Canada Now Plans To Start Cuting GHG Emissions In 2050 - AFP

[hatrack]

Boy, talk about taking the bit between your teeth! :eyes:

Canada will aim to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming by 45-65 percent by 2050, meanwhile ignoring its more stringent Kyoto Protocol commitment, according to a proposed clean air act.

The proposed reduction is based on emissions from 2003. The bill introduced Thursday in the House of Commons also would apply intensity-based targets until 2020, allowing emissions to continue to rise until then. "Our greenhouse gases have skyrocketed ... It's time for us to contribute both to reducing air pollution and reducing greenhouse gases, and this is a step in the right direction," Environment Minister Rona Ambrose said. (emphasis added)

ED. - No, I'm not making up this quote.

EDIT

Canada agreed under the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to six percent below 1990 levels by 2012. In 2004, the emissions were 26.6 percent above 1990 levels, despite 6.3 billion Canadian dollars (5.7 billion US dollars) spent by the previous Liberal administration on climate change measures since 1997. Smog alerts have also increased dramatically in major Canadian cities in recent decades with the rise in air pollution.

Canada's Conservative government has repeatedly said it could not meet its Kyoto targets. And Prime Minister Stephen Harper said last week the new regulatory framework "will take time to put in place," as it requires further consultations with industry stakeholders. Environmental groups earlier criticized Harper's government for failing to take action so far on the issue, accusing him of stalling. "It's clear that this government is committed to postponing action on climate change and the Kyoto Protocol," said John Bennett, president of the Climate Action Network.

EDIT

http://www.terradaily.com/2006/061019170409.j6jqqsy9.html

[eppur_se_muova]

1. Wow, a real crash program.

Actuallly, they'll get the crash without the program.

[Dogmudgeon]

2. Not if they turn Alberta into a giant open-pit asphalt mine

Those Athabascan tar shales have become a mighty tempting resource now that the price of sweet light crude has gone up, and the temptation will only grow. Mining the stuff and turning it into petrochemical end-products will be a high-pollution project, and it's ramping up even now.

Oh well, the Canadian wilderness was nice while it lasted.

--p!