Blair takes credit over Africa and climate

By Katherine Baldwin

HEILIGENDAMM, Germany (Reuters) - Leaving his final summit meeting with world leaders, Prime Minister Tony Blair can claim credit for pushing Africa, poverty and climate change up the international agenda.

Deals on global warming and aid struck by the Group of Eight nations fell short of Blair's dream outcome and campaigners' demands, prompting critics to deride his supposed leverage over U.S. President George W. Bush.

But the fact those issues dominated talks in Germany and that Bush committed to a global climate deal -- albeit without targets -- are testament in part to Blair's dogged determination and persuasive powers, analysts and officials said.

The Iraq war, however, will inevitably overshadow his legacy when he resigns on June 27 after a decade in power, they added.

"Climate change is one of those areas where his constant nagging of Bush has brought results," said Blair biographer and political commentator Philip Stephens.

"There is a perception that people, and not just Bush, do actually listen to him even if they don't agree with him."

Blair put climate change firmly on the agenda at the G8 summit he chaired in Gleneagles, Scotland, in 2005.

His alliance with German Chancellor Angela Merkel before this year's G8 put Bush on the spot and helped tie him into international efforts to combat climate change, Stephens added.