Gatineau —The Pembina Institute today offered its congratulations to Minister of the Environment Stéphane Dion and the Government of Canada for leading the Montreal Climate Change Conference to a successful conclusion. The 156 countries participating in the Kyoto Protocol launched in Montreal a process to negotiate targets for deeper emission reductions in the period after 2012, when the first set of Kyoto targets expire.
"The international community has taken a critical step towards the deep reductions in greenhouse gas emissions essential to prevent the worst impacts of climate change," said Dr. Matthew Bramley, Director, Climate Change at the Pembina Institute. "We congratulate Minister Dion for his determination and leadership in securing this success."
The Montreal conference also agreed to improvements to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), under which Canada can invest in sustainable development projects in developing countries and obtain emission reduction credits that it can count towards meeting its Kyoto target.
"Canada will need to buy a significant volume of international credits to meet its Kyoto obligation, and the CDM allows this to be done in a way that is good for the environment," said Roger Peters, Senior Technical and Policy Advisor at the Pembina Institute. "The Government must now move quickly to identify CDM projects that meet sustainable development objectives."
While the Pembina Institute is pleased with Canada's role in the launch of international negotiations on stronger post-2012 Kyoto targets, it remains deeply concerned with the Government of Canada's inadequate pace to date in implementing its plan to meet its initial Kyoto target during 2008-2012. Canada's emissions are currently far above the Kyoto target, and only two years remain before the target begins to apply.
"All federal parties need to explain how they would remedy key loopholes in the current Kyoto plan and dramatically accelerate its implementation. If these steps are not taken, Canada will be seriously off-track in meeting its Kyoto emissions target," said Dr. Bramley.
In a news release dated October 13, 2005, the Pembina Institute detailed four key actions urgently needed to remedy loopholes and delays in the implementation of the federal Kyoto plan.
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For more information contact:
Matthew Bramley, 819-483-6288, ext. 26
Roger Peters, 819-483-6288, ext. 22