Canada will not opt out of Kyoto Protocol

[moomies]

Federal environment minister says Canada will not opt out of Kyoto

SAINT JOHN, N.B. (CP) - Despite Prime Minister Stephen Harper's public misgivings about the Kyoto protocol on climate change, the federal environment minister says Canada will not opt out of the accord.

Rona Ambrose said Tuesday the Conservative government will work within the protocol, but she said there is a need for a separate, made-in-Canada solution to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.
"We are going to be working within Kyoto," Ambrose said, clarifying lingering uncertainties about the federal government's plans.
"It is one of 59 international agreements that we are signatories to. There are a number of other agreements that we work on bilaterally with a lot of other countries," she said.
"We are also looking at the Asia-Pacific Partnership which is a new group that focuses very much on advancing clean technology. So that is where we are going on the climate change file."
Ambrose is in New Brunswick until Wednesday to meet with Atlantic environment ministers.
This winter was the warmest winter ever recorded in Canada, with temperatures almost 4C above normal, according to Environment Canada.
The greatest anomaly occurred over Saskatchewan, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, where some areas reached as much as 8C above normal.
Environmentalists have urged the new Conservative government to keep working toward Kyoto's target of a six per cent reduction in greenhouse gas levels from 1990.
But Harper has declared those targets unattainable and has essentially said that Kyoto is dead.
In the recent federal election, he cited Canada's woeful record since the accord took effect and said it's too late to reach the targets set for 2012.
Greenhouse-gas emissions have risen 24 per cent since 1990 in Canada, which has a worse record on climate change than even the United States - which did not sign the accord.
"The Kyoto accord will not succeed at achieving its objectives and . . . the Canadian government cannot achieve its objectives," Harper said in January.
Ambrose said she has a problem with elements of the Kyoto agreement that allow the purchase of carbon emission credits to help meet targets, but do nothing to benefit the environment or promote Canadian clean air and clean water technology.
She said the made-in-Canada solution promised by the Harper government will focus not only on greenhouse gases, but also on clean water, soil and air.
"Canadians want to see action in their own backyard," she said.
Kyoto signatories are required to submit reports in March showing they have made substantial progress toward their targets.

Ambrose said Canada will submit a report. The new plan will likely be a major component in it. She also has promised the early tabling of a Clean Air Act, as promised during the election campaign, but it will be aimed at other types of air pollution, not greenhouse emissions.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20060...ic_environment

[Barbara]

Whew. Something I won't need to get about!

[Tati]

Surely you meant to say "aboot".

[deckchick]

While I applaud the Kyoto in principal, I too think the goals are unreachable. I hope this doesn't end up costing us a fortune with no real improvements

[Grimmlok]

The goals are unreachable because it relies too much on governments letting companies make voluntary contributions.

Pass some fucking laws, get an enforcement body with teeth and fine the fuck out of companies and gov. departments that do not comply to the letter, and reward those that do.

All this kid glove bullshit is stupid.

[Grimmlok]

starting to wear out its welcome...