Greenpeace Canada

Canadians will expect Liberals to deliver on Kyoto promises following Montreal success

Attention: Environment Editor, Energy Editor, News Editor, Government/Political Affairs Editor

MONTREAL/QUEBEC--(CCNMatthews - Dec. 10, 2005) - Greenpeace today congratulated the 157 countries, who have ratified the Kyoto Protocol, as they moved the landmark climate change treaty towards deeper emissions reductions after 2012.

"This historic first meeting of the parties is a new beginning for the Kyoto Protocol and for the planet. The agreement recognizes the urgent threat to the climate, and sets the stage for deep emission reductions in the future." said Greenpeace Energy Campaigner, Steven Guilbeault. "

The agreement to hold talks on the second commitment period sends an unmistakable signal that we are on the road to new and more ambitious targets. The parties have agreed the following:

* To start urgent negotiations on a new round of emission reduction targets for the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol (2013-2017). A special group has been established to ensure that these negotiations are concluded "as soon as possible". This is necessary to ensure the continuity of carbon markets, and to allow governments to put policies and measures in place to ensure that the new, deeper emission reduction targets are met

* To start now to review and improve the Kyoto Protocol. Mandated under the existing treaty, this review will formally begin at next year's meeting.

* A Five Year Plan of Action on Adaptation, to assist least developed countries to cope with the impacts of climate change. This programme will begin to address the fact that climate change already impacts the world's poorest, and that it will get much worse in the coming decades. It is the ethical, political, and legal responsibility of the industrialised countries to provide for this.

"Receiving praise for showing global leadership at the climate change negotiations is one thing, but the real challenge is now to show leadership at home with concrete measures to reduce Canada's green house gas emissions," said Greenpeace Energy Campaigner, Steven Guilbeault. "During this federal election Greenpeace will be calling on all parties to deal with Canada's climate challenge. Paul Martin, however, must follow up his Montreal commitment to Kyoto with substantive pledges during this campaign to reduce emissions in Canada."

Under the Kyoto Protocol, Canada agreed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 6% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012. So far that target has not been met and emissions actually increased 24.2% by the end of 2003. As expected, the Bush administration attempted to derail the process, at one point even walking out of the negotiations, but the rest of the world showed a resolve to move ahead regardless. For once, the Bush administration was forced back to the table and into agreement with the international community. No doubt the overwhelming presence of U.S. civil society at these talks has had a positive effect.

The US has continued to attempt to lure countries away from the UN multilateral climate regime with its international emission trading to an ineffective approach based on voluntary actions and 'partnerships'. Today, however, governments have agreed to hold substantive talks beginning in May 2006 on the Kyoto Protocol's second commitment period, sending an unmistakable signal that we are on the road to new and more ambitious targets.

For further information please contact:

Steven Guilbeault, Greenpeace Climate Campaigner, cell: 514-231-2650
Dave Martin, Greenpeace Energy Coordinator, cell: 416-627-5004
Andrew Male, Greenpeace Communications Coordinator, cell. 416-880-2757

Greenpeace documents on the UN Climate Change Conference can be found at www.greenpeace.ca/climate2005

IN: ENERGY, ENVIRONMENT, POLITICS