Canada’s Position

After almost four years of negotiations on the Kyoto Protocol, world leaders charged with finalizing it reached agreement in July 2001 during international climate talks in Bonn, Germany. The protocol is considered the first step in a mandatory global emission reduction regime.

Both Prime Minister Jean Chretien and Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray helped move negotiations forward by committing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol. Throughout the next year, Ottawa must work to maintain this momentum and sign the protocol into law.

Canada committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent from 1990 levels by 2012 under the terms of the protocol. The agreement in July should serve as a catalyst for specific policies on energy efficiency and renewable energy production that will be required to meet the protocol targets.

Industrialized nations, such as Canada, are largely responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change. It's now time for Canada to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and start reducing its emissions. Provincial governments and key industrial sectors must support Ottawa in its efforts to ratify the protocol and then jointly implement steps to reduce climate pollution.

Canadians can reduce the fossil fuel we consume by boosting energy efficiency and using renewable energy. This will clean up air and water pollution and create new jobs in clean-energy technologies.

Huge Energy Appetite
Climate Summit Background
Oil and Gas Expansion