Demand Harper support UN’s Kyoto phase 2

May 30, 2007

Beginning June 6th, the G8 countries will be holding 3 days of meeting aimed at defining the next stage of the Kyoto Protocol. The meetings, to be held in Germany,”.. are widely regarded as a bellwether for the success of the United Nations-led efforts to start a second phase of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. Talks on that second phase, which would include countries such as India and China, begin December in Bali.” [see Globe and Mail story — Canada's position on G8 climate declaration a mystery, May 28, 2007]

The US us poised to be the spolier at the talks: it is opposed to any commitment that mentions targets or a date for reducing global greenhouse-gas emissions and also opposes carbon trading markets, and also opposes an agreement deadline of 2009.

The Harper government and environment minister John Baird are poised to support the US though they are being coy about their position. But Baird’s statement that the government wants to be a “bridge” between the EU nations and the US almost certainly means watering down the EU consensus.

WRITE A SHORT LETTER DEMANDING THAT CANADA TAKE A TOUGH STAND AND SUPPORT THE EU CONSENSUS ON KEEPING TO THE KYOTO DEADLINES AND SUPPORTING THE UN’S ROLE IN LEADING THE PROCESS.

FRAMING: Demand that Canada get in synch with the rest of the world which recognizes the severity of the crisis - and make the point that developed countries bear the greatest responsibility given their disproportionate share of greenhouse gas emissions. Also frame your letters to expose Harper’s determination to back the US on all fronts regardless of Canada’s actual interests. You could also point out that this role for Canada reflects Harper’s commitment to deep integration with the US: Fortress North America against the rest of the world.

SEND A COPY OF YOUR LETTER - BY SEPARATE EMAIL - TO STEPHEN HARPER AT:
Harper.S@parl.gc.ca.

Some points to make: [REMEMBER: YOU MUST USE YOUR OWN WORDS...EDITORS GETTING LETTERS WITH IDENTICAL PHRASES MAY DECIDE NOT TO PUBLISH THEM]

• Baird is playing with words and misleading Canadians by saying he supports the European-backed idea of a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050 because he uses 2006 as the base while Europe and uses 1990. Why doesn’t he just say what he means instead of trying to fool people?

• Baird’s statement that the government wants to be a “bridge” between the EU nations and the US almost certainly means watering down the EU consensus and supporting the US - a bridge to lower standards and more climate change

• The Harper Conservatives’ greenhouse plan is written by and for the oil companies whose plans for tripling oil sands production by 2015 will make any goals for reducing these gases unattainable.

• It is critical that harper and Baird state unequivocally that Canada supports the UN’s critical role in leading the second phase of Kyoto - to do otherwise would be to abandon the process altogether because only the moral authority of the UN can stand up to the US efforts to scuttle an agreement

• Friends of the Earth, one of the country's major environmental groups, has filed a lawsuit against the federal government for failing to live up to the obligations of the Kyoto Protocol, alleging that breaking the international treaty also violates Canada's pollution laws. [see Globe and Mail story — Canada failing Kyoto pact, lawsuit says, May 30, 2007]

• The latest figures from Environment Canada show that the country's greenhouse-gas emissions in 2005 were 747 million tonnes, or 33 per cent above the Kyoto target. Under Kyoto, Canada must cut its releases by 6 per cent of 1990 levels from 2008-2012.

• Harper’s support of George Bush is part and parcel of the deep integration scheme - the Security and Prosperity Partnership - which will create a Fortress North America - a rogue, unfettered, deregulated, private sector haven that dismisses the concerns of the rest of the world in the narrow interest of transnational corporations.
  

Click here to SEND YOUR LETTER NOW!