Smokestack billboards highlight Canada's shameful position at UN climate summit
November 13, 2000 -
THE HAGUE - Billboards designed to highlight Canada's dangerous position on climate change will greet more than 170 countries attending the critical United Nations Climate Summit, which begins today in The Hague.
Featured prominently along city streets and in transit stations, the David Suzuki Foundation billboards depict a belching smokestack wrapped in the Canadian flag with the words "Our promises are going up in smoke." Ministers and diplomats from around the world are gathering in The Hague Nov. 13-24 to decide how to implement international goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as outlined in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol.
"Canada is trying to use and expand loopholes in the Kyoto Protocol that would keep us from reducing greenhouse gas emissions at home," said Gerry Scott, Director of the Foundation's Climate Change Campaign and an official observer in The Hague. "Canada's position is unacceptable and our billboards draw attention to our lack of commitment. These loopholes could allow countries to technically meet the Kyoto targets while their actual emissions could be 15 per cent higher."
At the same time, new polling data released by the David Suzuki Foundation shows overwhelming public support for strong action to address climate change in Canada.
"This data shows that Canadians in all regions, in all walks of life and from all political perspectives want Canada to protect the climate through strong, domestic actions," said Mr. Scott. "For Canada to continue chasing treaty loopholes defies the will of Canadians."
Controversial climate policies pursued by Canada at the United Nations Climate Summit could drastically increase greenhouse gas emissions and undermine the intent of the Kyoto Protocol. Under the terms of the protocol, industrialized countries committed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5.2 per cent but many, including Canada, are instead emphasizing broad loopholes.
Currently, Canada, the U.S. and other industrialized nations are trying to include controversial provisions that include emission credits for nuclear power plant exports, forestry practices that use forests as carbon sinks and for the purchase of 'hot air' -- credits created when some countries adopted targets higher than their current and projected emissions.
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The David Suzuki Foundation's poll question was fielded by Environics as part of an omnibus survey Oct. 16-29, 2000 using a sample size of 1,532 adult Canadians. The poll is accurate within 2.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
Question: Do you strongly agree, somewhat agree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree with the following statement:
The federal government should take strong actions to cut emissions of greenhouse gases that cause climate change by investing in public transit and in new ways to conserve energy, even if this means some disruptions in our lifestyles.
R E G I O N URBAN CENTRE COMMUNITY SIZE
--------------------------------------- -------------- -------------------
Eng- Van 1 100K 10K Less
Atl. Que Ont Mani Alb lish Mont Tor cou Mill to to than
TOTAL Prov bec ario toba Sask erta B.C. Can. real onto ver Plus Mill 100K 10K
----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
UNWEIGHTED SAMPLE 1532 129 328 437 101 100 149 288 1204 133 148 151 432 386 235 479
WEIGHTED SAMPLE 1532 126 385 568 60 52 141 201 1147 157 192 105 454 379 237 462
Strongly agree 44 40 51 44 40 23 38 44 42 57 51 45 51 42 43 38
Somewhat agree 40 45 31 41 46 57 45 39 43 27 37 41 34 41 39 45
Somewhat disagree 9 8 12 8 6 7 7 8 8 7 5 6 6 11 7 11
Strongly disagree 6 5 5 5 8 11 9 7 6 8 6 6 7 6 9 5
DK/NA 1 2 1 1 - 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1
EDUCATION INCOME FEDERAL ELECTION SUPPORT
------------------- ------------------------ --------------------------
Less Univ Less $20K $40K $60K $80K
Than High Comm er Than to to to or
TOTAL H.S. Schl Coll sity $20K $40K $60K $80K More Lib. P.C. NDP. C.A. B.Q.
----- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- -------------------------
UNWEIGHTED SAMPLE 1532 200 305 456 557 215 392 346 194 245 522 96 131 338 92
WEIGHTED SAMPLE 1532 219 296 462 541 224 391 323 200 245 543 96 124 310 104
Strongly agree 44 37 40 42 51 43 45 40 42 50 47 43 63 35 47
Somewhat agree 40 40 43 43 36 38 37 45 42 36 40 43 28 43 33
Somewhat disagree 1 15 11 8 6 9 12 8 9 6 7 10 2 12 16
Strongly disagree 5 7 6 6 6 8 6 5 7 8 6 1 7 10 4
DK/NA 2 1 * 2 1 2 * 2 - - 1 3 - * -
For more information and to arrange interviews, contact:
Sarah Marchildon
Media Liaison
David Suzuki Foundation
(604) 732-4228, ext. 237
