G8 leaders accused of 'eco-hypocrisy' over carbon footprints from their journeys to summit and back

Experts estimated the total 'carbon footprint' of this year's extravaganza at more than 8,000 tons of CO2 - three times the amount generated by last year's G8 meeting in Germany.

The world leaders agreed to aim for a cut in greenhouse gas emissions of 50 per cent by 2050, which would have a major impact on the lives of millions.

Branching out: The G8 leaders plant the memorial tree at the Windsor Hotel Toya

Yet they showed no such restraint when, entourages in tow, they flew halfway round the world to the gathering on the Japanese island of Hokkaido.

The hypocrisy charge echoed a similar accusation a day earlier when, after discussing the impact of spiralling food prices and famine in the developing world, the leaders sat down to a sumptuous 18-dish banquet.

U.S. President George Bush was identified as the biggest carbon criminal by experts at the carbonfootprint.com website.

His 13,450-mile round trip with Air Force One and a separate plane for officials and press was estimated to have produced 1,466 tons of CO2.

Gordon Brown's journey produced an estimated 641 tons.

The PM, who has axed plans for his own dedicated aircraft, was criticised for chartering a jet normally used by the Dallas Mavericks basketball team to fly empty from Texas before picking him up in London.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev produced the least emissions, an estimated 500 tons, but only because he had the shortest distance to fly.

The world leaders added to their carbon footprint with cavalcades of cars to transport them and their delegations around in Japan, though several used eco-friendly vehicles.

Green fingers: The G8 leaders' wives visit a farming village in Hokkaido

John Buckley, of carbonfootprint.com, estimated that their travel had produced a total of 8,403 tons of CO2.

He said: 'Crucially, they are failing to practise what they preach and costing tax payers more.'

A Downing Street spokesman insisted all Government flights were offset by investment into projects which reduced carbon emissions, such as tree-planting.

Sources said the plane from Dallas was the best option available, with British Airways unable to provide an aircraft.

Meanwhile, back home Brown is facing the prospect of yet another backbench rebellion as Labour MPs are calling for even bigger cuts in greenhouse gases.

More than 80 Labour MPs are calling for the Government to cut CO2 emissions by 2050 by as much as 80 per cent.

Despite the rumbling backbencher discontent, Gordon Brown professed himself delighted at the progress made by the G8 during the talks.

Mr Brown said: 'There has been major progress on the climate change agenda, beyond what people thought possible a few months ago.

'Countries which previously objected to setting overall targets have accepted these targets subject to there being an international agreement.'

He also attempted to play down the controversy over the lavish banquet enjoyed by the world's leaders at last night's summit - shortly after they had been discussing world food shortages.

Asked about Monday night's dinner, which drew fire from aid charities, Mr Brown said: 'It seemed to me to be three courses; I don't know quite why it's been described as larger.'

He said that while he would 'not support any unnecessary expense' on such things, it had not been as lavish as some reports made out, adding: 'The question in the end is whether it yields results.'

Walkabout: The G8 leaders take a stroll after a marathon session debating climate change yesterday morning

The G8 last year at a summit in Germany pledged to seriously consider the same 50 per cent target.

Environmentalists criticised the statement for failing to go beyond the Germany G8 statement.

'So little progress after a whole year of Minister meetings and negotiations is not only a wasted opportunity, it falls dangerously short of what is needed to protect people and nature from climate change,' said Kim Carstensen, Director WWF Global Climate Initiative.

Environmentalists have argued that the 50 per cent reduction target was insufficient, and have clamoured for ambitious midterm targets for countries to cut emissions by 2020.

Japan itself has set a national target for cutting emissions by between 60 per cent and 80 per cent by 2050, but has not yet set a midterm goal.

Such shorter-term targets, however, have been much more difficult to reach consensus on. The United States, for instance, has argued that meeting an Europe-supported goal of reducing emissions by between 25 per cent and 40 per cent by 2020 is unrealistic.

In a nod to such disagreements, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said the G8 countries would set individual targets.

'The G8 will implement aggressive midterm total emission reduction targets on a country by country basis,' he said.

The United States hailed the agreement, which Washington said fit with its stance that all major economies - such as China, India and others - need to participate in reducing emissions.

Major developing nations have urged wealthy countries to take the first step in cutting greenhouse gases.

'It has always been the case that a long-term goal is one that must be shared. So the G8 has offered today is a G8 view of what that goal could be and should be but that can only occur with the agreement of all the other parties,' said Jim Connaughton, chairman of the White House's Council on Environmental Quality.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said the agreement constituted a 'new, shared vision by the major economies' that would support the UN-led effort on a new global warming accord.

'This is a strong signal to citizens around the world,' he said in a statement, calling for a renewed push behind the UN talks, which aim to conclude a new pact at a meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December 2009.