Canada reneges on emissions targets as tar sands production takes its toll

[azurnoir]

Source: The Guardian

Canada has retreated on past promises to fight climate change, setting out lower targets for cutting greenhouse gas emissions than any other industralised country so far ahead of a critical conference in Paris.

Under the announcement, Canada committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.

That is a far weaker target than the European Union or the US. The European Union pledged to reduce emissions by at least 40% from 1990 levels, and the US committed to cut emissions to 28% below 2005 levels by 2025.

The target is also less ambitious than the one Canada set in 2009 – and which it is unlikely to meet because of the vast expansion of Alberta tar sands production under the prime minister, Stephen Harper.

Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/15/canada-reneges-emissions-targets-tar-sands-production

[delrem]

1. Hopefully Harper will be given the boot in Oct.

Signs suggest Canada will elect a new and better gov't in Oct. '15.
Can't wait to vote!

[BlueMTexpat]

3. I'm cheering you on!

Canada was always a long-time leader in global environmental movements - until Harper.

Please get rid of your nutcase leader. Please!

[MADem]

2. This isn't good--that wingnut running the joint is taking them down the wrong road. nt

[SylviaD]

4. Why is anyone surprised by this news?

Anyone who follows Canadian politics knows that they have been ruled by a hard-right Conservative government since 2006. That government is led by right-wing idealogue Stephen Harper, who was once leader of the extreme-right Reform Party which then engineered a Tea Party-like takeover of the more mainstream (in relative terms) Conservatives.

There is an election this year and the excellent New Democrats have been making big inroads. Hopefully things will change.

Under Harper, Canada is a regressive international outlier and disgrace.

[LiberalLovinLug]

5. I appologize from everyone from Canada for Harper

I pray he will soon be gone. Recently though, he passed a bill that enables the government to retroactively "legalize" something that was illegal. For the particular reason of hiding his governments shredding of documents surrounding his long gun registry abolishment. Part of the usual Conservative pro-gun mantra, they went out and destroyed all gun registry records that the police had built up over many years, despite the courts telling them not to. So they just made a law saying they can retroactively do that.

So now, the fear is that this coming election, they can engage in whatever fraud they want to commit and be re-elected, and then use this law to cover their tracks. Last time they were found guilty of phoning voters and directing then to the wrong polling station and a patsy took the fall for it. But this time they will have the backing of their shiny new law. So they can steal the election, which is the only way they would ever win, then destroy any evidence and viola!....4 more Harper years.

On top of this, the votes on the center/left are split between 3 parties. Which is how Harper has a majority government with a minority of votes. I only hope most Canadians will vote strategically next time and only vote for the one of those three reps that has the best chance at winning in their riding.