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OTTAWA - Environmental groups applaud federal government and Environment Minister Dion today for their decision to add climate-changing greenhouse gases to the list of substances that can be regulated under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).
“Leading national science academies are calling on governments to act urgently to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and that requires regulated reduction targets,” said Dr. Matthew Bramley, Director, Climate Change at the Pembina Institute. “There is an overwhelming scientific consensus that greenhouse gases meet the criteria for regulation under CEPA.”
“Adding greenhouse gases to CEPA is an essential step in Canada’s plan to meet its Kyoto Protocol target,” said John Bennett, Senior Policy Advisor at the Sierra Club of Canada. “It is therefore critically important to confirm this decision before Canada hosts the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November.”
“In moving to regulate greenhouse gases, Canada is following at least 27 other countries and four U.S. states that have already done so,” said Morag Carter, Director, Climate Change at the David Suzuki Foundation. “To meet the Kyoto timeline, the government must now move quickly to publish regulations setting greenhouse gas targets for Canada’s major polluters.”
“This is a significant step forward in Canada’s plan to address climate change and ensure a healthy environment and a competitive economy,” said Ken Ogilvie, Executive Director of Pollution Probe. “Regulating greenhouse gases is essential to putting Canada among world leaders who are aggressively cutting emissions.”
Environment Canada and Health Canada share responsibility under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) to assess and manage threats posed by toxic substances. CEPA acts as a safety net by requiring health and environmental assessments for substances that are not regulated under other federal acts.
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Contact:
Matthew Bramley, Pembina Insitute: 819-483-6288, ext. 26
John Bennett, Sierra Club: 613-291-6888
Morag Carter, David Suzuki Foundation: 778-386-1448
Ken Ogilvie, Pollution Probe: 416-926-1907, ext. 231