is situated at UOT's Munk School of Global Affairs. The local resident also works at the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and is a married mother of two. Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel obtained "unanimous support" from the G7 on making deep reductions in emissions -- a 40-70 per cent cut by 2050, compared to 2010 levels, Kokotsis said. "Canada's strongest contribution may have come in the area of climate change. This was a major issue for Merkel in hosting this year's summit," Kokotsis told the Oakville Beaver . She noted Merkel also secured an agreement from the countries, including Canada, on the need for a binding climate agreement with "firm and measurable targets" by the end of the year, when United Nations (UN) climate meetings will take place. energy strategies aimed at a 40-70 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050 compared to 2010. This target is on the upper end of the UN's recommended reductions," said Kokotsis. "But this requires a global response -- meaning the world's largest emitters, like China and India, have to follow suit." The Oakville woman said the group decided to maintain its commitment to generating $100 billion (U.S.) per year by 2020 for mitigation strategies -- from public and private sources. "Climate finance would be targeted towards those developing countries that were making progress on mitigation strategies. The G7 remained committed to the elimination of see G7 on p.16 Ella Kokotsis "G7 is strongly determined to adopt a legally-binding protocol at the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris this December, which is applicable to all countries and is ambitious, robust and inclusive," said Kokotsis. "The agreement in Paris has to have binding rules that track progress towards achieving targets." The world leaders want their countries to follow a "low-carbon development pathway," aligned with the goal of keeping the increase in global temperatures below 2C, she said. "They committed to long-term national At Fern Hill we believe our number one job is to turn students into life long learners. Helping them uncover hidden talents and inspiring them to never lose their child-like wonder. To remain relentlessly curious. Reminding them of the importance of not only asking why, but also why not. Monday - Sunday 11am - 6pm