Canada Wants Even Weaker Kyoto, Special Treatment As Energy Producer

[hatrack]

OTTAWA - Canada's new Conservative government, which says the Kyoto protocol is too onerous, is suggesting the accord be softened and wants Canada to be given a break because it is a major energy producer.

Ottawa's position was laid out in documents it submitted ahead of an international conference in Bonn next week on how to extend the protocol, the first stage of which expires in 2012. Canadian Environment Minister Rona Ambrose will chair the meeting of the working group. Ambrose says Canada has no chance of meeting its Kyoto targets, which call for a 6 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2012. Canada's emissions are now 35 percent above the 1990 levels.

"The protocol must be more effective if it is to continue as a key instrument to address global climate change ... different types of commitments and longer term horizons should be considered," read Canada's submission to the conference. Ottawa released the paper late on Thursday.

EDIT

Ambrose says the government is working on a made-in-Canada plan to tackle climate change and will not try to meet its Kyoto target by buying emissions credits abroad. She told the National Post newspaper on Friday that the government could regulate large emitters of greenhouse gases such as oil companies and power generators. These facilities would be allowed to buy emissions credits under a trading system which has yet to be created, she added

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http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/36349/story.htm

[Bozita]

1. Could this be part of a settlement of the softwoods dispute?