Tony Blair
What does he want? Blair wants the G8 to cancel debt to the world’s poorest countries, to double aid to Africa to £50-billion by 2010, reform trade to reduce subsidies to Western farmers and remove restrictions on African exports, and agree an arms trade treaty. On climate change, Blair wants concerted action by reducing carbon emissions.
Domestic pressure: With Blair not fighting another election, he is looking for a positive legacy. His Make Poverty History campaign has raised expectations that the G8 will deliver.
George Bush
What does he want? Bush (below) does not want to be left looking like the leader who was stingy about aid for Africa. The United States does not like the International Finance Facility (IFF), a plan drawn up to fund aid to Africa.
In spite of the reservations, Bush called on the US Congress to spend more than $1,2-billion to defeat malaria. But he is opposed to trade reform. He is also hostile to the proposed arms trade treaty.
Bush refuses to ratify the 1997 Kyoto agreement that sets targets to reduce emissions.
Domestic pressure: There is little interest in Africa. On climate change, individual states as well as companies have been implementing reforms. But agreeing a deal on carbon emissions would mean confronting the oil industry and consumers used to cheap petrol, and this Bush will not do.
Gerhard Schröder
What does he want? Schröder remains sceptical both of Blair’s proposals on Africa — and his motives. Berlin wants to tie any increase in aid to improved governance, so that African states only receive extra money if they can prove they have tackled corruption. The Germans have signed up to the Kyoto protocol and set more ambitious targets than any other European Union state.
Domestic pressure: Of all the leaders, Schröder is under the greatest domestic pressure, facing an early election in September.
Jacques Chirac
What does he want? Chirac (right) supports Blair on Africa and climate change. One difference is that instead of the IFF scheme, France favours an aviation fuel tax. On climate change, Chirac could force Blair to choose between Europe and the US.
Domestic pressure: The main pressure on Chirac is over his European policy. He has been left vulnerable by the French rejection of the EU Constitution.
Vladimir Putin
What does he want? Putin will be glad to be present, after his human rights record threw up questions about Russia’s right to a place at Gleneagles and the hosting of next year’s summit.
Russia agreed to cancel £1,1-billion in debt from Africa. Putin intends to use the aid to Africa as a springboard to the St Petersburg summit where he will propose aid to the former Soviet republics Georgia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Moldova. Russia is a signatory to the Kyoto treaty.
Domestic pressure: Almost none.
Silvio Berlusconi
What does he want? Berlusconi has already committed himself to an increase in aid. But the Italian Finance Ministry has refused to set a timetable. The Italian government has said that aid is an aspiration rather than a firm commitment.
Domestic pressure: Berlusconi faces declining poll ratings and is planning to run again next year. Africa is not a big issue.
Paul Martin
What does he want? The Canadian prime minister wants the aid campaigners off his back. They have mounted a campaign to get Martin to commit Canada, which spends only 0,26% of its gross domestic product, to the United Nations goal of 0,7%.
Domestic pressure: Live 8 in Canada received almost as much attention in the media as in Britain.
Junichiro Koizumi
What does he want? The Japanese prime minster’s priorities are a seat on the United Nations Security Council as well as concern about North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme.
Japan prefers bilateral rather than multilateral aid to Africa, but not wanting to be seen to be difficult, Koizumi announced a doubling of aid to Africa by 2010.
Japan, a signatory to the Kyoto treaty, has taken various initiatives to try to reduce carbon emissions, from asking for air conditioning to be turned down to an announcement that businessmen should no longer wear ties to help them remain cool.
Domestic pressures: Few. He remains popular. — Â