Canada joins US and Russia as worst G8 climate change performers

July 4, 2005 -

OTTAWA – Canada’s record on climate change puts Prime Minister Martin in an awkward position at this week’s G8 summit, according to a new scorecard by the David Suzuki Foundation.
 
The G8 Scorecard, released today in Ottawa, ranks Canada worst or second worst in energy consumption, energy intensity, low-impact renewable energy, and greenhouse gas emissions, joining Russia and the U.S. as the most wasteful and polluting G8 countries.
 
"Canada tells the world that we’re serious about addressing climate change, but we lag far behind leading countries," says Morag Carter, director of the Suzuki Foundation’s climate change program. "Mr. Martin will have little to brag about to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has called climate change one of the most important issues we face as a global community."
 
The scorecard shows Canada consumes twice as much energy per person than in Europe or Japan. The Canadian economy is only half as energy efficient, with a smaller proportion of its energy coming from low-impact renewable sources. Not surprisingly, Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions are more than two times higher per person than most G8 competitors.
 
"This data shows Canada is being left behind by leading industrial nations in building a clean and efficient economy," says Ms. Carter. "Canada’s current climate plan is not strong enough to make up this lost ground."
 
Ms. Carter says it is critical for the Canadian government to immediately strengthen its climate change plan, especially the targets for the industrial sector, before the world comes to Montreal this December for the largest UN conference on climate change to date.
 
"Unless Canada starts to deliver on some promises and plans, Canada risks embarrassment in front of the international community," says Ms. Carter. "The government must move quickly and decisively on climate change – this issue isn’t going away."

Click here (PDF 18kb) to download the G8 Scorecard
 
For more information, please contact:
Morag Carter
Director, climate change program
David Suzuki Foundation
778-386-1448