Climate change draft plan : achieving our commitments together : overview

This plan for climate change presents the actions that Canada has undertaken to address climate change. Since 1998, the Canadian government has already invested $1.6 billion into this initiative. This draft plan will be discussed at a meeting of the provincial and territorial Ministers of the Environment and Energy at a meeting in October 2002. The meeting will focus on the role that governments, industries and consumers will play in dealing with the climate change issue. The plan includes strategies to meet the Kyoto target, how to improve our understanding of climate change, and accountability. The general scientific consensus regarding climate change suggests that wise actions must be taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The report emphasizes that Canada's economy can continue to grow while reducing emissions. While Canada's Kyoto target is demanding, there is substantial capacity for cost-effective emissions reductions. The fundamentals of the Canadian approach includes a national project in which everyone must contribute their part with no undue burden on any region or sector. In the Canadian approach, risks would be managed and shared fairly, with adequate and prudent funding. It was noted that Canada played a significant role in shaping the Kyoto Protocol, with the Kyoto mechanisms and sinks provisions. The decision by the United States to withdraw from the agreement has put Canada in a unique position regarding competitiveness, but modelling suggests that Canadian industry can achieve the Kyoto target at acceptable costs. The government of Canada is working with the United States to help reduce the costs and impacts of reaching our targets through clean coal technology, carbon dioxide capture and storage, co-generation, use of renewables, and sustainable practices in forestry and agriculture. It was emphasized that if the Kyoto Protocol fails, it could take years to negotiate a new international agreement, and the science suggests that we do not have the time. It was also noted that the costs of inactions would be high. tabs., figs