Canada Remains Neutral on G8 Climate Change Scuffle

As we recently reported here in with the post Noah's Climate Change Ark, participants in the upcoming G8 Summit are haggling over the wording of a draft proposal to address global warming beyond the expiration of the Kyoto Accord in 2012.

In one corner we have German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who wants to cap emissions and set specific targets. In the other corner is (can you guess?) George Bush who doesn't want caps, targets, or anybody telling him what to do.

In the middle is Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who says, correctly, that "In order to have a post-2012 effective international protocol, we need to have all major emitters, including the United States and China, as part of that effort." Staying firmly in the middle, Harper adds that "Canada will be working to try to create that consensus"

As a signing member of the Kyoto Protocol, Canada has committed to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 6% of 1990 levels. Currently the country is 32% above that target and will probably have difficulty meeting the target by 2012.

Despite election campaign promises, George Bush abandoned his pledge to sign the treaty after he assumed office on 2001, citing "economic" concerns.

All three opposition parties in Canada have expressed concern that Harper will ultimately back George Bush at the G8 Summit.

All will soon be revealed. The G8 Summit meets next week.

Source Material:
Javno.com
CBC.ca

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Canada Remains Neutral on G8 Climate Change Scuffle

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