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Ethanol announcement an insignificant answer to global warmingMay 23, 2006 - VANCOUVER -- The federal government’s pledge to raise the amount of ethanol in gasoline to five per cent by 2010 will do little to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, says the David Suzuki Foundation. “The amount of greenhouse gas emissions that will be cut by boosting ethanol production is virtually insignificant,” said Ian Bruce, a climate change specialist with the David Suzuki Foundation. “This announcement is little more than an attempt by the federal government to deflect attention away from international criticism that the country is abandoning the Kyoto Protocol.” Earlier today, Environment Minister Rona Ambrose announced a “renewable fuels strategy” as part of the Conservatives’ “made-in-Canada” alternative to the Kyoto Protocol. The announcement comes at a time when the Conservatives are under fire for gutting Canada’s climate change programs and refusing to meet Kyoto’s targets and timelines. “If the Canadian government is truly serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cars, mandatory vehicle fuel efficiency standards would go a lot further than ethanol,” said Mr. Bruce. “Higher fuel efficiency standards will not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution but will mean substantial savings at the gas pumps for consumers.” Based on the federal government’s own research, a five per cent ethanol blend would only reduce Canada's greenhouse gas emissions by 0.2 per cent.
Ian Bruce Sarah Marchildon
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