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OTTAWA – The federal government’s decision to dismantle the Kyoto Protocol and replace it with vague promises to cut greenhouse gas emissions will do nothing to address global warming, says the David Suzuki Foundation.
Instead of a strong investment in real solutions to climate change – such as renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation – today’s federal budget contains ineffective policies, such as an expensive tax credit for transit passes.
“Prime Minister Harper has dismantled the only climate change plan our country had and replaced it with subsidized transit passes that will do little to fight air pollution or convince people to leave their cars at home,” said Dale Marshall, the Suzuki Foundation’s Ottawa-based policy analyst. “It’s completely irresponsible.”
By carving up the previous government’s climate change plan and failing to replace it with something better, Mr. Harper has taken a serious, non-partisan environmental and economic issue and turned it into a political football, charged Mr. Marshall.
Today’s budget set aside no money to implement the Kyoto Protocol, leaving Canada without a real plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Canada’s emissions have risen 24 per cent since 1990.
“Ninety per cent of Canadians have said global warming is a serious problem and they want the government to take action,” said Mr. Marshall. “By gutting the climate plan and abandoning the Kyoto Protocol, Prime Minister Harper is effectively thumbing his nose at their concerns.”
A new GlobeScan poll released last week showed nine out of 10 Canadians think climate change is a serious problem. Last month, 90 top climate scientists sent an open letter to Mr. Harper, urging him to move quickly to tackle global warming.
“Canada is experiencing a huge resurgence of interest in environmental issues and Mr. Harper is going in the opposite direction,” said Mr. Marshall. “We need more leadership and fewer delays. Canadians expect more and deserve better.”
For more information, contact:
Dale Marshall
Climate change policy analyst
David Suzuki Foundation, Ottawa
613-594-8839
Cell: 613-302-9913
Sarah Marchildon
Communications specialist
David Suzuki Foundation, Vancouver
604-732-4228, ext. 237