While the Group of Eight wrapped up their two-day summit in Deauville, France, by agreeing on the need to better define international standards for nuclear safety, its member nations differ in their reactions to the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.
While France, Russia, the U.S. and U.K. all remain committed to building new nuclear power plants, Germany has scrapped plans to extend the working lives of its reactors, reflecting how the Fukushima crisis has stoked worldwide concern, in some cases prompting nations to review their nuclear policies.
"The events in Japan confirm that there is a continuing need to re-evaluate safety and we recognize the importance of learning from the Fukushima accident and its aftermath," the G-8 leaders said in a joint statement after their summit ended Friday.