Cancun climate talks at critical moment

Cancun climate talks at critical moment
Canada named in Group of 3 countries working to kill Kyoto Protocol

Council of Canadians is alarmed by reports that there is a small group of three countries blocking the second round of emission reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol. At a press conference just held by several Latin American countries strong concerns were voiced about a move away from the Kyoto Protocol and binding commitments in favour of the weak Copenhagen Accord. Canada has been named by the Executive Secretary Figueres of the Conference of Parties (COP 16) as being one of the three along with Russia and Japan .

"We want to know: why is Canada holding the knife that will kill Kyoto ?" asked Maude Barlow , National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians. "We have a right to know."

Under the Kyoto Protocol developed countries are each required to make legally-binding emission reductions and collectively reach a target based on what science requires. Demands by developing countries for 40 to 50 percent cuts by 2020 (compared to 1990 levels) are realistic considering recent science that affirms climate change is accelerating faster than predicted.

"Negotiations are threatening to move backwards," says Andrea Harden -Donahue, Energy and Climate Justice Campaigner with the Council of Canadians. "We must be vigilant in demanding meaningful progress and action on the climate crisis, there is too much as stake for any other outcome."

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