Clock is Ticking on Climate Change Accountability Act
Clock is Ticking on Climate Change Accountability Act
| Canada has a golden opportunity to restore its tarnished reputation as a climate change laggard at the United Nations climate talks in Copenhagen. Join a global day of action October 24 and take part in events across the country, including °C-Day: Fill The Hill in Ottawa, and urge Canada’s government to take positive climate action! |
October 20, 2009 (Ottawa) – Nature Canada is urging Members of Parliament to speed passage of Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act, ahead of climate talks set to take place this December in Copenhagen.
While countries like Germany, Denmark and Sweden are decades ahead of Canada on climate change legislation and countries like Australia and the US are playing catch-up after years of less progressive government, Canada remains without a credible plan or adequate regulations.
“Canada is the only country to renounce its Kyoto commitment and break its promise to the world,” said Mara Kerry, Nature Canada’s Director of Conservation. “Instead, we continue to have one of the highest per capita greenhouse gas emission rates in the world, with no true plan to fix the problem.”
Bill C-311 will help end this situation. If passed, it will compel the government to implement a comprehensive plan and a set reporting schedule to achieve emissions reduction of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% by 2050. The entire bill is available online:http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=3662654&Language=e&Mode=1.
Bill C-311 passed Second Reading in April and has been tied up in the House Environment Committee ever since. The Committee must now return it to the House by October 22 for Third Reading. If passed in the House it will still have to pass a Senate vote and then it will be returned to the House to receive Royal Assent.
If Parliament can be convinced to act swiftly, the bill can still pass the House by Christmas break on December 11.
Nature Canada is calling on Canadians to contact the offices of Ministers of Parliament through phone calls and letters, to demand passage of climate legislation before the climate talks take place in Copenhagen in December.
“Canada needs to pass Bill C-311 before Copenhagen to send a clear message to the world that it has joined the global effort to address climate change,” said Kerry.
For further information contact:
Mara Kerry, Nature Canada
613-562-3447 ext. 238
mkerry@naturecanada.ca
Chris Sutton, Nature Canada
613-562-3447 ext. 248
csutton@naturecanada.ca
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