This is an archive of news stories and research from the National Union of Public and General Employees. Please see our new site - https://nupge.ca - for the most current information.
Recognizing climate threshold one thing - action is quite another.
Italy (8 July 2009) - Canada joined other countries at the G8 Summit with Prime Minister Harper recognizing that climate change beyond a 2°C increase in global average temperatures would mean climate catastrophe. This could have important implications at upcoming UN meeting on climate change in Copenhagen.
Clare Demerse, Associate Director of the Pembina Institute’s Climate Change Program, points out that, "Until today, Canada had never taken a position on what level of global warming is too dangerous."
"Thanks to pressure from its G8 peers, Canada has now accepted what scientists and leading countries have been saying for years."
Whether the Prime Minister’s language in this statement means he is prepared to take the action needed has yet to be seen. So far Canada has not made any meaningful steps towards reducing it's share of emissions.
According to Demerse the "statement has clear implications for Canada’s national greenhouse gas targets. Canada’s current targets fall far short of a fair contribution to a 2°C limit and need to be strengthened urgently to make today’s commitment real."
How much Canada is really committed to addressing the problem may be revealed during the G8 as discussions turn to concrete emissions targets and financing the move to low-carbon economies and renewable energies.
This work will be key to a viable treaty out of the UN meetings in Copenhagen this December.
Looking ahead to Copenhagen James Clancy, president of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) says, "Canada needs to turn around our reputation as a laggard at the UN meeting this year and take a leadership role among developed countries in creating and practicing climate solutions."
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE