OTTAWA – On December 15th, Canada’s withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol will take legal effect. Canada will be the only nation out of more than 180 to legally exit the protocol.
“It is the first treaty in the history of Canada that we have ever ratified and then repudiated and quit. This decision threatens Canada’s standing in the world and, more importantly, our children’s future,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May, Member of Parliament for Saanich-Gulf Islands.
“This is a day of shame. Our children and grandchildren will harshly look back on Harper’s years in power as a period of reckless disregard for future generations,” said May.
“Harper’s Conservatives present us with a fake contradiction between environmental protection and a healthy economy. They want to fool Canadians by using per capita instead of overall green house gases (GHG) emission numbers. It’s high time honesty and integrity are reintroduced in our country’s debate on climate change,” added May.
“In 1990, Canada emitted 589 million tons of GHG. In 2010, that number rose to 692 million tons, a 17% increase. Under Kyoto, Canada had committed to reduce its total emissions by 6% between 1990 and 2012. It is a national shame,” concluded Green Shadow Cabinet Critic for Climate change, Adriana Mugnatto-Hamu.
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Note: Our Canada and Climate Change backgrounder
Media Contact:
Stéphane Vigneault
Communications Coordinator, Green Party of Canada
cell: 613.614.4916