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NUPGE asks premiers to set emissions target

Meetings this week in Regina are critical leading into global UN climate conference at Copenhagen in December.

James Clancy, president of the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE)Ottawa (3 Aug. 2009) - The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is urging Canada's premiers and territorial leaders to adopt an emission target of 25% below 1990 levels by 2020 at their summer meeting this week in Regina.

The Council of the Federation, which includes all 10 premiers and three territorial leaders, is holding talks Wednesday through Friday on climate, energy and trade issues.

In a letter to Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, who will chair the meetings, NUPGE president James Clancy says the emissions target he supports is "in line with what scientists tell us are necessary" to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Clancy also asks the provinces to agree that any national cap and trade system must be effective in reaching the target and also fair to all economic sectors and regions.

"Aboriginal Peoples must be included in these policy decisions," he adds. "Oil sands emissions must not be allowed to continue to rise, nor to skew pollution permit allocation and cost, thereby negatively affecting other regions and sectors."

Clancy says the interests of developing nations also need to be kept in mind by the premiers.

"In order to include developing countries as part of a strong Copenhagen agreement, the provinces (must) agree to the principle that Canada must do its part to finance international development mechanisms that emerge from climate negotiations. Such financing must be accessible to women and indigenous peoples," he says.

Implications for public employees

Clancy said his letter was motivated by the fact that NUPGE's 340,000 members across the country face growing concerns from climate change – not only to their environment but also their communities and livelihoods.

He also noted that the timing is important because the talks lead into the United Nations summit on climate change at Copenhagen in December, and Canada has only "a tight window within which to formulate its position and to advance the national cap and trade system".

"The Council of the Federation meeting in Regina in August is a critical building block towards Copenhagen," he argues.

"Due to Prime Minister Harper's failure to lead on this important issue, all eyes are turned toward the provinces to take action," he adds.

"Every premier must work to avoid the worst impacts of climate change and cooperate to create effective pan-Canadian policies that enable this country to do our part."

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

More information:
Climate showdown with premiers Aug. 5-7 in Regina