Blair in Japan for climate talks

He said there was a "consensus" that a deal had to be reached - with a 50% cut in carbon emissions needed by 2050.

During his visit to Tokyo Mr Blair will meet climate change experts from China, Japan, Europe and the US.

Mr Blair, who stood down as prime minister last year, is also a peace envoy to the Middle East.

'New global deal'

In a broadcast on his personal website, he said: "At the big G8 summit of last year everybody agreed that climate change is a serious problem, everybody agreed we need a new global deal once the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012.

"And everybody agreed that everybody should be part of it - including America and China.

"What this means is that there is a consensus now right across the world that we need a new global deal and at the heart of it there has got to be a substantial cut in emissions."

The meeting is being held by the Climate Group, an organisation which works with business leaders and politicians on climate change.

It will feature Sir Nicholas Stern, who conducted a review for the UK government on the economic costs of climate change.

Rwanda concerns

Since leaving Downing Street last June, Mr Blair has taken on the role of Middle East peace envoy for the "quartet" of the EU, Russia, the US and UN.

He also works as an advisor to investment bank JP Morgan and insurer Zurich.

Last week it was announced he would run a seminar on faith and globalisation at Yale University in the US.

In February Mr Blair said he would work to attract investment to Rwanda, as the central African country rebuilds its economy following the genocide of the mid-1990s.

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Tony Blair's office
Climate Group
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