G-8 OKs ‘substantial cuts’ in warming gases

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Merkel called the decision a "huge success," saying it came after many rounds of talks and negotiations on climate change.

"No one can escape this political declaration. It is an enormous step forward," she added.

All parties agreed the process should take place within the United Nations framework and will begin with a meeting of environment ministers at a U.N. climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia, in December.

"We acknowledge that the U.N. climate process is the appropriate forum for negotiating future global action on climate change," the leaders said in their statement.

It was unclear how much binding weight the declaration would carry since it is up to G-8 leaders to keep the promises they make.

Blair: 'Major, major step'
Also speaking to reporters, Blair was asked if there was "wiggle room" in the declaration.

"There isn't going to be an agreement until there's an agreement that has America and China in it," he said. "However, there is now a process to lead to that agreement and at its heart is a commitment to a substantial cut."

"What does substantial mean? That serious consideration is given to the halving of emissions by 2050," Blair said.

Still, Blair called the deal "a major, major step forward."

This year's Group of Eight gathering is being held under tight security, with Heiligendamm sealed off by a seven-mile, razor wire-topped fence. Thousands of police have been deployed across the northern German region.

Protests continued Thursday on the second day of the summit, as demonstrators continued to block roads leading to Heiligendamm and police again resorted to firing water cannons to scatter them.

Offshore, Greenpeace activists led police on a boat chase, with one boatload briefly spilling its contents into the Baltic.